William Shakespeares Romeo and Juliet Essay Example

William Shakespeares Romeo and Juliet Essay William Shakespeares Romeo and Juliet is one of the worlds greatest love stories. There have been many different interpretations of the play; one of the most famous interpretations of the play is the modern version produced by Baz Luhrmann (1996). The Baz Luhrmanns production captures the intensity and emotional hardship of the characters. Its surprising how much pain and sorrow this interpretation can inflict on the audience. Every aspect of the film adds something extra, such as; the sweeping orchestral music, action, violence and above all the atmospheric weather, which changes like a symbolic mood that passes through you. Although traditional and somewhat clichà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½, Zeffirellis version made in 1968, sticks very much to the original text compared to Luhrmanns. Zeffirellis interpretation has less violence and does not use music to set an emotion or atmosphere as much as Baz Luhrmanns. I am focusing on Act 3 Scene 1 from the Luhrmanns version of the play. This scene is the deaths of Mercutio, Romeos best friend and Tybalt, Juliets cousin. This is a pivotal scene in the play as it leads directly to Romeos exile and ultimately to the deaths of Romeo and Juliet. Romeos anger towards Tybalt for murdering Mercutio, leads him to kill Tybalt. From this point in the scene Romeo realises that he has ruined his life forever. O, I am fortunes fool. We will write a custom essay sample on William Shakespeares Romeo and Juliet specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on William Shakespeares Romeo and Juliet specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on William Shakespeares Romeo and Juliet specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Act 3 Scene 1; based on the Luhrmanns interpretation. The scene opens with Mercutio and Benvolio on a hot summers day on Verona Beach and the Capulet boys have just arrived. If we shall meet, we shall not scape a brawl. Tybalt appears asking for Romeo, demanding a fight. Mercutio responds with outrage and draws to fight him. Tybalt does not back away. Benvolio tries to move them to secluded place where no mans eyes can glaze. Withdraw unto some private place. Here eyes graze on us. Mercutio and Tybalt ignore Benvolios remark and continue to fight. Luckily for Mercutio, Romeo arrives and Tybalt backs off. Peace be with you sir, here comes my man. He tries to start to fight with Romeo but Romeo withdraws and tries to declare his love for Tybalts cousin, Juliet and explain why he cannot fight him. So good Capulet which name I tender as dearly as mine own. Mercutio steps in and takes Romeos place. Tybalt and Mercutio battle it out. From this point in the film it shows how modern Baz Luhrmann has made it, because originally in the play it was a sword fight between Tybalt and Mercutio but Baz Luhrmann used guns and their fists to emphasize the violence and angry emotions. Romeo jumps between Mercutio and Tybalt, stopping them from hurting one another. Blocking Mercutio from Tybalt, causing Tybalt to stab Mercutio in the chest. Tybalt and the others did not realise how fatal the wound was. As Mercutio was even being witty to the point of his death, he was pretending that he was not hurt ay, a scratch, a scratch and cursing their households under his breathes plague of both your houses. At this moment Romeo realises that Mercutio is actually fatally wounded and its his entire fault if you ask for me tomorrow and you should find me a grave man. As Mercutio is blaming him for his wound I was hurt under your arm. But Romeo thought he was only doing it all for the best. Mercutio falls to the ground and slowly stops breathing in Romeos arms. In the Luhrmann production of the play, the weather and the light changes to show Romeos emotions. Baz Luhrmann uses weather and light to set emotions of a characters feelings and build up the violence. The weather changes in this scene from a hot summers day, to a storm. The heat of the afternoon represents the emotions and violence, which are building up from the characters and the storm represents the burst of violence and angry emoti ons from Romeo. The light, from clear sunny sky quickly changes to a stormy atmosphere; Baz Luhrmann also uses music to set the mood and emotions of the characters. Romeo, with such outrage and anger chases Tybalt. Baz Luhrmann uses a car chase and dark lighting with flashes of bright lights and close ups of Romeos anger and Tybalts scared facial expressions. He also uses loud dramatic orchestral music to add to the atmosphere. Romeos and Tybalts cars collide into each other. Baz Luhrmann adds an extra scene of Juliet happily waiting for Romeo on their wedding night, while Romeo is out fighting with her cousin. Tybalts gun slides across the tarmac and Romeo reaches for it and points it directly towards Tybalt, while shouting, threatening to kill either one of them. For Mercutios soul is but a little way above our heads. Staying for thine to keep him company. Either tho or I, or both must go with him. With outrage Romeo shoots Tybalt in the chest. Tybalts body falls into the river, at the feet of a religious statue. Baz Luhramm adds the statue to show how religious the play is. There is silence as the gun that murdered Tybalt falls from Romeos hands, to the ground, with a loud echo. Romeo realises, that he has ruined his life. O, I am fortunes fool! It starts to rain and Romeo falls to the ground and breaks down into tears. Luhrmann adds the rain for effect on Romeos emotions and feelings in this scene. Benvolio arrives to warn Romeo that the Prince and Lady Capulet are on their way. Tybalt slain, stand not amazed. The Prince will doom these deaths, hence, be gone away. In the Luhrmann interpretation, Benvolio arrives in a car, this makes the scene more modern as in the original text. The Prince and Lady Capulet arrive to find the body of Tybalt floating in the river. Benvolio explains the situation. Tybalt, here slain, whom Romeos hand did slay. Lady Capulet is furious with anger and demands that Romeo should die Romeo slew Tybalt, Romeo must not live. The Prince is outraged as Mercutio was one of his Kinsman and the conflict between the two families leads to innocent peoples deaths. The Prince decides that Romeo should be exile to out side the fair Verona walls. When they find him, that hour is his last. Baz Luhrmanns version of the play is extremely modern interpretation. I think this is one of the reasons why the film was so successful because the audience of today could relate to it and also using well-known teen actors/ actresses to appeal to the younger age group. Luhrmann used several different methods to make the play modern. Some of the ways he used to achieve the film modernism Clothing to modernise the film: the Capulet boys wore dark religious tight fitted, clothing. Where as the Montague boys wore lose Hawaiian shirts and dark lose trousers, these outfits represents their characters personalities. Using guns instead of swords. Car chases. Using music, lighting and weather to set the moods and emotions of the characters. Capulet and Montagues are both involved in the building industry in this version. Loud dramatic music orchestral. Fast moving shoots. Police and ambulances. Set in a modern city- busy, multi-cultural. Using well-known young actors/ actresses. Extra add scene for effects. Comparing Baz Luhrmanns modern version to Zeffirellis version of the play. The Zeffirellis version is extremely traditional. As Zeffirelli sticks to the original text, Zeffirelli uses traditional costumes, does not use music much, to set the atmosphere, in act 3 scene 1,it is more humours compared to Baz Luhrmanns version, Zeffirelli also does not use cars, weather or lighting changes to set a mood/ atmosphere but Zeffirelli uses sword fights unlike Baz Luhrmanns, Zeffirelli set it in the period when it was set in the play originally. In the Baz Luhrmann version, we, the audience, know more of what is happening before the characters do. Example; when Romeo and Juliet first meet, the audience know that their families are enemies before they find out. Also we, as the audience, know about Romeo murdering Tybalt before Juliet finds out. The Baz Luhrmann interpretation is very different to all the other interpretations of Romeo and Juliet that have been made since the original because he has made the film modern. The audience of today in my opinion, would react positively to this version because the film covers, most genres of films, as it has action, drama, romance, comedy and I also think that the audience of today would react positively to it because they could all relate to the story line in one way or another. I think if the audience of 1968 saw the Baz Luhrmann version then they would act differently compared to the audience of today because todays culture are more prepared for tragedy and deserters as todays culture has suffered more than the culture of 1968. William Shakespeares Romeo and Juliet Essay Example William Shakespeares Romeo and Juliet Essay William Shakespeares Romeo and Juliet is a story set in Elizabethan times. It is about two lovers in an unfortunate situation which, from the start, is certain to end in tragedy. In Elizabethan times, the ideas on family life, parenthood and ranking in society were very different to what they are now. This is where Shakespeare took ideas from. For example, children were thought of as small adults and were property of their parents and women were property of their husbands. In act 3, scene 5 the tension, which is already quite high, builds quickly as a number of unfortunate events plague Juliet. The scene in general, is the beginning of the certain tragedy, which comes upon them. It shows how Juliet becomes completely alone and discarded. This creates a growing amount of sympathy, which grows throughout the scene. Shakespeare uses a number of clever techniques in the language of the characters, the link to society at that time and carrying on a general theme throughout the whole play. The first point in which the tension begins to build in the scene is when Romeo and Juliet first wake up. Romeo and Juliet try to postpone their separation as much as they can. Juliet says Wilt thou be gone? It is not yet near day. It was the nightingale and not the lark that pierced the fearful hollow of thine ear. The metaphor fearful hollow of thine ear, could add tension. This is because Juliet is remarking on how terrible the morning birds call is to them because it means that its time for them to be separated. Tension is built in the audience because of the sympathy towards the fact they will be inevitably separated. We will write a custom essay sample on William Shakespeares Romeo and Juliet specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on William Shakespeares Romeo and Juliet specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on William Shakespeares Romeo and Juliet specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer There is then a sudden rise in tension when Nurse bursts into the room and tells them, Your lady mother is coming to your chamber. The day is broke, be wary, look about. Upon hearing this there is a desperate struggle by Romeo to get dressed. This builds more tension because Lady Capulet could walk in at any moment and catch them. The audience would feel nervous at this point because they wouldnt want the two of them to get caught. The theme of love vs. hate runs strongly through this part of the scene because although they both love each other, it is Romeos fault that they are to be separated because he killed Tybalt. It must be hard for Juliet to make up her mind because Tybalt was one of her favourite cousins and she wont see her husband again. At the next point, the theme of love vs. hate once again runs strong through this part of the scene. There isnt much of a rise in tension. It rises a little at the thought of Lady Capulet walking in the room at any moment and catching the two of them but it is otherwise calm. The sympathy within the audience is what rises more than anything else. It rises most dramatically when Romeo says to Juliet, Farewell, farewell, one kiss and Ill descend, because they are being separated and becoming sadder and sadder. When Romeo has descended, Juliet has a discomforting moment. She has a premonition of Romeo dieing. She says to herself O god, I have an ill divining soul. Methinks I see thee now thou art so low, as one dead in the bottom of a tomb. Either my eyesight fails, or thou lookest pale. This adds to the tragedy because it involves the death of one of the protagonists. The audience would feel the add in tension because they will not want one of the main characters to die. The next part of the scene is when Lady Capulet walks into the room. She thinks that Juliet is crying because of Tybalts death but really she is crying because she has just said goodbye to Romeo. Lady Capulet tries to cheer up Juliet by telling her Marry my child, next Thursday morn, to the gallant young noble gentleman, the county Paris. Juliet is faced with a dilemma because in those days parents were the owners of their children and she is not really allowed to refuse them. The audience know that she is married but her parents do not so there is a bit of dramatic irony involved as well as the fact they feel more sympathy towards her ever-growing problems. This all adds to the tension because the audience dont know how Juliet will react and how this will affect her mother. Despite the fact she is not allowed to refuse her parents, she does it anyway. She tells her mother Now by Saint Peters church and Peter too, He shall not make me a joyful bride. This is because she doesnt like Paris but most importantly because she is still married to Romeo, and bigamy and divorce were both against religion in Elizabethan times. The tension rises because Juliet suddenly bursts with anger and she might strike out at her mother. The audience would feel surprised because she has disobeyed her parents, which is unusual for the time the play is set. And also the audience would worry about her parents reaction to her defiance and her well being because of that. The tension takes a sudden rise when Lady Capulet says Here comes your father, tell him so yourself, and see how he will take it at your hands. Juliets mother says that because she doesnt want to tell Capulet herself. This is because men were considered the owners of their wives and they were able to do almost what they wanted to them for example, hit them. The tension could also rise because we know from earlier scenes in the play that Capulet has a short fuse and there is a chance that he will be fuming with anger, or even react with violence. The audience at this point will feel scared for Juliet for that same reason. When Capulet first walks into Juliets room, he is in a relatively good mood. He asks Juliet why she is crying How now a conduit girl? What still in tears? Evermore showering? The tension drops because Capulet isnt yet in a rage and doesnt look as if he will react badly to Juliet. The three questions is a clever technique used to create sympathy. This does create sympathy in the audience towards Juliet because it makes her sound even sadder than she really is. When Lady Capulet breaks the news to her husband, the tension takes a huge rise. This is because when she says Ay sir but she will none, she gives you thanks. I would the fool were married to her grave, you dont know how Capulet will react. The audience and characters would become scared and anxious as to whether Capulet will react angrily or calmly. The mystery adds to the tension. The theme of parent child conflicts is here more than anywhere else because, Juliet, by refusing her fathers offer, has initiated a certain argument that she definitely will not win. She recognises her limited power but she is determined to use it despite the fact she lives in a male dominated society. The tension takes a rise when Capulet reacts to the news that he has been disobeyed. He gives many commands like Thank me no thankings nor proud me no prouds but fettle your fine joints gainst Thursday next, to go to Saint Peters church, or I will drag thee on a hurdle thither. These commands signal his immense anger and the fact that he is or should be in control. The audience will feel scared for Juliet because Capulet seems out of control and could use violence and this adds to the tension. Juliet, after this, tries to reason with her father. She knows that she has limited power but she is determined to try and use it. This adds to the tension because she lives in a male dominated world and defying her father will add to dyer consequences. She kneels down and says Good father I beseech you on my knees, hear me with patience, but to speak a word. Her father cuts her off and gives her even shorter and harsher commands which show his anger building. He tells her Speak not, reply not, do not answer me. The audience will become even more scared for Juliets well being. This will add to the ever growing tension. Capulets anger excels so much that he threatens to throw out Juliet if she does not comply. He tells her Thursday is near, lay hand on heart, advise. And you be mine, Ill give you to my friend; and you be not, hang, beg, starve, in the streets, for my soul, Ill never acknowledge thee. The audience will feel sympathy and feel scared for Juliet because she is used to living being served hand and foot and if she were to be in the streets she would certainly die in the streets. This would be a tragedy as she is the main character and nobody wants her to die. Capulet leaves Juliets room and leaves Juliet feeling rejected. She then turns to her mother and she once again gets rejected. Her final resort is to get help from Nurse. The tension then takes a rise when she stuns everybody by saying that she would commit suicide. She tells nurse O, god! O, Nurse, how shall this be prevented? My husband on earth, my faith on heaven, how shalt that fait return again to earth? The audience would be surprised to hear this because it is not something that an innocent young girl would be expected to do in this situation. This links to the theme of fate and destiny because in the prologue it says that they will die. The tension takes a final rise as nurse surprises everybody. She tells Juliet I think it best you marry with the county Paris. The audience would be very surprised at this and the tension also takes another rise because this is not what you would think nurse would say because on previous impressions of nurse this is not in her personality. The most probable reason she would have said this is so she doesnt get thrown into the streets for disobeying her superior, Capulet. Shakespeare uses a wide range of techniques to build tension throughout Act 3, Scene 5 of Romeo and Juliet. He tries to create an intimidating atmosphere to try and signal that there is tension in the scene. This tension at first gradually then rapidly increases as Juliet, a protagonist, becomes involved in more and more threatening and challenging situations which lead to a complete rejection from her family and end with her being in a potentially life threatening situation. In my opinion the tension doesnt really drop at all at the end of the scene as it is left in sort of a cliff-hanger. This leaves an air of mystery as to what Juliet will do next and generally keeps up the tension. Generally, the tension in the scene is created by the thought of death and violence which rises and rises as the scene progresses and never drops as the scene ends in a sort of cliff-hanger.