In the novels "Heroes" and "Romeo and Juliet" the theme of conflict is conveyed directly to the audience in different forms. Both texts explore attitudes towards love related to their different contextual contexts. Both novels convey that the only outcome of conflict is pain and torment. The novel "Heroes" is based on the character Francis Joseph Cassavant, an old war veteran from Frenchtown, Monument. Francis is the first person narrator who tells his story through his eyes to the reader. Francis returns to Frenchtown after serving in France during World War II and immediately describes his physical injuries from serving in the war. It has no "face". He emphasizes his horrible appearance using grotesque words and precise details. After Francis introduces himself, he states that he carries a gun with him and is on a mission to kill his childhood hero, Larry Lasalle. 'Romeo and Juliet' instead revolves around two young lovers who have families at odds, the Captulets and the Montagues. However, the deaths of the star-crossed lovers lead the families to reunite. Cormier's "Heroes" investigates a time of war in America where veterans felt the need to hide and disguise the wounds and suffering caused by war. Alternatively, Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet" investigates a male-dominated social system. This contrasts with the time period of "Heroes". Additionally, “Romeo and Juliet” is written about Elizabethan England. Conflict is often shown in both novels by color symbolism. Likewise, light and darkness are used throughout the novels. In 'Heroes' light is characterized as pure and innocent. Nicole is often linked to white clothes, such as her 'white blouse'. This can be contrasted with 'Rome......in the center of the card......ed to promote a negative atmosphere and symbolize negative feelings, whilst light is used repeatedly to provide a positive feeling of love, with the use of white as a constant symbol of innocence and peace. The gender roles in both books are opposite of what they should have been, with the male characters taking a backseat in their relationships and allowing the female characters to be more dominant and headstrong. The war is used as a catalyst for many events in both books, leading to the rape of Nicole and the deaths of Romeo and Juliet. Although both texts are similar, some of these similarities show fundamental differences between the writers. As internal conflict is used as a representation of the context of both texts and how the writer feels about resolving the conflict, with Cormier being against violence, while Shakespeare believed it could end a conflict.