William Shakespeare’s beloved Romeo and Juliet has been reenacted many times throughout the centuries. One of the most memorable scenes of this play is Act II, ii; otherwise known as the Balcony Scene. This scene takes place in the Capulet’s garden where Romeo listens to Juliet confess her love for him into the night. The two more recent film adaptations of the play have very different interpretations of this famous scene, but also a key similarity that keep the authenticity of Shakespeare’s masterpiece. These two film adaptations include Franco Zeffirelli's 1968 version and Baz Luhrmann’s 1996 version. Some very notable differences between the two include setting, actor’s portrayal, and music selection. A significant similarity is the tone and mood set during the scene. …show more content…
In the 1968 version, the true setting of Elizabethan Verona, Italy is portrayed. Romeo runs through cobblestone streets after leaving a masquerade party and ventures into the Capulet’s garden to find Juliet on her balcony. The garden is filled with greenery for Romeo to hide in and the balcony is made of stone. During this scene, Romeo looks up to Juliet as if worshiping her. He scales a tree to get to her balcony. Contrarily, in Luhrmann’s version, Romeo and Juliet are positioned on the same level. Juliet enters the scene in an elevator, symbolizing that in today’s society, men and women are equals. In this scene, there is a pool, artificial string lighting, and Romeo is monitored on security cameras as he watches Juliet. It is clear that this is a modernized setting for the balcony
The props in the two films of Romeo and Juliet are extremely different which make them a good point of comparison. Luhrmann’s version of Romeo and Juliet is a more modern take on the play. I think this because they use guns, cars, television and newspapers. By using guns, it brings a more dramatic and forceful feel to the movie. It makes every death
One such scene was the infamous balcony scene. Zeferelli stuck to the classical interpretation, while Luhrmann did not. In Zeferelli’s version Juliet was on the balcony outside her bedroom calling rhetorically, "Romeo, Romeo where fore art thou Romeo?" Romeo appears and climbs up the balcony, and they share a couple of small kisses before he departs. However, in Luhrmanns version of the play, events occurred slightly differently. Juliet is walking by the pool, when Romeo startles her and they both fall in the pool. Their conversation then takes place in the pool. In between getting interrupted by a nosy security guard they share several passionate kisses.
The film and the play, Romeo and Juliet is an ever grey due to tragic over tones play which draws undivided attention of Shakespeare’s writing even during this modern era. The 1996 version, Baz Lurhmann adopted the storyline to reflect the revealing trend of dispute between two feuding families. A film which shows a detailed study of the play of the immensely popular 1996 version directed by Baz Lurhmann.
Luhrmann’s variation of the film is more suited to a teenage audience than Zeffirelli’s due to the vibrant settings and modern sets utilised throughout the film. Several of these sets include the beach, high rise buildings and petrol stations. These factors are used to tempt a younger audience. Zeffirelli’s Romeo and Juliet, however takes place in a medieval Italian city. Although the original play was based and performed in this location, teenage viewers cannot relate to the surroundings, hence making it difficult to understand or appreciate the plot.
Interpretation of the Balcony Scene by Baz Luhrmann and Franco Zeffirelli of William Shakespreare's Romeo and Juliet
First off, the biggest difference is the time periods of each movie. The older movie was set in Early Renaissance times. The newer movie is set in the early ninety’s. Another difference is the use of special effects. In the
Luhrman has based his version at Verona Beach; America and instead of basing it in the 16th century like Zeffirelli, he had his film based in the 20th century, with mansions, shiny cars and bright lights. While Zeffirelli paced his film in an Iambic pentameter – a traditional Shakespeare pace; Luhrman never kept his film at a solid pace. “By modernizing these aspects of the play, and reconstructing the prologue, Luhrmann creates a movie that is more interesting to the modern viewers.” ("Franco Zeffirelli and Baz Luhrmann's Romeo and Juliet." 123HelpMe.com). As Zeffirelli may have believed famous actors would steal his show he instead hired fresh new faces to give the movie a more fresh, innocence value, But Luhrman used well known actors to play the lead roles. This worked because more people were attracted to the film by the actors.
Although both movies are different, they are also both similar to each other. One way they are similar is the time of day the scene takes place. They both take place mid-day or afternoon. They are also
The author, William Shakespeare, efficiently employs various events and characters in the play, Romeo and Juliet, to convey that love conquers all. Through manipulation of Act 2, Scene 2, also renowned as the 'Balcony Scene’, Shakespeare effectively demonstrates how Romeo and Juliet’s love surmounts numerous things, in the play. Additionally, Shakespeare portrays that/how the strength of Romeo’s love for his murdered friend Mercutio, creates a desire for revenge despite potentially receiving death penalty; displaying that Romeo’s love for his friend conquers the fear of death. Furthermore, the final scene also depicts how love triumphs over the terror of death and how the Montague and Capulet parents’ mutual love for their children, Romeo
Shakespeare’s classic Romeo and Juliet has been reimagined many times across different mediums. One interpretation that stands out among the rest is Baz Luhrmann’s 1996 film of the same name. The most shocking and powerful difference between Luhrmann’s work and other films or stage productions of this piece, is the movie’s setting. Luhrmann’s Romeo and Juliet is set in the modern city of Verona Beach, New York, ruled by two powerful business families, the Montagues and the Capulets. Themes, language, and ideas remain the same, while places, props, and wardrobes are updated to the twentieth century. This compelling change helps emphasize the violent, fast-paced, and chaotic society of the play, which comes to precipitate the tragic demise of the two main characters.
In Luhrmann’s movie, there are two rival gangs known as the Montague and the Capulet. The movie is set in Verona Beach which is like a modern version of Verona. Romeo, son of the head Montague, falls in love with Juliet which is
When a person comes to the point of time at which they are at the end of their life, whether it is due to their age, natural causes or because an accident has happened, end-of-life care becomes a key component in their given situation. For most people, their families, whether it be their husband or their wife, their children, or even their parents, have to be the ones to make decisions about that care. This end-of-life care involves many decisions that most people do not want to make but have to, whether it is to prolong this person’s life or deciding to let them go peacefully and without any pain. In this paper, I will discuss one particular case, that of Terri Schiavo, and her end-of-life care.
Romeo and Juliet, the famous play written by Shakespeare, is one that even many centuries later is still constantly retold and talked about. It conveys the uplifting story of two lovers who unfortunately were not allowed to be together, due to the ongoing feud between their families. Despite all of the risks and even at the cost of their own lives, they still went against everything that they had ever known and got married. However, shortly afterwards, a fight broke out between the Montague and the Capulet when Tybalt comes to confront Romeo about being at the party. Even when refusing to fight, Mercutio draws his sword and battle rages out, ending up with the death of both Mercutio and Tybalt. Due to how well-known and celebrated the play is, many different versions were made out of it, including the 1968 version by Zeffirelli and the 1996 version by Luhrmann. They both have many differences in the way they present the fighting scene. Nevertheless, due to the symbolism, mood, props, and other characteristics of this version, the 1968 version of the fight between the Montagues and Capulets is the better portrayal of the scene.
There are some key details in both the movie and the script. Some key details in the play are that romeo hides in the darkness, and that he is stalking juliet in a way. It also takes place on a balconey near the streets,”[Seeing Juliet enter above on a balcony]” (Act II Scene 2, Page 71) which is a lot more in older days than modern. In the movie version, some key details are that romeo is hidden kind of on a vine, not so much hidden thought.(You can see in the 1997 movie, Romeo + Juliet, directed by Baz Luhrmann.) The setting is also on a deck and a pool. Those are some of the key details you will need to know.
Author’s have different tactics with how they convey their themes, and how the message impacts the reader. Themes can be conveyed through characters, plot lines, or symbols. In Tennessee William’s play, The Glass Menagerie, the author effectively uses symbolism to convey that escaping reality is a method of coping with life’s hardships. First, William’s effectively uses the fire escape as a symbol of inward issues Tom tries to escape. Not only does the fire escape serve as a physical entrance to the Wingfield's apartment, it also serves as "a structure whose name is a touch of accidental poetic truth” (I.i.9).