Conflict is evident in the play from the prologue, when we hear about the feud between the two families.

There are two brawls that are acted out in the play, but from the Prince's reaction to the one in the first scene, it is clear that there have been many more before this.

The entire play is filled with violent imagery. There are several threats of violence and Romeo and Juliet often speak about suicide. In Act 3, Scene 3 Romeo brandishes a knife in Friar Lawrence’s cell and threatens to kill himself after he has been banished from Verona. Juliet does the same just three scenes later.

The last scene of the play is particularly violent as the audience sees three deaths.