Musing on Shakespeare While watching Romeo and Juliet being performed on stage, I felt that it was executed really well. I enjoyed watching characters such as Peter, Nurse, and Mercutio, as they were quite hilarious in their acting. They gave a the original story a slight twist so that, in entirety, the play is not as emotional. Mercutio’s performance was sexual, exaggerated, and comical. It brought about laughs from the audience as well as abated some of the intense scenes, such as the fight between Tybalt and him, and the banquet scene. If the director had not allowed for comical relief, the play would not be unique. It would be too simple and predictable in nature. Lady Capulet’s acting seemed a bit intense. She acted bold and strict, whereas I always pictured her a little less frightening. Although it is difficult to envision a character based on a reading of the play, I believe creating Lady Capulet’s intimidating persona was particularly relevant. Since she has this persona, it is easier to notice how emphasized Lady Capulet’s line, “Talk not to me, for I’ll not speak a word/ Do as thou wilt, for I have done with thee” (III.v.1129), is. With that statement, Lady Capulet has given her the final word in which she will no longer support Juliet. At the end of the performance, the director said that the play is actually about the family feud between the Capulets and the Montagues, rather than the love story between Romeo and Juliet. To an extent, I can agree with the
The play Romeo and Juliet' is about two families who have been fighting for years. When Romeo falls in love with Juliet and Juliet falls in love with Romeo, there are many consequences, including the deaths of a member of each family Mercutio and Tybalt.
Shakespeare creates effective drama by introducing the speech of Juliet’s cousin, Tybalt. Tybalts speech is strong and hateful towards Romeo, as he is now aware that there is one, if not more Montague’s present. By using dialogue such as ‘ what dare that slave come hither’ and ‘uncle, this is a Montague, our foe’ Shakespeare is able to translate the hate and rivalry, possessed between Romeo and Tybalt and generally the drama and conflict between Capulet and Montague. This is very dramatically effective. Capulet’s response to Tybalt, is to say that he has heard only good things about Romeo, therefore the party must go on. More time for more drama is allowed with no interruption of the party, therefore the passionate meeting of Romeo and Juliet is allowed to take place.
This shows that Juliet is desperately trying to tell her father what she wants but men didn't really care about women's opinions. Lord Capulet replies with more threats and saying that if Juliet doesn't go to marry Paris next Thursday he will disown her.
I think that Lord Capulet is the most needed character in this scene because it is all based on his inner attitude. When Juliet begs for
It is from this rhyming, oxymoronic phrase that the audience can gage how this soft spoken man was not a figure of hate in reality, but a loving man. Juliet’s character is also contrasted to the frosty nature of Tybalt and the rest of the Capulets - she epitomises the innocence of their relationship. From the start of Act 1 Scene 3, we learn from Lady Capulet that Juliet is still thirteen years old - ‘she’s not fourteen’. From this, this audience can assume that she is still at that age of naivety and immaturity, again showing that she does not belong in such a violent feud. Due to her age, Juliet evidently is a vulnerable character and one that likely does not have the mental ability to make intelligent choices, such as the decisions against her father’s will to not marry Paris, but to secretly marry Romeo instead – a decision that was to become a key factor in both Romeo and Juliet’s death. In addition, Shakespeare creates sympathy for Juliet through her innocence and good will. Her innocence and good will which is left worthless as she is left in a situation she cannot to anything about – a situation revealed in the prologue as being one that is fated to end tragically.
In conclusion, Romeo and Juliet changes from happiness and sadness and character’s actions and the stage performances provide hints. The dichotomy between love and hate is the main theme that progresses throughout the play. Overall, the actors really expressed their character’s emotions well by changing their facial expressions and their actions that fit the
For example, Mercutio starts losing the duel, so he begins whistling and folds him arms in a joking manner. His reaction in the scene shows the audience the lack of intensity in the situation. Zeffirelli creates a comical tone for Act 3: Scene 1 because it is his way of inserting his opinion. The director uses the battle as a synecdoche because he is implying that the entire feud between the houses is childish. The light-heartedness continues throughout the scene until Mercutio is stabbed and killed.
In conclusion, Romeo and Juliet is a play and film about two star crossed lovers who can't be together because their families have a heated rivalry against each other. They try so hard and they just want love but they are constantly in fear of being caught and getting in trouble with the penalty of death if so caught for Romeo. In the end many casualties have happened throughout the play . As said in the movie by the prince “ both families are to be blamed for the crimes and shall be punished” Lord Capulet and Montague apologized for all their crimes and gave away a some of their prized possessions as
In the scene Lady Capulet questions Juliet about whether she has considered the thought of marriage just after mentioning the fact the Lady Capulet gave birth to Juliet when she was almost Juliet's current age. Meanwhile, Lady Capulet announces that "the valiant Paris" has grown very fond of Juliet and as a consequence Lord Capulet is planning a marriage. Lady Capulet herself, married for many years, offers complete support to her husband's proposal as well as believing that Paris is suitable for Juliet however, Juliet disapproves. This gives the reader the impression that Lady Capulet and Juliet are distant, as she expects Juliet to agree with the marriage. Rather than considering her daughter's feelings, Lady Capulet is more attentive to the social stature the Capulets would gain if Juliet married Paris suggested by her observation, "So shall you share all the he doth
Romeo and Juliet Literary Analysis Shakespeare shows that the power of love cannot be stopped. In Romeo and Juliet the love between the offspring of opposing houses cannot be ended, even after pain and death caused by this feud. When people disapprove of their love toward each other, both Romeo and Juliet do everything in their power to be together. Even though the time has been short love still prevailed in the end.
Juliet just faked her death and everyone found her. Friar Laurence speaks about his opinion on what had happened. The author, William Shakespeare, uses Friar Laurence because he’s wise and everyone trusts him, even though he’s part of the Capulet family. In the play “Romeo and Juliet”, Shakespeare uses Friar Laurence to contrast the ideas of life with death and joy with sorrow to Romeo and Juliet's love.
In the play’s beginning Juliet first appears in her bedroom when her mother is calling her to get ready for the Capulet’s big fancy dress party. The nurse is brushing Juliet’s hair and talking to her. Juliet is wearing a white gown for the party and puts wings on
Oscar Wilde, one of the most popular playwrights of the 1890’s, once said, “Keep love in your heart. A life without it is like a sunless garden when the flowers are dead.” In Shakespeare’s famous play, Romeo and Juliet, one night at a party Romeo, a Montague, and Juliet, a Capulet, meet and fall in love at first sight. They get married in secret by Friar Lawrence, but after the marriage, Romeo is banished for killing Tybalt, Juliet’s cousin. Friar Lawrence gives Juliet a potion that will make her look dead as part of a plan to get her out of the city to Romeo, but when Romeo sneaks into the tomb, not knowing the plan, he kills himself because he sees Juliet and thinks she is dead. Juliet awakes and sees Romeo dead, so she stabs herself. Friar Lawrence should have stopped the marriage because it was so rushed. Also, Nurse betrays Juliet when she needs her most. Friar Lawrence and Nurse should both be held accountable for the death of Romeo and Juliet.
According to the presenter of this presentation Romeo and Juliet was not a tragedy. The presenter told us that neither of the main characters were significant people in the time of the play. They were just kids to end up falling in love in the middle of a long standing family feud which did show that they were not significant people at this time of the play. The play of Romeo and Juliet had some serious topics or ideas to it but overall it was a comedy. It did not possess as serious and almost fate like impending doom that most tragedies have. The audience also had little pity for Romeo and Juliet because they were kids and they died for their love. It does seem a little over the top. I would have to agree with
Plot: This is a progressive plot where the exposition of the characters, setting, and conflict are introduced in the beginning. Then, the story line builds with ideas foreshadowing Sophia death. Florence’s daily encounters and different relationships with every character in the story continue to lead the reader to the climax. After the climax, the story ends, almost happily ever after; however, it does leave the reader unsure if Sophia is finally restful in her grave or will continue to haunt James and Florence.