Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet" and Baz Luhrmann's "Romeo + Juliet"

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William Shakespeare's "The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet," set in 16th century Verona, Italy shares differences with Baz Luhrmann's "Romeo + Juliet," set in modern day Verona Beach. These stories contain the same characters and conflict, however major and minor discrepancies are galore in the story lines of both formats of William Shakespeare's creation. Some major inconsistencies occur, such as Mercutio dying at a beach, portrayed as a hero, instead of being at a bar, looking like a fool, Friar Lawrence's letter is successfully sent to Romeo by mail carriers, however he does not have the opportunity to read it, unlike in the play version, where Romeo does not get the letter from Friar John, and is told the news by Balthazar, and nobody being at Juliet's tomb to stop Romeo from reaching Juliet, unlike in the play, Paris was there to pay his respects to Juliet. In addition to the major inconsistencies, minor ones are included throughout, such as Romeo and Juliet first seeing each other through a fish tank, then kissing in the elevator, not the dance, the famous balcony scene occurring in a pool, not on an actual balcony, and Juliet pointing a gun at Friar after she points it to herself, threatening to commit suicide. These inconsistencies probably occurred in the play to add a modern and entertaining twist to the Shakespearean classic, leading to the same denouement in both versions of "The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet."

In the modernized version, "Romeo + Juliet," Mercutio is at a beach, with Benvolio, until Tybalt Capulet makes his arrival. One difference right there is that the three of them are at a tavern in the play, but at a beach in the movie. To follow along, Romeo began the fight, not Mercutio, and Tybalt began to fight Ro...

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...being portrayed as a hero at the time of his death, the successful delivery of Friar Lawrence's letter to Romeo, and Paris not being present at the time that Romeo was at Juliet's tomb contribute to the major discrepancies that contradict what happened in the play. Romeo and Juliet's kissing scenes in the elevator, the alterations of the famous balcony scene in ACT II, scene ii, and Juliet pointing her gun at Friar Lawrence after threatening to commit suicide if she does not get what she wants are minor discrepancies that occur in Baz Luhrmann's production which are not as serious inconsistencies. The discrepancies that take place in Luhrmann's portrayal of the Shakespearean classic are quite different to the play format, primarily because of the modern influence, but all of these discrepancies build up to what is the now the famous "The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet."

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