The tragedy Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare validates the struggle behind the love of Romeo and Juliet. Through dialogue and plot Shakespeare addresses the birth of love with the violence of families that threatens to taint love's existence. The contradictory terms violence and love contrast with the burgeoning emotions of Romeo and Juliet and the feud between the families. Their death becomes an oxymoron as their feelings turn to happiness instead of sorrow. Shakespeare's use of the oxymoron contrasts the Montague-Capulet feud with the passion of Romeo and Juliet's love. When the Montague-Capulet families are introduced, an overwhelming hatred creates a conflict between the two dignified families. The Capulets and Montagues were repelled by each other's presence, but contradictorily it gives rise to Romeo and Juliet's love. The feud is "[...] the earth that is nature's mother is her grave;/ what is her sepulchral grave, that is her womb", (II. iii. 9-11), to their children, Romeo and Juliet. The tension and risk between the two families strengthen Romeo and Juliet's passion for their love. The feud breathes life into their new love, but at the same time easily crushes it. The violence resulting from the struggle between the two houses has the ability to take away their budding love from Romeo and Juliet, ultimately causing their death. The feud itself hinders their love, the old hatred of their families threatens to marry them into different families and separate them (Holland). The fief acts as a rival lover to Romeo, competing for love with the beautiful Juliet, and delicately maintains the balance between their life and death. The external conflict causes Romeo and Juliet to renounce their surname and their identity so that their love is a celebration... middle of paper... cures their parents' old hatred that is buried with them when the feud ends. Juliet's wedding turns into a funeral and creates their "womb of death", and they die of love (McKim). Their death becomes an escape from violence and society, paradoxically a new beginning. Throughout the play, Romeo and Juliet incorporate figurative poisons through their dialogue and play on the different meanings of the poison's uses. Their desperation for these poisons and herbal remedies accentuates the violence and outright hatred that revolves around their families. The oxymoron reflects the violence of the feud that ultimately consumes the love that evolves between Romeo and Juliet. The feud creates the passion of their new love and also causes their downfall. Their deaths communicate that opposites are drawing closer, including the strength of the two dignified families, Montague and Capulet..