Examples Of Hostility In Romeo And Juliet

Natalie Springer
Frost
English Honors 9-5
7 March 2023
A Harrowing Hostility
The misfortune of Shakespeare's tragic play, "Romeo and Juliet," dawned from an old opposition, a senseless conflict, an ancient grudge whose origin has been lost to time. Its existence has disrupted the harmony of its home, and all are tired of it except the rival families themselves; at times, the families only seem to think of themselves. There is one fatal flaw that wounds the characters of this tale, whether physically or emotionally—and it is the feud itself.

Within the story's very beginning, it is seen first-hand how the feud has brought hindrance to the peace of fair Verona. The Prince says, "Three civil brawls, bred of an airy word, / By thee, old Capulet,

Tybalt, ignoring Romeo's pleas for peace, says, "Boy, this shall not excuse the injures / That thou hast done me. Therefore turn and draw" (3.1.62-63). Tybalt had challenged Romeo to this duel for a single reason: That Romeo had snuck into the Capulet family's masquerade party. When he alerted Capulet of the situation, he was brushed off and told not to worry. He and Romeo never even spoke. Scolded in front of everybody, Tybalt was furious. He speaks of injuries Romeo had done him, but the only injuries he received were ones he inflicted on himself; ones that could be evaded. To add to the unfortunate scenario, the duel ended in a tragedy. In the aftermath of it, Benvolio says, "O Romeo, Romeo, brave Mercutio is dead! / That gallant spirit hath aspired the clouds, / Which too untimely here did scorn the earth." (3.1.112-114). Mercutio was killed by Tybalt's hand as he defended Romeo, and for what? Mercutio is of the House of Escalus—not Montague, not Capulet, but a bystander. Tybalt murdered Mercutio for the sole purpose of him being acquainted with Romeo, who, again, was only challenged for being at a party! How senseless is this

The two youngest, Romeo and Juliet, had triggered their untimely end by their own hands. The entire reason the young couple took their lives in the first place was because of the feud forbidding their burning love for each other, making them take irrational measures just to be together. The Prince scorns, "Where be these enemies? —Capulet! Montague! / See what a scourge is laid upon your hate, / That heaven finds means to kill your joys with love! / And I, for winking at your discords, too / Have lost a brace of kinsmen. All are punished" (5.3.291-295). This quotation presents the consequences that Montague and Capulet's families are currently facing in the story; their only children were killed by their own love, forbidden by an ancient fight. The prince states here that he had also lost his own family, Mercutio, who isn't even a formal part of the feud. He declares that all are punished, that all will pay for their narrow-minded mistakes. Lastly, these final lines of the play conclude all the fighting and put to rest the unease. "A glooming peace this morning with it brings. / The sun, for sorrow, will not show his head. / Go hence, to have more talk of these sad things. / Some shall be pardoned, and some punished. / For never was a story of more woe / Than this of Juliet and her Romeo" (5.3.305-310). The enmity had been eliminated, and the discord destroyed. Over the loss of