The subject of death is one of the most prominent elements found in both modern and traditional literatures, and it often plays a significant role in the development of the plot. Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare is no exception to this norm. In this play, a pair of star-crossed lovers finds themselves married despite an ancient family feud. As the play proceeds as a story of love, the reader quickly realizes through Shakespeare’s subtle usages of foreshadowing and dialogue that death is inevitable for the two young lovers. In a later film interpretation of the play, director Franco Zeffirelli also tries to capture the inevitability of Romeo and Juliet’s death by using sounds. Since the film version of Romeo and Juliet effectively portray
For example, at the end of Act 1 Scene 4, Romeo says, “I fear too early, for my mine misgives / Some consequences yet hanging in the stars / Shall bitterly begin his fearful date… / By some vile forfeit of untimely death” (I.iv.113-118). One may interpret Romeo’s statement as such: if he goes to the party, it will lead to dire consequences that will eventually lead to his death. Since earlier in the play, Shakespeare makes use of a chorus to leave out any kind of doubt regarding Romeo’s suicide, the audience immediately anticipate the outcome of the story as such when they read Romeo’s soliloquy. Foreshadowing is once used again a few scenes later when Friar Lawrence marries Romeo and Juliet. He says, “These violent delights have violent ends / And in their triumph die like fire and gunpowder... / Therefore love moderately. Long love doth so” (II.vi.9-14). Here, Friar Lawrence is implying that couple's passionate relationship would end just as ferociously as it has first begun. Just like fire and gunpowder, the two’s desire for each other will be extinguished eventually. Additionally, the fact that Friar Lawrence describes Romeo’s love for Juliet would end so drastically direct the audience into thinking why this elaborate imagery and foreboding is found in perhaps the most joyful scenes in the play. Based upon the audiences’ prior
For example, the theme song, What is a Youth, is first played during the Capulet Ball when Romeo and Juliet become acquainted with each other. The lyrics and instrumental background with its high crescendos and the gradual diminuendo quickly arises the audiences’ feelings like excitement and sorrow. When the song reach its climax, that is, “Death will come soon to hush us along,” it strongly evokes a sense of worriedness in the audience. Then, when it reaches its ending, “A rose will bloom, and then it will fade. So does a youth. So does the fairest maid,” the audience feel a sense of anticipation. Accordingly, the song swells in the background as passionate kisses are shared between Romeo and Juliet. When the two stop kissing, the tune “Death will come soon to hush us along” repeats soon again, foreshadowing the eventual death of the couple. This tune would once again be used in the scene that Romeo and Juliet actually
Romeo and Juliet is a play about two lovers who have to risk their lives in order to demonstrate their love and will to stay together, regardless the feud between their families. By the end, the death of Romeo and Juliet finally bring the reconciliation to these two families. It is fate that the two most shall-not meet people fall in love and it love that eventually won against hatred. Since then, there have been many different versions of Romeo and Juliet, whether it was for film, stage, musicals. These different recontextualised adaptions change the original play by many ways, some modernise the language, environment, props as well as changing the original characteristics of some characters. Out of all the different adaptions of Romeo and Juliet, two stood out the most. One was the Romeo and Juliet (1996) and directed by Baz Luhrmann and the other one was Romeo and Juliet Broadway (2013) play version,
Fate is talked about a lot too, which adds to the dramatic features of the play, so as the story evolves everything the characters say can relate back to the prologue in some way when we find out what is going to happen in the end. The quote ?From forth the fatal loins of these two foes? shows that nothing good will happen as fatal means almost deathly and both the families children end up dying at the end. Also in the prologue ?The fearful passage of their death-marked love? means they are fated to die because they are in love through a course of unfortunate events. Also at the Capulets? party when Romeo and Juliet first kiss the rest of the play is almost set out for you.
When Romeo is leaving Juliet's chamber and climbs down to the ground to leave Juliet sees him as pale: "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"(Rom. 3.5.54-56). Juliet describes Romeo as looking dead when he is descending from the tower. In the scene Juliet is sensing something wrong but doesn't think much of it and brushes it off. She then after goes back to saying goodbye to Romeo. This shows that their love has caused Juliet to not think of the uneasy feeling she had felt. The purpose of this scene connects to the message of Shakespeare because it shows that in the end they both have killed themselves due to the fact that they love each other so much. The two lovers feel they can not live without each other and cause them to make the irrational choice of taking their lives. Another scene foreshadowing the two lovers death due to their love for each other is shown in a quote of dramatic irony. Romeo is begging Friar Lawrence to marry him and Juliet : “Do thou but close our hands with holy words, Then love-devouring death do what he dare” (Rom.2.6.6-7). Romeo is saying in this quote that as long as they are married then love-destroying death can do whatever it wants to them both. He is prioritizing his love for Juliet and her being his wife over what could happen to them in the future. Being so in
In Romeo and Juliet a significantly horrendous ending takes place, but with Shakespeare's use of foreshadowing he is able to keep the reader from being overly traumatized. For example, when Juliet and Romeo are discussing plans Juliet says, "O God, I have an ill-divining soul! / Methinks I see thee, now thou art so low, / As one dead in the bottom of the tomb"(lll,v,14-56). Juliet has mixed feelings about the arrangement devised by the Friar so that the two of them can be together. Juliet thinks disaster will come of previous tactics developed to allow Romeo and her to be together. In addition, when Romeo is speaking of his love for Juliet he says, "And but thou love me, let them find me here. / My life were better ended by there hate / Then death prorogued, wanting of thy love"(ll,ii,75-77). Romeo's immense love for Juliet will eventually lead to the fall of himself. Death lingers throughout the play between Romeo and his love, Juliet. In conclusion, when Juliet is thinking about Romeo she says, "Give me Romeo; and when he shall die / Take him and cut him out in little stars, / And he will make the face of heaven so fine / That all the world will be in love with night," (lll,ii,21-25). This suggests that in the play Romeo will end up dying and Juliet will be there to see it. Juliet prophesizes over many topics in the play and in the end they become true. Foreshadowing is used in this play to help the audience trounce the dreadful outcome.
In efforts to overcome such hindrances to their love, Juliet feigns her death as planned. However, as a result of miscommunication, Romeo takes the news seriously, and thus, being propelled by zealous devotion, both use death as the key to unity. A variety of themes are implicated throughout the play. Fate, in particular, is well demonstrated. By using the motif of stars and characters such as Friar Lawrence, Juliet, and Romeo, Shakespeare truly and masterfully conveys that fate is the inevitable, unalterable and omnipotent force that controls all actions unto their consequences.
Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo and Juliet is a film that converts Shakespeare’s famous play into a present-day setting. The film transforms the original texts into modern notions, whilst still employing Shakespearean language. Compared to Franco Zeffirelli’s adaptation of Romeo and Juliet, Luhrmann’s picture is easier for a teenage audience to understand and relate to because of his modernisations. Despite the passing of four centuries Shakespeare’s themes of love, hate, violence, family and mortality remain the same regardless of the setting.
Juliet is also the only child. She is loved by her parents and is very
Shakespeare’s play, The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet, depicts an ancient feud ended by a pair of star-crossed lovers’ deaths. A lord and lady from warring families seek a forbidden love with guidance from a friar and nurse. Due to a tragic course of mischances and fateful errors, their attempt of eloping led the lovers to a tragic end. Because of rash decisions, the four characters are torn apart by miscalculating events and misunderstandings. Ultimately, the four characters encounter a heartbreaking ending, as a result of their hastiness.
My grave is like my wedding bed.” She asks the nurse to find out who Romeo is. The reader knows before Juliet does that Romeo is a Montague and that she literally will die because they are unable to be together. In Act 2 Scene 3 Romeo turns to Friar Lawrence for advice and the Friar agrees to marry them stating, “For this alliance may so happy prove / to turn your households’ rancor to pure love.” The Friar is saying that he will agree to marry them with the hopes of ending the Capulet/Montague feud.
In Conclusion, Romeo and Juliet both took many risks throughout the play. They both caused 4 other deaths and their deaths as well. There were many times in the play were Romeo and Juliet’s deaths could have been prevented. Mercutions persuasion towards Romeo, Friars bad decision to lead the marriage, and lastly the murder of Tybalt. When Romeo and Juliet got married, they both thought they would be together for eternity. The only thing that was in between them being together for so long was both of their families because the two families were un liked by each other.
leads her to Friar Laurence to ask for help for a way out of the
The environment surrounding the star-crossed lovers in the tragedy of Romeo and Juliet can influence audiences who may interpret the scenes in different ways. The audience can be greatly affected in their interpretation of the story by the mise-en-scene, costuming, and the hidden symbolic meaning. This great piece of literature was edited in two unique and intriguing forms, one Zeferelli directed which was filmed in 1968, and the modern version produced in 1996. The different scenes throughout the length of the party were the most influential to me in that I saw how different these movies were directed, and the different meaning I experienced from watching these movies. Focusing on the environment of the scenes and the costuming helped me in my interpretation, because I found hidden symbolism in these two qualities.
One of the most celebrated plays in history, “Romeo and Juliet”, was written by William Shakespeare in the late 16th century. It is a story about two lovers that have to meet in secret because of an ongoing family feud. Tragically, because of their forbidden love Romeo and Juliet take their lives so they can be together. In 1997, a movie was adapted from the play “Romeo and Juliet”, directed by Baz Lurhmann. However, as alike as the movie and the play are, they are also relatively different.
Everybody in this world happily loves someone and everybody sadly dies at one point. Romeo and Juliet is a story written by William Shakespeare and it talks the tragedy between the Montague and Capulet families disrupts the city of Verona and causes terrible results for Romeo and Juliet. When Romeo saw Juliet for the first time, he was immediately in love with her and vice versa but at the end of the story, they both horribly died. Foreshadowing can affect the play or story because it gives us clues for what is going to happen in the future and how the story might end.
Romeo and Juliet is a play about two adolescents—Romeo and Juliet from two hostile families fall in love with each other. This prohibited love ultimately turns into a romantic tragedy, in which they commit suicide for each other. Both Franco Zeffirelli’s (1968) and Baz Lurhmann’s (1996) versions retained the dialogues written by William Shakespeare in their movies. However, these two movies are directed in their own unique ways, which have several distinctive differences.