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.