Greek historian Herodotus gave prudent insight in reference to the controversial topic of war, when he commented, “In peace, sons bury their fathers, but in war, fathers bury their sons.” Herodotus’ ideas concerning war show how unnatural and devastating war can be. In the natural cycle of life, the older generation will be buried by the younger. However, because of the abnormal nature of warfare, the older generation buries their children, whose young lives are unjustly cut short. War has become such an important world issue that many authors have questioned its morals and justifications through literature. Specifically, Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet carefully examines the themes of war, starting with the large-scale feud between the Monatgues and the Capulets, and working his way down to a petty arguement between a nurse and her lord. Through the use of character development, literary devices, and structural details, Shakespeare’s exposes the motives, costs, and benefits of battles within Romeo and Juliet, proving or refuting their justification.

Three examples of unjust battles in Romeo and Juliet include: the battle between Paris and Juliet, the duel of Mercutio and Tybalt, and the overall feud between the Montagues and the Capulets. By looking at the motives, costs, and benefits of these three conflicts, parallels can be drawn between them as to why they are not justified. In all three cases, the motives of the battles endorse selfish gain, and the costs far outweigh the benefits, which generally amount to little or nothing.

Shakespeare uses an element of structure to reveal Paris’ true intents for marrying Juliet. It should be noted that Paris spends far more time talking to Juliets’ father than to Juliet herself. In marrying her, he will receive a significant boost in social status as well the full inheritance of the Capulet household. As a result, Paris is interested in Juliet before even meeting her. Juliet, upon taking her mother’s advice to, “read o’er the volume of young Paris’ face, / And find delight writ there with beauty’s pen,” (1.3.81-82) sees through his shallow smiles and realizes his true motives. The terse, harsh words exchanged between Paris and Juliet at the Friar’s cell (which also serves as a unique structural contrast to his usual blank verse and rhyming couplets), in act 4, scene 1, stages their subtle yet intense battle which ironically contrasts to Lady Capulet’s hopes to, “make [her] a joyful bride” (3.5.116). This battle has no direct benefits, but, in the end, costs both Juliet and Paris their lives.

The reasons for the fatal battle fought between Mercutio and Tybalt is explained through aspects of their character. Shakespeare’s verse states that, “the day is hot, [and] the Capulets [are] abroad,” (3.1.2). Though from rivalling households, both Tybalt and Mercutio share many similarities in character. From their responses to each other’s actions, it may be observed that they both are full of pride. Mercutio shows this by saying, “[he] care[s] not” (3.1.35) when informed by Benvolio that the Capulets are about. Tybalt, when challenged, claims that he is “apt enough to [fight]” (3.1.40). Their recklessness in speech shows their hasty and careless characteristics. The two enemies make decisions which help to encourage spilt blood. Mercutio decides to mock the Capulets by staying among them, while Tybalt sparks anger by addressing the Montagues. Both characters are motivated by a selfish shade of pride as well as a lust for glory. As a result, they engage in a bloody battle. The costs initially amount to the death of Mercutio, and later the death of Tybalt. No benefits are gained from the battle. In fact, the death of Mercutio escalates the tragedy, making the deaths of Romeo and Juliet imminent.

The most prominent battle in Romeo and Juliet is the stormy feud between the Capulets and the Montagues. Shakespeare starts the play off by telling his audience that the cause for this perennial feud stems “from [an] ancient grudge” (1.1.3) and the fact that the, “two households, [are] both alike in dignity” (1.1.1). He never tells his audience specifically what the grudge is, implying that the reasons for the grudge are childish. It is possible that the grudge is so old that the two families possess little remembrance of what the problem was in the first place. Because the motives are mere foolishness, they are plainly unjustified. Both families take little time to measure the costs up to the benefits. The prologue foreshadows the tragic outcome of, “a pair of star-crossed lovers [who] take their li[ves]” (1.1.6). Like any useless battle, the feud between the Capulets and Montagues yields no benefits, but costs the lives of many loved ones on both sides such as Mercutio, Tybalt, Paris, Lady Montague, Romeo, and Juliet.

The three battles outlined above are motivated by hasty decisions, the prospect of selfish gain and glory, and an underlying pride fuelled by a foolish grudge. All three result in the unduly death of loved ones and yield benefits few and far between. Therefore, these battles are not justified.

In sharp contrast to the battles outlined above, the conflicts that arise are between Juliet and her family name, Friar Lawrence and the feud, and the nurse and Lord Capulet. They are justified because their motivation is found in helping others and seeking peace. Although the costs for some of these battles are great, the benefits compensate for the losses.

Although not physically combated, the battle between Juliet and her family name commands great boldness and courage. Juliet’s character develops far more than any other throughout the play. She is initially depicted as an immature child who is always ready to please her parents through obedience. When told of a potential suitor, she dutifully replies that she will, “look to like,  if looking liking move; / But no more deep will [she] endart [her] eye / Than [her parent’s] consent gives strength to make it fly” (1.3.97-99). However, Juliet’s character experiences a turning point when she meets Romeo. She immediately falls in love with him saying that, “if he be married, / [her] grave is like to be [her] wedding bed” (1.5.134-135). Shortly after, in contradiction to her previous willingness to please, she tells her father that she will not allow Paris to, “make [her] a joyful bride” (3.5.118). Juliet now directly disobeys her father’s wishes, fighting against her very name because of her love for Romeo. Her battle against her own name is justified because, as a human being, she has a right to choose the person she desires to be with for the rest of her life. Since she is threatened by her father to marry Paris or, “hang, beg, starve, [and] die in the streets” (3.5.194), the initial cost of Juliet’s decision is losing her honour. However, the greater cost is losing her life because of grief over her husband, who is killed as a result of their opposing names. Although Juliet chooses to fight a losing battle, the battle is justified, and she fights it with honour. Although her she sacrifices her life, she rests peacefully beside her lover and initiates reconciliation between the Montagues and Capulets.

A more subtle, yet equally important battle takes place between Juliet’s nurse and Lord Capulet. It is said that the nurse is portrayed to be a flamboyant, vibrant character. However, her true colours come out when she is forced to either take the side of Juliet or Lord Capulet. From the onset, the nurse’s response to Romeo and Juliet’s love (she supports it rather than suppresses it) indicates that she favours Juliet’s side. However, it becomes brutally clear that she leans towards Juliet’s cause when she defends Juliet from Lord Capulet’s insults saying, “God in heaven bless her! / You are to blame, my lord, to rate her so” (3.5.169-170). The nurse is motivated to fight this battle because she wants the best for Juliet. Shakespeare earlier explains that her own child had died an infant. As a result, Juliet is like the nurse’s own child: her greatest treasure. In choosing this battle, the nurse hazards the risk of losing her job, but more over, losing Juliet. Yet she determines that she would rather live on the streets in order to have Juliet happy than maintain her job and embitter Juliet’s life. Ultimately, the battle is lost, but the selflessness of the nurse’s character shines out as she valiantly tries to protect Juliet from her father.

The battle between Friar Lawrence and the feud involves hefty costs, but yields greater benefits than any other fight. Friar Lawrence lives secluded from the everyday city life of Verona. As a result he is unbiased towards the feud. Being a virtuous character, he desires peace, telling Romeo that he wishes, “to turn [the] households’ rancor to pure love” (2.3.92). In his soliloquy, he reflects that, “we sucking on [Mother Nature’s] natural bosom find [plants], / Many for many virtues excellent, / None but for some, and yet all different. / O, mickle is the powerful grace that lies / In plants, herbs, stones, and their true qualities / For naught so vile that on the earth doth live,/But to the earth some special good doth give / Nor aught so good but, strained from that fair use, / Revolts from true birth, stumbling on abuse” (2.3.12-20). Friar Lawrence uses this illustration as a metaphor to compare plants to people. Both are capable of great good or horrific evil. By fighting the feud through the marriage of Romeo and Juliet, Friar Lawrence sacrifices the couple’s lives. Although the costs prove fatal, “a glooming peace” (5.3.305)  is finally brought between the Montagues and the Capulets.

It is confirmed that the three battles summarized above are justified because they are motivated by selfless desire to do good for others. Although some come at a great cost, they do more good than they do harm. In general, these battles improve the quality of society.

The justification or disproval of battles fought in Romeo and Juliet may be analyzed by examining their motives, costs, and benefits through Shakespeare’s use of character development, literary devices and structural details. It becomes evident that the unjustified battles are motivated out of selfish greed, pride and a lust for glory. They demand great costs but return no benefits. However, the justified battles are motivated out of a noble, selfless love for others, and, although they also involve great costs, they lead to even greater benefits. War is a tragic blemish in the culture of our society. It steals the lives of the young and innocent and gives life to the murderers. Shakespeare demonstrates this in his play Romeo and Juliet showing how a seemingly silly struggle can lead to a serious schism. War will never solve a society’s greed, hate, or predjudices, but will lead to the deterioration of humanity. War is only justified in the rare case when it is used as a means of peace. Therefore, the battles one fights must be chosen with the utmost care.