Final answer:
The Prologue in Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet' uses language that indicates the main conflicts: the feud between equal families of Montagues and Capulets, the 'star-cross'd' love of Romeo and Juliet, and the personal desires versus societal pressures.
Step-by-step explanation:
The language of the Prologue in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet sets the stage for the major conflicts that will unfold throughout the play. The Prologue famously opens with "Two households, both alike in dignity," immediately highlighting the conflict between the equal but feuding families of Montagues and Capulets. This familial rivalry suggests a context of ongoing strife and public brawls, which we soon learn are both frequent and deadly. Moreover, the phrase "star-cross'd lovers" implies a predestined misfortune and conflict between the desires of the individual and the dictates of society. The connotations of fate and individual will against societal pressure indicate that the young lovers' struggle to be together, despite their families' enmity, will be a central theme.
The characterizations of Romeo and Juliet as victims of fate, along with the Prologue's foreboding tone that their death will end their parents' strife, outlines a tragic path dictated by deep-seated hatred and failed communication. All these aspects—feuding families, star-crossed love, and the tension between personal desire and social obligations—are encapsulated in the Prologue's language, setting the audience up for a dramatic exploration of love, conflict, and tragedy.