How does the recapitulation resolve the tonal conflict created in the exposition?

In sonata form, the exposition establishes a tonal conflict by presenting the first subject in the tonic (home) key and the second subject in a contrasting key, typically the dominant or relative major.12

The recapitulation resolves this conflict by restating the principal subject matter of the exposition in a new state of equilibrium. While the themes are generally presented in their original order, the recapitulation typically transposes the second subject—which appeared in a contrasting key during the exposition—into the tonic key. By bringing both subjects into the home key, the recapitulation reconciles the tonal opposition created at the beginning of the movement, providing a sense of finality and structural synthesis. Depending on the work, this may involve minor adjustments to the transition material or more extensive modifications to ensure the second subject remains firmly rooted in the tonic.32