Conflict

     Internal conflict is one which I have taken note of numerous times throughout the reading of this play. While interpersonal conflict is far more prevalent, I find internal conflict much more intriguing. Juliet is a character in the play with constant, sometimes conflicting, thoughts drifting through her head; struggling with the notion of what's "moral" versus what she wants is an ever-present conflict in her. These abiding rows with herself begin to wear on her character, occasionally turning this seemingly composed figure into an emotional wreck. In Act 3 Scene 2, Juliet says "My husband lives, that Tybalt would have slain,/And Tybalt's dead, that would have slain my/husband. All this is comfort. Wherefore I weep then?" [115-118] Juliet is agonized by the notion of which she struggles: whether to side with her love, or her family. She is joyful of the fact that Romeo was not slain, however she laments over Tybalt's bereavement. This plays a crucial role in our understanding of Juliet's character; for it shows what really breaks her down, and also how rash she may be in her thinking, for in this same monologue of hers she wonders why her parents could not have been slain as well.
     Today, people still cope with internal indecision and conflict; however frivolous it may be, that who is struggling with it sees it with great importance. Internal conflict builds character, which is very influential on how others view one, and how that one views him/her self. While internal conflict doesn't have the power to make one who is narrow minded more open minded to others' views like interpesonal conflict does, it does have the power to show a person's ingenuity and coping skills; their ability to change and react in a positive way. However, it readily has the power to easily break people down, both mentally and physically. Everybody faces internal conflict, and I know that personally, I usually grow in character from the experience. I really think that one learns a lot about their own personality through these periods of their life, and it's an important aspect of growing up.

Romeo and Juliet Everywhere

     The themes of Romeo and Juliet prevail in many examples of modern art, whether subtle, or overpowering, or intentional, or merely coincidential. Either way, I believe my song of choice to compare with Romeo and Juliet has a meaning that parallels the relationship between Romeo and Juliet. The song "With or Without You" by the world-renowned U2 talks of a man who can neither live with this certain woman in his life, however, he can also not live without her; she is, in a sense, a double edged sword. Romeo can neither live with Juliet, or without her; for it has been foreshadowed his death will be a result of their relationship. However, it seems he cannot live without her; for, through his dramatic rantings, he talks of how he can only be happy with this woman. So, in a sense, he can't live without her, for he would become a recluse in his "fake night." Whether this connection is merely coincidential or intentional, I will never know, but either way these two concepts tie together quite well, showing that even know people have similar issues to those of people during Shakespeare's time.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EzeDqRhM09w