Essay prompt and extract

Essay prompt: How does Shakespeare show that conflict shapes the choices and fate of the young people in Romeo and Juliet? At the start of the play, the Chorus describes two households in Verona whose long-running feud erupts into public violence. Romeo and Juliet meet at a party hosted by the Capulets, unaware at first that they belong to rival families. They fall in love and secretly marry. Later, Juliet’s cousin Tybalt challenges Romeo. Romeo refuses to fight because he is now related to Tybalt through marriage, but Mercutio fights Tybalt and is killed. Romeo then kills Tybalt in anger and is banished from Verona. Juliet’s parents, not knowing she is married, demand that she marry Paris. With Friar Lawrence’s help, Juliet takes a potion that makes her appear dead. A message explaining the plan fails to reach Romeo. Believing Juliet has died, Romeo drinks poison beside her tomb; Juliet wakes, finds him dead and takes her own life. The families end their feud after the deaths. Short quotation bank (modern spelling is not used here): • Chorus: “From ancient grudge break to new mutiny” • Romeo: “I do but keep the peace” • Mercutio: “A plague o’ both your houses!” • Friar Lawrence: “These violent delights have violent ends” • Prince Escalus: “All are punish’d”