[THEME] Explore the theme of hate/violence/the family feud in the play

“From ancient grudge break to new mutiny, where civil blood makes civil hands unclean.”

Ancient grudge antithesis with new mutiny – indicates how long the feud has been brewing for and how deep the hatred runs – repetition of word civil – emphasis placed on the fact that – all civilians but the violence and blood tainted their civil hands – viciousness of the feud

“On pain of torture… Throw your mistemper’d weapons to the ground.”

Personification of weapons as mistempered – innate violence of the feud conveyed – embodied by anger and rage – personifying weapons as brash and irrational presents conflict as violent and reflects the impulsive and thoughtless behavior of the handlers

“Hot days” “Mad blood stirring”
Hot – pathetic fallacy – tense, angry, foreboding atmosphere - circular motion – no end to the hate – personification of blood as mad – inevitable violence which resides in their blood, their veins – innate – violence is inflamed by the summer's heat

“I will withdraw, but this intrusion, now seeming sweet, convert to bitt’rest gall.”

Compares violent intention of vengeance to bitter poison through metaphor – patience and anticipation makes his “flesh tremble” – antithesis highlights extremity of hate and violence in the family – foreshadowing, a nod to the ending of the play where the violence truly poisons all involved – the feud is deadly in itself – Mercutio’s death – and acts as a catalyst of Romeo and Juliet’s double suicide

“Again, in triumph, and Mercutio slain? Away to heaven, respective lenity, and fire-eyed fury be my conduct now!”

Tybalt extinguished the passionate flames of love and good in Romeo, eradicating the good qualities that Juliet liked about him, and in replacement passed on his bitter hatred – Romeo thinks love had made him weak and effeminate – casting it away for “fire-eyed fury” – fricative alliteration - boiling, fire-eyed resent which Tybalt sparked – hellish imagery juxtaposes with heaven - interrogative displays his incredulity and anger and fury – the infectious hate had spread to even to the loving archetypal lover, Romeo, thus stressing -  killing Tybalt engraves the tragic ending into stone