How does Shakespeare Present Conflict in Act 3 Scene 1 of ‘Romeo and Juliet’?
Shakespeare uses a lot of different conflict throughout the play creating either shock, love, surprise, hate and more emotions within the audience. There are four types of conflict: Man vs nature, man vs man, man vs society, man vs self. Shakespeare uses 3 of those. For Act 3 Scene 1, he uses the conflict man vs man, man vs self and man vs society. Mercutio vs Tybalt and Romeo and Benvolio as the other antagonists, Romeo vs Tybalt and Benvolio as the other antagonist and Romeo vs self.
Shakespeare makes a dramatic change from act 2 to act 3. From hope for these two star crossed lovers to Romeo stuck between the family feuds. The temper, anger and sudden violence between Tybalt and Mercutio is surprising and is a drastic jump from peace to violence. Mercutio starts an argument with Tybalt but Tybalt who wants to kill Romeo wants to save his strength for when Romeo arrives although Tybalt and Mercutio end up in a heated argument. After Tybalt insults Mercutio by saying “Mercutio, thou consort’st with Romeo” which means “Mercutio, you hang out with Romeo” and by that Tybalt is trying to say Mercutio and Romeo are together. Mercutio now insulted gets angry and replies
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Now arriving cheerful and happy he is now secretly married to Juliet is still unaware he has been challenged to a duel. Blinded by love, Romeo tells Tybalt that he loves "thee better than thou canst devise” meaning “I love you more than you can understand until you know the reason why I love you…” Mercutio who is now disgusted by Romeo’s actions challenges Tybalt to a duel which Tybalt accepts and they start to sword fight. Romeo tries to stop this along with Benvolio but Romeo’s interference results in Mercutio’s death. Mercutio then curses both families while on the ground. This conflict is still man vs man. This also creates more tension and