Conflict In Tragedy

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Select a play you have studied and choose from it a scene where conflict occurs. (a) Outline what happens in this scene. (b) What are the underlying causes of the conflict in this scene? Support your answer by reference to the text as a whole. The themes of death and violence permeate 'Romeo and Juliet' by William Shakespeare and they seem to be connected to either extreme love or extreme hate. 'Romeo and Juliet' is set in Verona and begins with another brawl breaking out between the feuding noble families, the Capulets and Montagues. Prince Escalus, the ruler of Verona, tries to prevent any further conflicts by decreeing death for any individual who disturbs the peace in the future. He tells his 'Rebellious subjects' to 'quench the fire of your pernicious rage' otherwise 'Your lives shall pay the forfeit of the peace'. Act 3, Scene I is a scene where further conflict occurs. Despite the Prince's warning, Tybalt begins a brawl that changes how the story unfolds. Prior to Act 3, Scene I, Romeo has crashed a Capulet party and fallen instantly in love with Juliet, whom he compares to a beautiful earring hanging in the night sky. He exclaims that 'it seems she hangs upon the cheek of night like a rich jewel in an Ethiop's ear'. At the same moment Tybalt recognises Romeo's voice and declares that he will kill him for such an outrage, crashing his enemy's party. In his outrage, Tybalt vows 'Now, by the stock and honour of my kin, To strike him dead I hold it not a sin'. It is this both extreme love and extreme hate that forms the backdrop to Act 3, Scene I. Act 3, Scene I begins with Benvolio, a nephew to Old Montague, and Mercutio, Romeo's friend, conversing. Benvolio is in no mood to fight and as it is a hot day and he fears hot tempers, 'we shall not 'scape a brawl' because there 'is the mad blood stirring'. Mercutio accuses Benvolio of being the type that
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