Blog Post #2 : Act I

       #1. A good drama, like that of Romeo and Juliet, has conflict. Some of this conflict is set into motion in Act I Scene V. One conflict set into motion, is a conflict between Romeo, a Montague, and Tybalt, a Capulet. The Capulet family throws a party, and when Romeo and his friends here of it, they decide to attend. This makes Tybalt very angry, for Romeo and his friends are Montagues, the enemies of the Capulets. While Lord Capulet forbids Tybalt from doing any harm to Romeo at the party, Tybalt swears that he won't forget intrusion, and that somehow, he will make Romeo pay.

            Another conflict set into motion by the events in this scene is between the Capulets and Montagues. While, they have been feuding for other reasons already, the love between Romeo and Juliet is sure to cause more anger. The Capulets have already arranged for Juliet to marry another man, Paris, and the fact that she has fallen in love with Romeo, will make her unwilling to marry Paris. This will anger Lord and Lady Capulet, for not only is Juliet not siding with them on marriage, but the other man she chooses is the only son of their greatest enemy. Who knows what will happen between these two families now?

       #3. When Romeo and Juliet first meet, they have no idea about the identity of the other. When they find out later, however, they regret the events of the party. Romeo is upset that once again he has fallen in love with a Capulet, his enemy, and fears that he will once again lose the woman he loves. Juliet, is afraid as well, but mainly fears the reaction of her father, who has already chosen a suitor for her. She knows that loving Romeo goes against her father's wishes, but it's too late. She can't change that she is in love.

            These reactions are similar, they are also different. Romeo's fear lies more toward the fact that he might lose Juliet and once again be depressed because the lack of a woman's love. Juliet's fear lies more towards the fact that her father, and other family might be upset with her. They both have fears, and know that even while they may face consequences, they cannot change the love they feel for each other.

          If I was in this position, my reaction would probably be closer to Juliet's reaction. I would fear for the opinion of my family. I am independent and can make decisions on my own, but my families decisions often influence me in mine. I hope that in this circumstance, I would be able to stand up to them and do what I think was right, despite some silly old fight from years passed. While I would be closer to Juliet's reaction, I also feel for Romeo. To find someone that perfect for you, then to possibly lose them would be horrible. I would fear for loss as well. I believe fear is a reasonable reaction for this circumstance, no matter what it is, specifically, that you fear.

Defining Vocabulary


adversary- enemy; opponent

disparagement- criticism; censure

pernicious- harmful; destructive

posterity- future generations

propagate- reproduce; increase

Blog Post #1: Fate

      What is your point of view regarding fate? Some people believe that fate doesn't necessarily matter, but that your actions are what matter, and they can change the course of your life. In William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, it is believed that Romeo and Juliet's relationship is doomed from the start. In this case, I believe that to be true. Romeo and Juliet’s families are feuding with each other, and their parents are pressuring them into things that make Romeo and Juliet unhappy. Their parents try to control their lives. 

       While I agree with the Romeo and Juliet example, I also disagree. To give an example, let's say that you grew up as a poor child, without any money in a distant country where it was hard to find work. Last year I read a book called The Other Side of the Sky by Farah Ahmedi.This was a story about what happened to Farah when she had to deal with these same issues, while growing up in Afghanistan. Her house was destroyed in a bomb, her leg was blown off in a land mine, and most of her family died, but because of her bravery and perseverance, she was able to bring her mother and herself to safety in the US. She now lives a normal life, despite tragedy. She overcame her prescribed fate, because of her actions.