The theme of male violence saturates Romeo and Juliet, and is always connected to strong emotions, such as love and hate. The association between hate and violence is easier to understand than that between love and violence, which requires more thorough analysis to clarify. Love that transgresses feudal boundaries and is unacceptable to the clan results in violent male behaviour directed at other males as well as Juliet. The violence is also used to add pressure to the romantic side of the story. The tribal war and the hate that emanates from each and every family member shadows the passionate love between both protagonists. Thus transforming Romeo and Juliet from a simple love story to the tragedy that it is famous for and not any other love story.

Male violence due to hate is present throughout the entire play: it emerges from the two narrow-minded families, who confront...