Intergenerational Conflict in Shakespeare - 1419 Words

Intergenerational conflict has been an ongoing issue in literature, and real life. We see intergenerational conflict in Emily Bronte’s â€Å"Wuthering Heights†, William Shakespeare’s â€Å"Hamlet†, and even in modern literature like Annemarie MacDonald’s â€Å"Fall on Your Knees†. More specifically, in Shakespeare’s plays we are introduced to many different forms of conflict. One of the most prominent is intergenerational conflict, especially in â€Å"Romeo amp; Juliet†, â€Å"A Midsummer Night’s Dream†, and â€Å"I Henry IV†. Examples of intergenerational conflict in these plays include Romeo’s defiance of his parents, Juliet’s conflict with her father, Hermia’s paternal conflicts, and King Henry’s disappointment with his son, Hal. Firstly, Romeo’s defiance and†¦show more content†¦Egeus request to put his daughter to death if she does not obey his wishes, which e xercises a higher form of control than Capulet’s threat of disownment. His wish is shown when he asks Theseus â€Å"I beg the ancient privilege of Anthens:/ As she is mine, I may dispose of her, Which shall be either to this gentleman/ Or to her death, according to our law† (I.i.41-4). However, unlike the ending in â€Å"Romeo and Juliet†, Hermia’s disobedience of her father’s wishes ends in happiness instead of the death of both lovers. Lastly, the tense relationship between Hal and his father, King Henry IV is also a Shakespearean example of intergenerational conflict. Hal’s upbringing shows similarities with the tale of the prodigal son, which was popular in the medieval time period. Hal is a disappointment to his father, which we learn when King Henry tells Westmorland that he envies the Percy family for having such a noble and honorable son: Whilst I, by looking on the praise of him, See riot and dishonor stain the brow Of my young Harry. O, that it could be proved That some night-tripping fairy had exchanged In cradle-clothes our children where they lay, And called mine â€Å"Percy,† his â€Å"Plantagenet†! (I.i.83-8). Though Hal freely associates with robbers, prostitutes, and highwaymen, he has plans to transform himself into a noble prince, which would consequently win back the praise and acceptance of his father. We see his plans to change when Hal states the following: â€Å"So when thisShow MoreRelatedRomeo And Juliet : Adulthood, Power, And The Lack Thereof1513 Words   |  7 Pagessomething that will happen much later. While it is easy to assume that this seemingly premature marriage stems from youthful impulsiveness, Luhrmann complicates this notion completely. The director portrays youth in the film as being one half of an intergenerational power struggle which isolates them and pushes them to try to act like adults in order to gain power. One straightforward manifestation of this is the attempt to gain independence. Early in the film we see Romeo totally avoiding his parents.Read MoreThe Eradication Of The Sub Group2454 Words   |  10 Pagestoday, functional communities are severely hampered by the movement of families from communities due to economic stress as well as the role of the media within the values of the community. In turn, these conflicts cause dysfunctional communities to arise characterized by their lack of intergenerational closure. Education plays a major role in this as well, if individuals are not afforded an opportunity to change their situation and become upwardly mobile individuals because of their socioeconomic statusRead MoreStephen P. Robbins Timothy A. Judge (2011) Organizational Behaviour 15th Edition New Jersey: Prentice Hall393164 Words   |  1573 PagesDecision Making 165 Motivation Concepts 201 Motivation: From Concepts to Applications 239 3 The Group 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Foundations of Group Behavior 271 Understanding Work Teams 307 Communication 335 Leadership 367 Power and Politics 411 Conflict and Negotiation 445 Foundations of Organization Structure 479 v vi BRIEF CONTENTS 4 The Organization System 16 Organizational Culture 511 17 Human Resource Policies and Practices 543 18 Organizational Change and Stress Management