Summary: The Most Iconic Plays That William Shakespeare Has Written

The play Romeo and Juliet one of the more iconic plays that William Shakespeare has written is very dependant on the different relationships that are portrayed in the play. It’s what makes this play rather more unique and is what the story mainly goes by. Most the relationships that were portrayed in the play were negatively shown which is what starts the conflict in this play but is what forms the conflict and climax of this play.

Firstly, Shakespeare gives us a briefing in his prologue of the conflicts between both the Capulets and Montagues.

'Two households, both alike in dignity, in fair Verona, where we lay our scene, from ancient grudge break to new mutiny, where civil blood makes civil hands unclean.' When Shakespeare mentions “Ancient Grudge” he says this to tell readers that the conflict taking place between the Montagues and Capulets is an ongoing and is very unlikely to stop. He described the problem as “Ancient” to paint a picture in the readers minds that this conflict is a part of there daily and everyday lives.

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Secondly, the quote “I’ll look to like, looking liking move/But no more deep will I endart mine eye/Than your consent gives strength to make it fly”.This seen more in depth explains parental influence. Lady Capulet herself being a women who had married at a very young age offers her complete support on her husbands plan of marrying Juliet to Paris. Instead of asking Juliet on whether she was interested in the marriage she simply pressures her to think of Paris as a husband even before she had begun to even think about her marriage at all.

Furthermore, another quote from Act 3 Scene 5 between Juliet and Lady Capulet confirms the disarray in the relationship between Juliet and Lady Capulet. In scene 5 of the third act Lady Capulet questions on whether she should stand up for her daughter Juliet when she decides to go against her father's decision and not marry Paris. When Lady Capulet had to question herself to stand up for her very own daughter comes to show resembles the relationship that she had over her daughter wasn’t that strong. This was shown in quotes like “I would the fool married to her grave”. This comes to show that Lady Capulet is trying to calm Lord Capulet down because she fears that he may be going to far with what he is saying. This comes to show that she does not want to loose her daughter even if she refuses what is told. This shows a little care for Juliet but that mother and daughter relationship was just not there in this play.

Thirdly, the relationship between Lord Capulet and Juliet is also very negatively in the play. This is specifically because Juliet had a nurse to nurture and take care of her. This mainly being because Lord Capulet is not only the head of the household but also is a part of many special occasions and parties he hardly has any time to spend with Juliet as well. However, the way Lord Capulet had responded to his daughters decision in being unwilling to marry Paris in Act 3 scene 5. Juliet refusing her father’s decision felt embarrassing to Lord Capulet which then showed his lack of control and power over his very own daughter. Since his daughter had him he began threatening Juliet. He shows this when it is said in the text “My fingers itch” meaning that he would hit Juliet. Secondly, he threatens Juliet by saying “An you be not, hang, beg, starve, die in the streets” meaning that if she doesn't obey him she will end up dying on the streets of Verona. Finally, he continued insulting Juliet simply out of anger by saying “Green sickness carrion” and “Tallow face” which aren’t things he should be calling his own daughter. This sort of behavior is expected because Shakespeare presents Lord Capulet as being that type of person after all he thinks that he has settled his daughter’s future with a nice husband but he doesn't seem to see Juliet's side of things.

Finally, the conflict between Tybalt and Romeo. Tybalt being a Capulet and Romeo being a Montague both having an issue because Romeo had attended a party and as Tybalt went to put an end to Romeo Lord Capulet refused and embarrassed Tybalt. This anger over Romeo was expressed in Act 3 Scene 1 'Boy, this shall not excuse the injuries that thou hast done me; therefore turn and draw.' This comes to show that Tybalt is outraged by Romeo’s actions and in this quote he believes that he had been injured by the actions of Romeo when he gate crashes into the Capulet party. In this quote Tybalt commands Romeo to take part in a fight.

The way Shakespeare tends to use language and action between the different characters to create these different relationships is fascinating but what people have learned off Shakespeare's work is that there has got to be good and bad relationships in order for there to be conflict within a story and is a living factor in the movies and books we see in the modern day world today just adapted to fit trending topics that we see today.