Theme Of Morality In Romeo And Juliet

In Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare’s characters exemplify the consequences of their hatred. In the midst of a feud, both heads of households, Capulet and Montague, often warn the younger generation of the repercussions of their violent actions. Whether love or hate motivate their actions, the younger generation hardly heed the older generation’s advice. Often times, the mistakes made by youth lead to their deaths. Although the older generation warns the younger generation about the consequences of their actions, the engraved impact of the continuance of the feud shape the youth’s decision making. In Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare proves the older generation’s mistakes mold the youth’s morality; therefore, the older generation must pledge accountability for the many violent deaths. The feud between the Capulets and Montagues encompasses the whole community of Verona. In the Prologue of Romeo and Juliet, the Chorus begins their hymn by stating a warning, “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” (Prologue). By explaining this “ancient grudge” will cause “civil hands” to rebel against all law and order, the chorus warns that the feud …show more content…
Once a brawl initiates between Mercutio and Tybalt, Tybalt begins to urge Romeo to join. Tybalt jabs Romeo’s place in a noble household by screaming out, “Thou art a villain!” (3.1). In response, Romeo rebuts Tybalt’s comment by saying, “Villain am I none, therefore farewell, I see thou knowest me not” (3.1). The brawl between Romeo, Mercutio, and Tybalt begins only because of their embedded hatred from their households. As Romeo refutes, the young men do not know each other pass their noble name. The cause of conflict centers on the character’s secondhand