Preview

English- Language techniques

Powerful Essays
Open Document
Open Document
1248 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
English- Language techniques
English Essay – Conflict
Conflict is a destructive force that makes victims of the innocent.
Conflict is a destructive force that makes victims of the innocent. Not only those causing the conflict are harmed but also those exposed to it through friendships, loyalties, relations, families and communities and can be made victims. William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet (1595) successfully addresses the consequences conflict can have on innocent people, it is a main theme which builds tension and leads to the climax of the play. Clearly, the influence of conflict on the innocent and the impact it has on them is an important theme which is effectively discussed in Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet.
Through friendships and loyalties, conflict can devastate those involved. As a consequence of Mercutio’s friendship with Romeo, he was personally involved with the conflict between the Capulets and Montagues, though he was neither. In Act 3 Scene 1, Shakespeare effectively showcases Mercutio’s unnecessary involvement in the violent rivalry through the hyperbole and metaphor “A plague o’ both your houses” which Mercutio exclaims when he is stabbed by Tybalt. In this quote Mercutio claims that he is mortally wounded as a result of the conflict between the two houses, he condemns the heads of the houses because of the conflict they have forced onto their children, causing his end along with the suffering of many other innocent people. Shakespeare explores the extent of the damage that has been inflicted on Mercutio through the ancient family feud, in the metaphor, “They have made worm’s meat of me”. This makes us aware of the impact that conflict can have on the innocent. What more severe consequence can there be than death? In the Prince’s emotive rhyming couplet after Mercutio and Tybalt are found dead, “I have interest in your hearts’ proceeding. My blood for your rude brawls doth lie a-bleeding”, Shakespeare confirms that Mercutio was not a Capulet or Montague but a

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Satisfactory Essays

    Mercutio and Tybalt have many differences that fuel their hatred for each other, even with these differences they are still extremely similar. Their differences and similarities contribute to the tragic ending. Their haste actions, the constant fighting, and their impacts on the play. Each of these components contribute to the tragedy. Mercutio and Tybalt’s death is their biggest contribution to the play; it causing a domino affect of events such as the banishment of Romeo.…

    • 75 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    In act 3 scene 1 of William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, Mercutio is the most important character because he puts the scene in motion once he challenges Tybalt to a duel this causes Romeo to fight Tybalt. After Romeo declines Tybalt’s request to fight, Mercutio intervenes by telling Tybalt, “Oh calm, dishonorable, vile submission!/ Alla stoccata carries it away. [He draws.]” (Act 3 Scene 1 Line 72-73) By drawing his sword, Mercutio is beginning a fight that Romeo managed to avoid; as the fight between Tybalt and Mercutio continues, Mercutio becomes distracted allowing Tybalt to stab him in the chest and kill him.…

    • 220 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Shakespeare uses Tybalt’s interactions in Act 3 scene 1 to drive the plot by showing Tybalt’s angry temper. Tybalt ducks under Romeo’s arm and stabs Mercutio. As tybalt runs away with his men Mercutio yells, “ A plague O’ both your houses.” (3.1.90). Some of Mercutio’s last words is foreshadowing of what will happen to the Capulet’s and the Montague’s.…

    • 152 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    In this scene Mercutio gets killed tempting Romeo to kill Tybalt which gets Romeo banished. But in this scene the feud is actually strengthened, this is because the scene just made the two families hate each other more. In the text Lady Capulet said “Of my dear kinsman! Prince, as thou art true, For blood of ours shed blood of Montague” (III.i 111-112). Lady Capulet is specifically asking the prince to kill one of the Montagues.…

    • 489 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    This foreshadows the death of tybalt which this is the main turning point in the play One of the ways Shakespeare presents conflict and violence in act 3:1 is dramatic irony to represent conflict and violence as we know Romeo is married to Juliet while no one else does. This would lead to violence if they found out. Tybalt knew Romeo like Juliet but didn’t know they were now family and starts a fight as usual. One of the lines that represents the dramatic irony is when Mercutio receives a wound which he calls a scratch, but he knows it is fatal. Up until then Mercutio was the life and soul of the party. He's a bit eccentric and enjoys having a good time. He is the joker of the group and gravity is alien to him, so there is irony in his words when he is dying.One of the ways Shakespeare presents conflict and violence in act 3:1 is dramatic irony to represent conflict and violence as we know Romeo is married to Juliet while no one else does. This would lead to violence if they found out. Tybalt knew Romeo like Juliet but didn’t know they were now family and starts a fight as usual. One of the lines that represents the dramatic irony is when Mercutio receives a wound which he calls a scratch, but he knows it is fatal. Up until then Mercutio was the life and soul of the party. He's a bit eccentric and enjoys having a good time. He is the joker of the group and gravity is alien to him, so there is irony in his words when he is dying.One of the ways Shakespeare presents conflict and violence in act 3:1 is dramatic irony to represent conflict and violence as we know Romeo is married to Juliet while no one else does. This would lead to violence if they found out. Tybalt knew Romeo like Juliet but didn’t know they were now family and starts a fight as usual. One of the lines…

    • 1760 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Mercutio is a kinsman to the prince and friend of Romeo. He is neither Montague or Capulet but he stays on the side of the Montague because he is Romeo’s friend. Some of his most famous quotes in the play include; “Ask for me tomorrow, and you shall find me a grave man”, and “A plague a’both your houses! They have made worms’ meat of me.” Mercutio persuades Romeo at the start of the play to go to the Capulet party, which is where Romeo met Juliet in the first place. I don’t think he can blamed for their deaths in this way as he didn’t even know Juliet existed at that point. Later on in the play, Mercutio and Romeo are hanging out together when Tybalt comes up to them, Tybalt then insults Romeo in an attempt to provoke a fight but Romeo responds calmly and it is Mercutio who then fights with Tybalt, in defence of his friend. Romeo tries to stop the fight but in the confusion, Tybalt stabs Mercutio and dies shortly afterwards. Mercutio didn’t need to start a fight with Tybalt as he is not a Montague, he didn’t hold a grudge against him. When Mercutio got killed, this fuelled Romeo for revenge as Tybalt had just killed his best friend and walked away from it with his head held high. Romeo went after Tybalt and caught him by surprise, subsequently…

    • 2905 Words
    • 12 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Romeo And Tybalt's Death

    • 740 Words
    • 3 Pages

    (act 3),(scene 1) Romeo is mad at tybalt because tybalt killed mercutio and romeo felt like he needed to do something. Tybalt becomes even angrier; he does not know Romeo cannot fight him because they are now relatives. ... Romeo tries to stop the combat by rushing between them, and Tybalt then stabs Mercutio under Romeo's arm. Mercutio dies. Enraged, Romeo duels and kills tybalt in return, leading to his own exile by the prince.…

    • 740 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In the play Mercutio goes and gets mad at Romeo and blames him that he is dying. After he gets stabbed Romeo tries to comfort him and he just keeps yelling at Romeo and pushing him away. While he yells and pushes him away he’s holding where he got stabbed and is fighting to stay alive. Mercutio says “a plague a both your houses.”(3.1.104) When he says that he pretty much blames both Romeo and Tybalt that he is dying. He blames Romeo because he just fought his fight and got stabbed for it.…

    • 477 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Shakespeare is forced to kill off Mercutio "lest he steal the show from the major figures of the plot". His brash attitude draws attention away from the problems of Romeo and Juliet. When Tybalt seeks Romeo in a public street, Mercutio challenges him to "couple [his words] with something" and "make it a word and a blow". His recklessness and quick response for something so dangerous is a demonstration of his preferences. However, as a kind of side effect, his preferences tend to pull the spotlight away from the main characters. Mercutio duels Tybalt when the swordplay is meant for Romeo.…

    • 378 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    The North had expected their war with the south to last for no more than 90 days. They not only had more men up in the north but they had more resources as well. Now why couldn't they defeat the south? I have to say it is due to the incompetence of the north's generals commanding the army, and the army itself. On April 15, 1861, President Lincoln called on the states to provide 75,000 militia men for 90 days to put down the rebellion of the south.…

    • 1156 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    These deaths that occur appear in, and greatly impact, both the Montague and Capulet families. When Romeo first appears at the Capulet party, Tybalt instantaneously notices him, and becomes quite angry. Tybalt runs to Lord Capulet, to see he can be granted to permission to remove of Romeo. Lord Capulet responds surprisingly well to the news of Romeo arriving at the party. “Content thee gentle coz. Let him alone.” States Capulet in act 1 scene 5. However, Tybalt has a different opinion on what should happen to Romeo. Because of Tybalt’s differing opinion, he later, in act 3 scene 1, finds Romeo and proceeds to throw insults around. Mercutio, Romeo’s best friend, becomes angry at Tybalt for insulting his best friend, and decides to fight with Tybalt. Romeo disagrees with this decision and tries to break up the fight. Mercutio ends up being stabbed by Tybalt, and then out of anger Romeo kills Tybalt. Because all of these characters had differing opinions, lives were lost, leaving long lasting effects on both…

    • 581 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    An unlikely source of wisdom, he tells a depressed Romeo to, "Prick love for pricking, and you beat love down" meaning Romeo should be rough with love if it is rough with him, and to regain his enthusiasm for love (Act I, Scene IV, Line 28) . Mercutio meets his death in Act III, Scene I when he rashly draws his sword on Tybalt who had been trying unsuccessfully to provoke Romeo into fighting. Famous for the words, "a scratch, a scratch; marry, 'tis enough" which describe his fatal wound by Tybalt, Mercutio's death results in Tybalt's death when Romeo avenges the death of his friend (Line 98). It has been argued in some literary circles that Mercutio was "removed" as he was increasingly stealing the show from Romeo, the lead character (with Juliet) in this…

    • 668 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    He is the one that initiated the fight between him and Tybalt; Mercutio taunts and provokes him,”And but one word with one of us? Couple it with something. Make it a word and a blow.” Mercutio draws his sword and fights Tybalt because Romeo will not fight him himself. Leading himself to be killed, an enraged Romeo declares his love for Juliet has made him effeminate, and that he should have fought Tybalt in Mercutio’s place,”O calm, dishonorable, vile submission! Alla stoccata carries it away. Tybalt, you ratcatcher, will you walk?” When Tybalt, still angry, storms back onto the scene, Romeo draws his sword; they fight and Romeo kills Tybalt. This creates a bigger conflict for Rome resulting in him being banished from Verona and Juliet. ACT 3 Mercutio taunting Tybalt is one responsibility for the deaths of Romeo and…

    • 755 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Conflict and peace are driving forces in people's life. Without those forces the human race would be lost. William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet portrays well, in many interactions. Lack of communication within the families and between the Capulets and Montagues. Were hate prevails and overcomes love.…

    • 1184 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    A huge fight at fair Verona breaks out with 2 souls taken away. According to eye witness, Benvolio, a huge fight against the Capulets and Montague went viral leaving a young man called Mercutio killed by Tybalt. His last words; “I am hurt. A plague o’ both your houses!” where Mercutio curses both the houses for all the trouble they have caused.…

    • 272 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays