Different Interpretations of William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet
The Beatles wrote this in the 1960’s but they certainly were not the
first to think it. Shakespeare’s tragedy “Romeo and Juliet” was based
around this sentiment. It is a story of love, passion, romance,
betrayal, life and of course, death.
In the late 1990’s Baz Luhrmann produced one of the most controversial
interpretations of a Shakespeare play. He shot it in modern costume
with modern settings, though he kept the original text. Using Verona
Beach, Los Angles as his setting and Leonardo DiCaprio as his leading
man, Luhrmann made it into a Hollywood movie and one of the biggest
blockbuster hits of the 90’s.
However 20 years earlier Franco Zephirelli had shot his classic
interpretation of the film-using period costume. This film follows the
script fairly closely and is close to how Shakespeare would have had
it performed.
Even stage productions of the classic tragedy have been updated. Not
long ago the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford put on a modern
interpretation, which was apparently much like the 1970’s cult film
“Grease” centring around fast cars and leather jackets.
The RSC production that our class saw was much closer to an original
Shakespeare production: however it was of poor quality, many of our
girls feeling that they could have acted the parts more convincingly
themselves.
The characters of the play are complex: they blossom and unveil
themselves throughout the play; first impressions are not always
right.
Juliet Capulet, the only child of Lord and Lady Capulet, whose rivalry
with the Montague family has been alive as long...
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The two die with each other, for each other. It is the ultimate gift
or sacrifice that can be made for the one you love. I don’t know how
relevant the story would be today even though the lovers are
immortalised in words and film. The age of Romeo and Juliet does give
me doubts about the strength of the bonds and the love between the two
in the early scenes of the play. However as the feelings deepen and
the actions become more irrational, I realise that they are definitely
in love. Their relationship is honest, equal and true. I don’t know
how many people would say nowadays that they would die for their
partner, but we must remember this tragedy is fictional; it was
written in a much simpler world. Whichever way I look at it though,
Romeo and Juliet are the original lovers and will be so until love
itself dies.
Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet is a play commonly viewed and known as a true love story; however, after analyzing several hints portrayed by the protagonists, it is evident that Shakespeare did not intend to make Romeo and Juliet seem like a true love story but a criticism of how superficial society’s view on love is.
This is my daughter’s jointure, for no more can I demand.”(5, 3, 13-15)Here Lord Capulet is saying that he is sorry for what they’re fighting and loathing has brought to their families; Lord Capulet is extending his hand in friendship to stop the fighting. This shows that Juliet's father loved her enough to stop the fighting. Lord Montague also does his part in trying to right the wrongs that they committed, by saying “ But I can give thee more, For I will raise her statue in pure gold, That whiles Verona by that name is known, There shall no figure at such rate be set As that of true and faithful Juliet.”(5, 3, 314-318) In other words, he is saying that he will make sure that everyone will know how loyal and good Juliet was. By doing this he is showing that he holds no grudge against the Capulets and is being amenable.
In act one scene three of Romeo and Juliet Lord Capulet states “…She hath not seen the change of fourteen years. Ere we may think her ripe to be a bride.” This means that Juliet is not quite fourteen years old and her father is not sure if she is ready to become a wife and mother. There are many differences between how people marry today, and how they married in the time of Romeo and Juliet. Some of the differences are when the people marry, why people marry, and also the level of maturity people marry at.
of a book a person may want to know what’s the basic outline of the
Kenneth Branagh creates his own individualistic adaptation of this classic through the use of visual imagery, characterization, and setting. Branagh cut many lines and speeches from the text to better support his interpretation of a more open and informal society of warm-hearted, affectionate characters. Though Shakespeare's mood is more formal, Branagh remains true to the essence of the play as all of the same characters and most of the dialogue are justly included in the film. Although distinct differences can be made between Branagh’s film and Shakespeare’s written work, they both share a common denominator of good old-fashioned entertainment; and in the world of theater, nothing else really matters.
Romeo is the only son of Lord Montague, the head of a reputed and rich
Romeo and Juliet is arguably the most famous story about love in literature. This is in part because of the tension caused by the look the different characters have towards what love means and its role in life. These views were very important for the progression of the story. Their different views collided and caused much grief and sorrow for the characters throughout play. Many important events that propelled the story forward would not have happened without the various feelings towards love the characters have and how they felt of and reacted to the other characters’ view on love.
What makes a piece of literature relevant or irrelevant to a society? There have been many debates on the relevance about particular pieces of literature, especially old literature, in the modern day. Their relevance can be judged by how they address issues happening in society when they were written compared to those same issues today. It can also be judged on whether the themes present can apply to the modern day. And even if a story portrays issues that are either resolved or irrelevant today it can still have value on how it portrays human nature The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet is a relevant work for a person in modern times due to its themes on suicide, human recklessness, and violence and revenge.
...e tragic celebration of young, forbidden love told by William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet, has been tailored for many motion picture adaptations. The most famous of these adaptations are Franco Zeffirelli’s version and Baz Lurhmann’s film produced in 1996. These two films applied Shakespeare’s most well-known work as a basis for their motion pictures. Both films had similarities, but the differences were much more apparent. Ever since William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet has been debuted, it has and forever will be an artistic influence for playwrights, directors, and other artists.
Love is a wonderful curse that forces us to do unexplainable things. Romeo and Juliet is a famous play written by William Shakespeare, who does an exceptional job in showing the readers what hate, mercy, death, courage, and most importantly what love looks like. This play is about two star-crossed lovers who are both willing to sacrifice their lives just to be with one another. Unfortunately tragedy falls upon the unconditional love Romeo and Juliet have for each other, but along the way they experience immeasurable forgiveness and extraordinary braveness just to be with one another. Sadly enough, love is a cause of violence in the end. Even though the pair spends less time together, it is enough for them to fall in love. It is clearly true
In conclusion, Lurhmann uses a lot of modern filming techniques to make Romeo and Juliet appeal to a contemporary audience. By relating certain aspects to situations in modern society, it makes the audience understand the ideas behind the original play and he simplifies the complicated old English of Shakespeare by adding exciting and dynamic visuals. Lurhmann tried to create a modern version of Romeo and Juliet and he was completely successful in his aims. Lurhmann defied all odds by making his film appeal to a modern audience and not only is this film very clever, it is a must see for any film lovers.
The modern setting naturally incorporates the use of modern inventions, modern clothing, and modern behavior. These factors change the audience’s perspective and analyzation from the original play to the movie. For example, the use of bicycles made transportation easier and the running away seem less impossible. The modern clothing took away from the inherent magic, much like changing the setting originally affected this. The behavior of the characters that changed due to this setting change, however, disturbed the original emotions and analyzations one might make from reading the work as intended, through William Shakespeare’s original
In Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, the views of love held by the character Romeo contrast sharply with the views of Mercutio. Romeo's character seems to suffer from a type of manic depression. He is in love with his sadness, quickly enraptured and easily crushed again on a passionate roller coaster of emotion. Mercutio, by contrast is much more practical and level headed. His perceptions are clear and quick, characterized by precise thought and careful evaluation. Romeo, true to his character begins his appearance in the play by wallowing in his depression over Rosaline who does not return his love:
How Baz Luhrmann Uses Props, Iconography, Costumes, and Settings to Create His Own Version of William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet William Shakespeare’s best loved tragedy, Romeo and Juliet, has been portrayed in theatres and on film in many different ways. But none have been quite like Baz Luhrmann’s imaginative and unconventional adaptation. He has brought aspects of the plays Elizabethan origins and transfused them with a modern day background and created, what can only be described as a masterpiece. I believe that his use of Props, iconography costumes and the settings he has chosen has helped him to make this film such a great success. The settings of each scene have been specifically chosen to create a desired affect.
of Tybalt's death. He felt that he fell into one of fate's many cruel games