Shakespeare is a name recognized by all to be that of one of the greatest playwrights of all time. His play Romeo and Juliet is one of his most frequently performed and most popular plays. Its story is very well known today despite the fact it was written over 400 years ago. The tragic romance has been adapted and reproduced many times for stage, opera, musical and film. Two very successful film adaptations of the play are Franco Zeffirelli’s Romeo and Juliet (1968) and Baz Luhrmann’s William Shakespeare’s Romeo + Juliet (1996). Though the two films are quite different in the way they have been adapted, they both apply the unique qualities that the original play has that make people want to see it. These qualities stem from Shakespeare’s brilliance as a writer and his ability to incorporate so many strong emotions in the one text. The story of these two feuding families is all too common in everyday life. Everywhere we look there are stories of arguments and fighting that seem too far-fetched to be true. One of the great appeals of this story is that everyone can relate to the situation to various extents. Fighting goes on in the world everyday whether it be between groups of friends or family or even between countries. The persistence and desperation shown by Romeo and Juliet to be with each other keeps audiences enthralled and wanting to watch on. In Zeffirelli’s film, Romeo overhears Juliet on her balcony wishing she could be with Romeo. "O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo? Deny thy father and refuse thy name, or if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love and I'll no longer be a Capulet." Juliet asks Romeo to change his name and disobey his father, but if he will not, she will change hers. Romeo and Juliet break from the... ... middle of paper ... ...s going to be forced to marry Paris but The Friar hatches a plan to get them back together. This offers the audience hope that all could still end well. The suspense builds up to the climactic final scene where the previous glimmers of hope emphasise the tragedy of their deaths. This gripping sequence of events brilliantly depicted in different ways in both Zeffirelli and Luhrmann’s films showcase their abilities as directors and their different aims for the films. There is no simple answer as to why there is still demand for productions of Romeo and Juliet to be produced. Instead it can be explained as a combination of factors including the timeless themes it is based on, its ability to be adapted to modern day audiences, and Shakespeare’s genius in being able to write such a complex yet versatile play that would endure the test of time to still be around today.
" 'Tis but thy name that is my enemy; / Thou art thyself, though not a Montague. / What's Montague? it is nor hand, nor foot, / Nor arm, nor face, nor any other part / Belonging to a man. O, be some other name! / What's in a name? that which we call a rose / By any other name would smell as sweet; / So Romeo would, were he not Romeo call'd, / Retain that dear perfection which he owes / Without that title. Romeo, doff thy name, / And for that name which is no part of thee / Take all myself."
In particular, “O Romeo, Romeo! Wherefore art thou Romeo?/ Deny thy father and refuse thy name./ Or, if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love,/ And I’ll no longer be a Capulet” (II.II.33-34). Juliet wonders why must Romeo be a Montague, and why must their families hate each other. In addition, Juliet would give up her association with the Capulets to be with Romeo, so she would be giving up a part of herself. Furthermore, “Till thou shalt know the reason of my love./ And so, good Capulet—which name I tender/ As dearly as my own—be satisfied” (III.I.41-43). Romeo tells Tybalt that since he is married to Juliet that he loves the name Capulet just as much as he loves his own name. He now affiliates with both the Capulets and Montagues and shows this with affection to Tybalt before the fight. When talking of the theme of identity in this play, you cannot forget how important the last name of a character
Two films, both alike in content, set in fair Verona, where the directors laid out their scene, one created by Franco Zeffirelli in 1968 and the other by Baz Luhbrmann in 1996. Both cinematic, both staying true to the plot and dialogue, each one radically different than the other, Zeffirelli sets his film within historical actuality, while Luhbrmann presents his with a modern twist. A story of love, revenge and death, revolving around a pair of star-crossed lovers, interpreted differently, but presented in the same form.
In 1596, William Shakespeare published the tragic tale of two star-crossed lovers, Romeo and Juliet. The origins of this story are uncertain but Shakespeare’s chief source for his adoption of the story was from “…The Tragicall Historye of Romeus and Juliet, a poem by Arthur Brooke (1562). He also knew the story from Palace of Pleasure, by William Painter, which appeared in several editions prior to 1580.”(Boyce 563) Shakespeare’s classic tale is about “two young lovers caught in the crossfire of a senseless family feud.”(Shakespeare 3) This feud between the two families ultimately is the cause of the two lovers untimely demise. In 1996, Baz Luhrmann produced a modern film of the classic tragedy entitled William Shakespeare’s Romeo + Juliet. Adding familiar images and common ideas, Luhrmann brought the classic story to modern times. Though Romeo + Juliet has many differences from the original version from Shakespeare, it supports the original characters, themes, dialogue, and key issues of the classic tale of the star-crossed lovers.
e. Oh, Romeo, Romeo, why do you have to be Romeo? Forget about your father and change your name. Or else, if you don't change your name, just swear you love me and I'll stop being a Capulet. f. symbolism soliloquy 3.
Shakespeare's is one of the most read writers ever and his writing was so successful that not just one group of people liked it. He did this by relating to his audience using universal truths. . Human emotions are not something that change over time and they are also known as universal truths; love, hate, revenge, and envy are all examples of universal truths. This play was so successful that many other movies have copied the plot but changed the scenery. Over the past 400 years since this play was written the world has changed drastically, but the emotions and feelings in this play have withstood the test of time. This is why the movies, Romeo and Juliet (1996) and West Side Story (1961) were so successful. Shakespeare's play and the two movies modeled after it have many similarities and many differences, but one thing remains constant in all of them, They all use universal truths to relate to their audiences.
For about the last month or so, we have been reading the classic tale of Romeo and Juliet by Shakespeare. We have also watched three different versions of it. We have watched the 1996 one with Leonardo Dicaprio, The original 1968 version, and the 2013 Live Broadway Production version. All three of these movies have a lot in common but they also have many differences.
Juliet is honest with herself. Although she is aware of how dangerous it is to be interested in Romeo, she wishes to ask him to “Deny thy father, and refuse thy name;/ Or, if thou wilt not, be but sworn my lover,/ And I’ll no longer be a Capulet” (II, ii,
Noticing or comprehending mental or emotional changes in a play is hard, such as when Juliet has a mental change after her family turns their backs on her. When she is told to marry the county Paris and she refuses, both her mother and father are upset and refuse to recognize her because she let down such an opportunity unaware that she is already married to Romeo. The nurse also tells Juliet that she should marry Paris and also tells her to forget about Romeo; it is then, when Juliet changes mentally, making the Nurse dead to her for saying something so foul to her ears (3.5.206-236). Those who are reading cannot see such a change easily in the play, but Zeffirelli’s film clearly displays the turning point. The portrayal of this scene in the movie helps one understand what is going on because there is no stage
In one scene of Shakespeare’s play, Romeo and Juliet share only one kissing scene. “This holy shrine, the gentle sin is this: My lips, two blushing pilgrims, ready stand, To smooth that rough touch with a tender kiss.” ( 1. 5. 94 - 96 ) However, Zeffirelli’s film version has overly used multiple kissing scenes that Romeo and Juliet share. Furthermore, Shakespeare’s play at the end of Act 5, creates tension as Paris is being killed by Romeo at the Capulet’s tomb. “ A grave? Oh, no. A lantern, slaughtered youth…Death, lie thou there, by a dead man interred.” ( 5. 3. 92 - 95 ) Zeffirelli’s film version, does not include Paris’s death. To be mentioned as a difference in Shakespeare’s play, Romeo receives the poison from the apothecary to be with Juliet in her tomb. “Let me have A dram of poison, such soon-speeding gear, As will disperse itself through all the veins, That the life-weary taker may fall dead, And that the trunk may be discharged of breath…” ( 5. 1. 61 - 65 ) Although this scene is important in leading the two lovers closer to tragedy, Zeffirelli’s film does not include this scene thus making the audience question the situation. The examples provided, support the thesis because Shakespeare’s play has throughly given the readers an exciting plot that has conflicts leading from one to another. Zeffirelli’s film does not give the audience a satisfying plot because there are a few exposition scenes missing to transition
Romeo and Juliet is a play conforming around the context of tragedy, it is about a tragic love story coinciding a pair of star-crossed admirers from rival families. Following on, the play has been illustrated in films as well as plays and novels. One of many films (Romeo and Juliet) was directed by Baz Luhrmann and the original play was written and directed by William Shakespeare. In this essay I will be analysing the juxtaposition between the two.
Baz Lurhmann’s creation of the film Romeo and Juliet has shown that today’s audience can still understand and appreciate William Shakespeare. Typically, when a modern audience think of Shakespeare, they immediately think it will be boring, yet Lurhmann successfully rejuvenates Romeo and Juliet. In his film production he uses a number of different cinematic techniques, costumes and a formidably enjoyable soundtrack; yet changes not one word from Shakespeare’s original play, thus making it appeal to a modern audience.
“Is she a Capulet? O dear account! my life is my foe’s debt” (1.5.117-118). There are many factors that put pressure on Romeo’s and Juliet’s relationship throughout Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. The young couple is effected in many ways by every instance that creates stress which Romeo’s and Juliet’s relationship is being forced to carry. The biggest factors that impact them are, their families ongoing feud, the broken relationships they both have in their families, and all the instances of miscommunication. Through the story of the couple who meet one another at a dance, sneak around at night to see one another, and fight for eachother, they face challenges many challenges, that add stress to their relationship.
Juliet cries a lot when she finds out about her husbands fate. Her parents think that she is grieving about the death of her cousin, but instead Juliet is crying for the murderer of her deceased cousin. The nurse brings Juliet the bad news about Romeo (Juliet’s husband) and Tybalt (Juliet’s cousin). She tells Juliet that Romeo has been banished form Verona for murdering Tybalt, who killed Mercutio. Juliet is devastated by this news and starts to mourn about her banished husband (Romeo). Later that day, Paris comes over to the Capulet residence to talk abou...
Although Luhrmann’s loyalty to the original story may be questioned, his film has proven to be entertaining and successful. The film has outpaced the other adaptations of Romeo and Juliet and other Shakespearean plays as can be seen from the approximately 30 million dollars that it made through tickets and box office sales. Just as there are avid followers of the original tale by Shakespeare, Luhrmann’s version has a big fan base which, since its release 1996, has seen the film reach cult status and it can be said that Luhrmann has modernized Romeo and Juliet just as it can be said that he has ruined a brilliant masterpiece that was fine the way it was.