How does the feud between the Montagues and Capulets affect Romeo and Juliet?

The
longstanding feud between the Montague and Capulet families is directly responsible for 's
tragic deaths. At the beginning of the play, Prince Escalus breaks up a brawl between the two
warring families and decrees that any member of either family caught fighting will be sentenced
to death. Later on,trespasses on the Capulet ball, andoverhears his voice. Tybalt, a hot-headed
Capulet, vows to get revenge on Romeo because he is a Montague. If the two families were not at
odds with each other, Tybalt would not have reacted with such hostility to Romeo's presence.
After Romeo andfall in love at first sight, they are forced to marry in secrecy...