How Does Shakespeare Present Conflict in Act 1 Scene 1 of ‘Romeo and Juliet’? How Does This Compare to Conflict Presented in ‘the Charge of the Light Brigade’ and ‘the Man He Killed’?

How does Shakespeare present conflict in Act 1 Scene 1 of ‘Romeo and Juliet’? How does this compare to conflict presented in ‘The Charge of The Light Brigade’ and ‘The Man He Killed’?

William Shakespeare’s ‘Romeo and Juliet’, Alfred Lord Tennyson’s ‘The Charge of the Light Brigade’ and Thomas Hardy’s ‘The Man He Killed’   share similarities and differences within their works. In this essay, I will be exploring the main theme of conflict, comparing its presentation in the three works of the writers, as well as, the tension and friction it creates. The two types of I will be exploring are internal conflicts, conflict a person has within themselves, and external conflict, which is physical. Hardy’s ‘The Man He Killed’ reveals the speaker’s internal battle to the reader as he attempts to justify his murderous actions, whereas Tennyson’s ‘The Charge of The Light Brigade’ is an external, physical conflict which results in many deaths and injuries, and portrays conflict as being heroic and dutiful. Shakespeare’s play ‘Rome and Juliet’ also displays both external and internal disputes, displayed by the families’   ‘ancient grudge’ and Romeo’s internal conflict exploring love.

The Prologue in ‘Romeo and Juliet’   is in the form of a sonnet, traditionally a love poem. It was possible that Shakespeare wrote it in this form as he was trying to be ironic as ‘Romeo and Juliet’ is of course, a tragic love story. In the Prologue, Shakespeare reveals to the audience that ‘Doth with their death, bury their parents’ strife’ similar to Alfred Tennyson’s ‘The Charge of The Light Brigade’. ‘Into the valley of Death’ is in the opening stanza and we realise something bad is going to happen to both the cavalry and Romeo and Juliet. The purpose of the Prologue, was that Shakespeare wanted his audience to focus on how things were happening rather than what was actually going on. In addition to this, Shakespeare’s audience typically consisted of uneducated, lower class people, therefore...