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...
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...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
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.
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,
Romeo and Juliet, written by William Shakespeare, is a tragic love story about two young lovers who are forced to be estranged as a result of their feuding families. The play is about their struggle to contravene fate and create a future together. As such, it was only a matter of time before Hollywood would try and emulate Shakespeare’s masterpiece. This had been done before in many films. Prominent among them were, Franco Zeffirelli’s 1968 “Romeo and Juliet” and Baz Luhrmann’s 1996 “William Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet.” Both films stay true to the themes of Shakespeare’s original play. However, the modernised Luhrmann film not only maintains the essence of Shakespeare’s writings, Luhrmann makes it relevant to a teenage audience. This is done through the renewal of props and costumes, the reconstruction of the prologue and the upgrading of the setting, whilst preserving the original Shakespearean language. Out of the two, it is Luhrmann who targets Romeo & Juliet to a younger audience to a much larger extent than Zeffirelli.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The classic play Romeo and Juliet by the famous playwright William Shakespeare is one of the most beautiful love stories of all time and has captured and inspired readers everywhere. Regardless of the fact that it was written in the 1500’s, it is still being performed and extolled today. There is a multitude of reasons for such continuance of the play. First of all, its everlasting themes of love and hate enable people to deeply relate to the story. Secondly, its memorable characters deeply imprint on the minds of readers. And lastly, above all, is its magnificent language which many writers today regard in awe. These three elements make the acclaimed play, Romeo and Juliet, one of the most timeless stories of our lives.
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.
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...
One of William Shakespeare’s most popular and extraordinary poems is The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet. It follows a typical tragedy structure, including tragic heros, Romeo and Juliet, who have a fatal tragic flaw that ultimately drives heros to their demise. The play goes down in history and is loved by many and has been for over four hundred years; numerous people create movie versions and incorporate their own touch with the use of a creative license. Franco Zeffirelli is among those people with his film, Romeo & Juliet. His film does both a great job at giving fantastical visuals and great comprehention to its audience. Nevertheless, it also takes away from Shakespeare’s initial tragedy structure for it eliminates Romeo’s tragic flaw of capriciousness and instead overrides it with fate and destiny. The film gives readers good visuals so they can see turning points in the play, but it also dwells more on fate, taking away from Romeo’s capriciousness.
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
“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.