Conflict, Struggle, and Foils

In Act I, Scene V, conflicts are set into motion by fast-paced events.  Servants of Capulet and Montague fight in the street.  Each party thinks they work for a better master and because of the long standing feud between the two families they openly acknowledge this whenever possible. Although Prince Escalus eventually demands peace, these families are still restless and suspicious of one another.

Another conflict that appears in Act I, is the conflict between Tybalt and Romeo.  Tybalt is the first to recognize Romeo during the Capulet party that Romeo sneaked into.  Tybalt wishes to harm Romeo and although they engage in a heated argument he is prevented from doing so.

Finally, the last conflict presented is the challenge of Romeo, a Montague, falling in love with Juliet, a Capulet.  This is a problem because since they are from two feuding families marriages is virtually impossible.  This conflict is not yet resolved and will continue to occur throughout the book.

In Romeo and Juliet,  Mercuito is a foil, a character that has qualities in sharp contrast with another character, to Romeo.  Where Mercuito is outgoing and light-hearted, Romeo is burdened by love sickness
and is stuck with his head in the clouds.  As Romeo tells Mercuito, "I cannot leap even an inch above dull
sorrow.  I'm sinking under love's heavy burden." Mercuito on the other hand is filled with excitement for the party and carelessness for the situation at hand. These two contrasting characters, although different, complement each other by bring out the traits of the other.

Vocabulary:

ADVERSARY:  a person, group, or force that opposes or attacks; opponent, enemy

DISPARAGEMENT: something that derogates or casts in a bad light

PERNICIOUS: causing insidious harm or ruin; ruinous; injurious; hurtful

POSTERITY: all future generations

PROPAGATE: to cause to increase in number or amount