Compare how Shakespeare develops conflict between Juliet and her family and Jessica and Shylock

‘Romeo and Juliet’ is a play written by William Shakespeare set in Verona, Italy. In Verona there are two families,
the Montagues and Capulets, who have hated each other for many years. Conflict is shown between these two
families right from the beginning of the play. ‘The Merchant of Venice’ is also written by William Shakespeare
and is also set in Italy, but this time in Venice. In Venice there is a huge conflict between the Christian and Jewish
communities and in particular between a merchant called Antonio and a moneylender called Shylock. ‘Romeo and
Juliet’ is a tragedy focusing on an ill-fated teenage couple, whereas ‘The Merchant of Venice’ is about Antonio’s
borrowing of Shylock’s money to pay for his friend’s journey to marry a rich heiress. Both plays depict
communities where there is conflict on a large scale between two groups, however, ‘Romeo and Juliet’ has a tragic
ending where the main characters die, whereas ‘The Merchant of Venice’ ends with all of the Christian characters
happily married or saved from death.

Jessica is the daughter of Shylock, the moneylender. Jessica is very unhappy about being Jewish and living with
her father, and is planning to run away to marry a Christian. Jessica tells her servant Launcelot (who is also
leaving) that she thinks that “this house is hell”. This metaphor would have been shocking to Shakespearian
audiences, as they were devout Christians and the word ‘hell’ would have a powerful impact upon them.

Juliet’s conflict between her and her parents develops only once they ask her to marry Paris, until then there is no
sign of any conflict between them and Juliet is depicted as a dutiful and obedient daughter, this is why it is such a
shock when she refuses to marry Paris. Capulet flies into a rage saying “my fingers itch” this level of anger and
suggestion of violence from this quotation would have evoked sympathy from the audience for Juliet, as although
she is disobeying her father, they would view her marriage as legitimate in the eyes of God and by marrying Paris
she would be committing a bigger sin. By using dramatic irony in this way, Shakespeare is encouraging the
audience to sympathise with Juliet, rather than with Capulet. This develops the tension as the audience can see the
conflict increasing between the families.

Both Juliet and Jessica have the support of the audience in their attempts to leave their families- Juliet because they
see her marriage as legal in the eyes of God and they feel sorry for her as she is mistreated by her father and Jessica
because she is leaving home to become a Christian, and in England at this time Jewish people were despised, so
they would see this as a noble thing to do. Also, Juliet and Jessica both leave home to be with their secret lovers,
although the idea of disobeying parents would be controversial in Shakespeare’s time, it also adds a romantic
element to the plays.

However, Juliet ultimately meets with her death when she disobeys her parents, her betrayal leads her to this end,
whereas Jessica ends the play alive, rewarded with a large sum of money. This could be because Jessica converts
to Christianity and the audience would support her in this, unlike Juliet, who despite being portrayed as a
sympathetic character, has broken the strict moral codes by disobeying her parents and rushing into a unsuitable
marriage. It is also important to note that Juliet is forgiven by her parents at the end of the play, whereas Jessica is
never forgiven by Shylock.

Juliet and Jessica are very similar in many ways, but their ending defines them as characters. Jessica could be said
to have the happier ending, but as a modern audience, we find it harder to understand her cruel betrayal of her
father as today we do not hold the Jews in contempt like they did in Shakespeare’s time. Therefore, Shakespeare
develops the conflict in a variety of different ways, but not always in a way that a modern audience can appreciate
without knowing about the historical context of the society’s attitudes towards both the Jews and women.