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Theme of Conflict in Romeo and Juliet

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Theme of Conflict in Romeo and Juliet
Romeo and Juliet

'Romeo and Juliet' is one of Shakespeare's most famous and popular plays. It tells the story of 'two starcross'd lovers' and addresses such themes as Romance but also tragedy. However it also contains themes of violence/conflict/death. The play begins with a prologue which is kind of a summary of the play but doesn't give all the details of the play away to the audience as it includes the setting of the play and a bit of background information. Then a fued is introduced straight away between the younger generation of the two rival families which are the Montague's and the Capulet's. I am going to examine the theme of conflict in Act 1 Scene 1 and Act 3 Scene 5. Here we have the opening scene set in Verona. With bawdy banter, Sampson and Gregory discuss their hatred towards the house of Montague and spot two Montagues and discuss about provoking a fight without breaking the law. Sampson bites his thumb at the Montagues which is seen as a highly insulting gesture which results a fight breaking out. In shakespearean times, Women were seen as a mans possession and had no right to an education. Women back then were to have children and look after the house. Prostitution was quite big back then and it relates to Gregory and Sampson, talking of raping Montague women. Stage direction are used throughout the play. 'They fight' is an example of one one which is used in this scene just after Tybalt expresses his opinion towards 'Peace'. As soon as 'They Fight' appears, that is the point where it gets physical and brutal. After Prince Escalus has mad his speech on the brawl the Montague's and Capulet's realise that they can't fight anymore as a death penalty has been instituted. Prince Escalus just wants Verona to be a land of not war but peace. In the next scene i am going to examine, we see conflict but in a different way as it is between father and daughter (Lord Capulet and Juliet). Just after Romeo has flee'd into exile, Lady Capulet tells Juliet
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