R+J - Conflict

     Some authors use conflict as a tool to help move along the plot of the play. Shakespeare incorporates it so that the characters are developed off the conflict that is presented to them. A major conflict that is presented in Act three is the fact that Juliet is married to Romeo, but her parents have already arranged a marriage with Paris. Juliet shows her emotions about this situation when she tells her mom, "Now, by Saint Peters Church, and Peter too, He shall not make me his joyful bride!" (165) This illustrates how Juliet is stubborn and not afraid to show her emotions about the one she truly loves. Paris is a better match for Juliet when it comes to social stature. It allows her family to move up in society. Contrary, the Montague family has been a long time enemy of the Capulet's, so the marriage between Juliet and Romeo will have not been very beneficial to both their reputations. But in this play the main characters are not focused on social class, but true love.
     Personally, I have not come across a situation like this, but there are many different modern novels and movies about choosing love over your family's opinion, or anything else of the sort. I believe conflict such as this one is important to have in life to keep us going and not dwell on the past. Every person deals with conflict differently, some emotionally, some with a lighthearted attitude, but no matter how people deal with conflict, it is prevalent in everyone's lives and will be forever.

R+J - It's Everywhere!

     Although Shakespeare's time has long passed, his influence on modern culture has not. He has definitely left his mark in history by creating one of the most touching of plots. For example, many different Disney movies has portrayed a prince and a princess, brought together by destiny, just as the "two star-crossed lovers" have in Romeo and Juliet. Going back to my childhood I remember the plot of The Little Mermaid, where Ariel yearns to become a human with real legs so she can marry the prince in a nearby castle. Instead  of their parents being the barrier of their love, its their difference in species. In Romeo and Juliet, the two lovers judge each other immediately by their appearance. In The Little Mermaid, Ariel pops up from beneath the water one day and sees the prince, once their eyes met, they were in love. No second thoughts, no questions asked. The major difference between the two plots is the obvious ending. Disney ends with a "happily ever after", when Shakespeare ends with death.