MovieChat Forums > Romeo & Juliet Discussion > Montagues and Capulets Question

Montagues and Capulets Question

posted 11 years ago by luckyluvr22
3 replies | jump to latest

Why were they fighting in the first place? Unless I missed it,what happened?

[–] 11 years ago

[deleted]

[–] jschillig 11 years ago

I think I read somewhere that in one of the original sources that Shakespeare took as his inspiration, one family was Guelph and the other Ghibelline--two factions on either side of a conflict between the Pope and the Holy Roman Emperor. (Read more: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guelphs_and_Ghibellines.)

But I think Shakespeare made a good call by not mentioning the cause of the feud outside of an "ancient grudge". It only makes the feud look that much more senseless and the final tragedy that much more gut-wrenching.

[–] bluespade7 11 years ago

That's one that I've also read.

In the play, it's never specially mentioned. But at the time of the events in the play, the feud has become a violent, almost petty regurgitating of old hatred. Basically, a feud that's been going on for so long the original meaning has been lost. Which I have always believed adds to the story. These two families bicker & fight over something that has been long forgotten.