“Romeo and Juliet”: Capulet and Montagule

Honor is a type of love for oneself. However, sometimes love can kill and inflict hatred for others. When one values their honor too highly it may lead to disasters and tragedies. In the play “Romeo and Juliet” the conflicts between the house of Montagues and the house of Capulets is so intense that even the slightest quarrel between the opposing family members can turn into an all out war. Throughout the play the honor of the house of Capulets had caused the consequences of many conflicts and deaths. Therefore, the houses of Capulets are most guilty of the feud for they have highly valued their honor that is worth fighting for.

To begin with, the first cause is the Capulets servants’ inability to endure the Montague at sight. As a result they fought for the honor of their house. In the early opening scene, the Capulet servants start taunting and asking if the Montague servants would quarrel. (Act 1, Scene 1, Line 51) in which the Montague servants responded not. (Act, Scene 1, Line 52) Despite the fact that the Montague servants are not looking for trouble the Capulets servants drew their swords anyways. (Act 1, Scene 1, Line 61). This clearly shows that the Capulet servants have valued their honors too highly in the name of their house for they intend to fight the Montagues without any second thoughts.

In addition, Tybalt refuses to keep peace despite Benvolio who does not intend to fight. Consequently, Benvolio has no choice but to engage in combat with Tybalt. At the beginning of the play, Tybalt makes it clear that he is against peace and will fight anyone who stands in his way (Act 1, Scene 1, Line 68). Benvolio, on the other hand hesitated to fight and said, “I do but keep the peace.” (Act 1, Scene 1, Line 67) In the end Tybalt calls him a coward and they fight. (Act 1, Scene 1, Line 70). Tybalt clearly has been fighting for his honor under Capulet’s name.

Furthermore, Capulet demands for a sword after spotting Montague. This provokes Montague to try and approach him. But lady Montague stops him. In the play, Capulet said, “My sword, I say! Old Montague is come.”(Act 1, Scene 1, Line 75) This act of aggressiveness is another form of highly valued honor to the extent of unable to endure your foe at sight. Capulet’s personal grudge against Montague has extended the grudge of the houses.

After the feast of the Capulets, Tybalt could not endure Romeo joining the party the previous night. Thus, he challenges him to a duel. Unfortunately the innocent Mercutio perished along with Tybalt himself who was killed by Romeo for revenge. In the scene Mercutio starts with a bad mood and Benvolio once again tries to avoid a fight with the Capulets by asking Mercutio to retire. (Act 3, Scene 1 Line 1) After that, the angry Tybalt appears looking for Romeo to fight, which was stated on the duel letter, he sent. (Act 3, Scene 1, Line 41) Romeo appears and tries to befriend with Tybalt, but Mercutio calls him dishonorable to his name and insist on taking Romeo’s place to fight Tybalt. (Act 3, Scene 1, Line 60-85) Later on Tybalt kills Mercutio by accident. Romeo was enraged by Tybalt’s actions and kills him for vengeance. (Act 3, Scene 1, Line 110-130) From this incident, Tybalt’s honor caused both families to meet in order to observe the aftermath of the bloodbath and thus, creating more conflicts between both families.

In conclusion, the act of the Capulets valuing their honor too highly causes the long-term conflicts between both houses. First, the servants of Capulets fight the Montagues under the name of their house. They wanted to protect their honor by taking initiative attacking the Montagues. This built up the resentment between both families even more. Second, Tybalt valuing his honor to fight Romeo for Romeo disgraces his family’s name by joining the feast. As a result, it causes the death of two people tangling more grudge on both families because of his sudden aggressiveness and honor for his house Capulet. From many of the bloodiest incidents caused by the house of Capulet’s they are most blameworthy of the feud.