Drama

Authors Avatar by niclanka (student)

Niclas Ankarcrona

Comparative Essay

As an entry to grade 10, we will be expected to write a comparative essay between three different versions of Romeo and Juliet’s balcony scene, from the three different film versions.

In Franco Zeffirellis version of Romeo and Juliette, the balcony scene is set in a medieval environment. The old looking costumes and buildings indicate this. Different from all the other scenes, the director of this film has chosen to build up the tense feeling between the two amorous young adults by first making Romeo unseen and unheard to his loving Juliette who is positioned high up on the balcony.

In the West side story the balcony scene is completely different from both of the other film. It is in this version set in a modern time. Surrounded by staircases and brick walls the two loving ones meet sing. Unlike the two other scenes, this version does not reflect that the two “sides” have a wealthy past, due to that they meet not in a castle or in a mansion but in a alley. This gives a good understanding to their love. In the way that money doesn’t matter, and that they will meet anywhere at any time in order to see each other. My understanding in why they were singing is simple enough to show their feeling for each other in a better way. West side story is also a musical, causing music and singing to be a part of their way of telling each other about their feeling. Music is in this content very successful due to that music can very easily set a mode. Intense music creates a tense feeling and soft music creates a happy feeling. This gives the director of the film the opportunity to more widely express the feelings of the characters.

Join now!

The balcony scene from the last Romeo and Juliette comes from the movie “Romeo and

Juliette (1996)” is very confusing due to a number of different reasons. One reason being, that even though it is a modern setting, medieval costumes such as chain mails are used. Another reason to why the setting is unclear is due to the location of the scene. The scene takes place in a modern day world but in a medieval castle with outfits that would suit the medieval era.

We can easily see that by looking at Juliette‘ s hair in ...

This is a preview of the whole essay