Question

Which line in this excerpt from act V of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet shows the conflict of person versus self?

Answer 1

APOTHECARY: My poverty, but not my will, consents.

Answer 2

My poverty, but not my will, consents.

In this line from the Apothecary, he is showing that he is giving Romeo the drug because he needs the money, not because he thinks it's a good idea. An internal conflict is one in which the character must make a difficult decision. Usually either way the character decides there is a positive and negative consequence. In this case, the apothecary knows that if he gives Romeo the drug someone will die and he's broken the law. However, by giving Romeo the drug, he will have enough money to buy food to eat. If he doesn't sell Romeo drug, he will still be hungry and starving. Either way his decision has negative consequences making this an internal conflict.