The Fight - Act 3 Scene 1 (Absent when we took notes on this scene)
The fight scene is probably the most influential point in the play, as it is the turning point from bad to good, all seems well until this scene. The fight scene in both versions are very different from one another, this is only because of the modernisation of Luhrman´s version, but both scenes do show some similarities which I wall go into later. At the start of both versions, we see Mercutio, Benvolio, and some Montague servants, they talk of how they want to go home after the day has been a long one, but their minds change when the Capulets arrive. The Montagues seemed worried, they fear that maybe the Capulets are mad that they sneaked into the Capulets party, but it seems that is not the reason. Mercutio stirs trouble with Tybalt, but Tybalt doesn´t really want to hurt Mercutio, as he knows he´ s not very serious, and Mercutio isn´t a Montague, but Tybalt however wants a word with Mercutio´ s good friend, Romeo. Tybalt settles the quarrel with Mercutio when Romeo turns up on the scene. Tybalt accuses Romeo of being a villain, Romeo tries to reason with Tybalt, and even goes as far as saying 'And so good Capulet, which name I tender as dearly as my own, be satisfied´. Mercutio cannot believe this, he calls it a vile submission, and so shows a little more hatred towards Tybalt. I think he is doing this because at the start of the scene, we see he is bored, and restless, so I think that this may be a way of keeping him entertained and occupied for a while. As a good friend of Romeo, Mercutio would do what a good friend would do, and stick up for Romeo. In the Zefferelli version, Tybalt doesn´t do much in the way of endangering Romeo´s life, but Mercutio seems like he wants a fight. In the Luhrman version however, Tybalt beats Romeo down before Mercutio intervenes. This shows the audience that this is a good reason for Mercutio to intervene, but in Zefferelli´ s version, we don´ t see a real enough reason for Mercutio to fight. Back to the play, and we soon see that Romeo doesn´t want to see anybody get hurt, so he reminds the two men of what the Prince said about fighting in the streets, but the fight continues, but Tybalt takes it one step further and fatally wounds Mercutio. The set changes on the Luhrman version when Mercutio staggers up to an old stage, the clouds gather quickly over the skies as the previous blue sky disappears, this is when the audience knows when something is wrong.
Tybalt, Romeo and the rest of the characters think that Mercutio, being the joker that he is, is just pretending and faking his wound to try and teach the two families a lesson and we see that Mercutio may be playing when he tells us that his wound is nothing but a scratch. Romeo says that Mercutio should be a little more courageous, and that his wound cannot be much, but Mercutio knows himself that he is doomed. We know this because Mercutio says, 'Ask for me tomorrow and you will find me a grave man´. As Mercutio is dieing, he puts the lame upon Romeo, and asks why he came into the fight between him and Tybalt. As Mercutio finally passes away, Romeo uses a sense of irony in his words when he says 'This days black fate on mo day´s doth depend´. He is telling us that he knew in the back of his mind he knew that something would go wrong.
Tybalt then proceeds to where Romeo and Benvolio are standing, another fight and Romeo delivers a fatal wound to Tybalt. This is carried out differently in the two versions, In the Luhrman version, after Mercutio is slain, Tybalt tries to escape in a car. And Romeo follows him. The action is fast and furious with a lot of camera work on the two men´s eyes again, the music is very up-tempo as well. Romeo crashes his car into Tybalt´ s car. The two make their way out of the wreckage and Tybalt pulls out his gun. The rain starts pouring down and this is another sign that something bad is about to happen. The two men fight until Tybalt drops his gun. Out of pure hatred for killing his best friend, Romeo executes Tybalt with his own gun. Benvolio asks why Romeo is staying, as he fears for his brother´s life, the two men then speed away. In the Zefferelli version however, the swordfight doesn´t seem as serious as the modern version, but still ends on the same note. We see Romeo and Tybalt engage in a sword fight, until Romeo, it seems, accidentally kills Tybalt, and Romeo speeds away. Zefferelli doesn´t use any change of scene in his version of the fight, which dampens the effect and seriousness of Tybalt´s death. Shakespear would have greatly preferred the Luhrman version of this scene I think because it has much more impact on the audience, and is more exiting than the Zefferelli version.
The Final Scene - Act 5 Scenes 1 - 3
The two different versions of this scene are quite different at the start but in the end there are more similarities. At the start of both versions, we see Romeo in a in Mantua. We already know of the plan that the friar has made, where Juliet will be put to sleep, faking her death and then Romeo can meet her there and they´ll live happily ever after. As we already know though, this is not the case. The Friar has sent a messenger to deliver the message to Romeo about the plan and that Juliet is not dead, and that all is well. But, the news of Juliets supposed death had travelled fast in Verona, and Balthasar had begun his travels to Mantua to tell Romeo the news of Juliet´s death, we know that Balthasar does not know of the Friars plan. This is one of the most influential parts of the play, as before, if this sequence of tragic events had not taken place, then Romeo and Juliet would be able to live happily ever after. In the Zefferelli version, we see the Friars messenger riding on an old donkey, with many things for it to carry, and then we see him overtaken by Balthasar´ s faster horse with only him on it. In the Luhrman version, the Friars messenger is on a slower method of transport, and again Balthasar easily out speeds the messenger and he meets Romeo. Balthasar then meets up with Romeo in some sort of accommodation in the Zefferelli version, in the Luhrman version Romeo is in a trailer park, Balthasar then tells Romeo the bad news. At first, Romeo thinks Balthasar is going to tell him good news but is heartbroken when he finds out that his lover is dead. They then rush to back to Verona, passing the Friars messenger on the way in both versions. When Romeo finds out about Juliets death in the Zefferelli version, we know he is heartbroken but he doesn´t seem to show it as well as he does in the modern version, in Luhrman´s version the music changes and Romeo rushes outside of his trailer and falls to his knees in tears, this is a more emotional event than in Zefferelli´ s version, and the audience feels Romeos pain more in this version. In both versions, the duo of Romeo and Balthasar make their ways to the Capulets tomb. The journey to the Capulet tomb in the Zefferelli version sees them speed away on horses accompanied by fast paced music, which is probably the first time we hear this in this version. In the Luhrman story we get an aerial view of Verona with fast paced 'holy music´. We also hear the sounds of a helicopter and police sirens. I will start with the Zefferelli version of the tomb scene. Romeo arrives to the small Capulet tomb on horseback. He prizes away the tomb door and enters it. The soft love music that we have heard before then starts. Romeo sees Tybalt and Juliet lying innocently in the tomb. Romeo holds Juliets hand and speaks of how much he loves her still. He then hears footsteps and Paris emerges from the darkness of the tomb. After a brief fight Romeo kills Paris. He says his last words to Juliet such before taking the poison that he acquired from the apothecary. Juliet then awakes after Romeo is dead. She cannot believe it and doesn´t understand why Romeo is lying dead next to her. She doesn´t know why Romeo didn´t know of the Friars´ plan, or if he even received it. The Friar then arrives but is too late to save the lives of Romeo or Paris. He tells the newly awaken Juliet to escape with him. Juliet refuses and the Friar has no choice but to flee in panic that he may be under suspicion as the culprit of the two men´s deaths. There is a similarity between the two of the major deaths in the play, as Tybalt died with Mercutio much like Romeo had died with Paris. Juliet thinks that she has no option but to kill her self after Romeos death. She tries to see if there is any poison left in the bottle, then she checks his lips to see if there is a 'friendly drop´ left to kill herself. She finds a rusty dagger and stabs herself in the chest. She does this so she can lie with Romeo in death, I think she also does this because she thinks she may be able to be with Romeo again in the after life so there may still be a chance that they will be together again, so she is willing to take the chance. The Luhrman version sees Romeo enter the Apothecary so he can get the poison to kill himself. This is a scene in the original script but the Zefferelli version, which tries so hard to be close to the original play ironically does not have this scene in its content. Romeo gets the poison and proceeds to the Capulet tomb. As before, there is the high tempo music, but all of it is forced out by the shutting of the tomb doors by Romeo as he enters the Capulet tomb. He proceeds towards Juliet. There is a great difference between the two characters here as we see an angelic, innocent Juliet, but then the camera faces Romeo as we see him scruffy, distraught and in tears. The following, I think, is the most emotional and unbelievably tragic part in the whole film. Romeo is still speaking of how much he loves Juliet when she begins to awake. Romeo then speaks of how he will take the poison and kill himself. Juliet then tries to move her hand towards Romeo but is obviously restricted in her movements because she has only just awaken from a long sleep. Romeo still doesn´t see Juliet wake up and then he proceeds in taking the potion. The second he takes it Juliet grabs his hand and Romeo in disbelief turns and looks at Juliet. There is a lot of eye contact here and the eyes tell us a great deal of what thoughts are going through each characters heads. Romeo is in disbelief and pain as he sees Juliet awaken, he wants an answer why she has awaken, he may also be thinking that this is a hallucination from the effect given by the poison, or maybe he has died instantly and he is now with Juliet in the afterlife. But because he can still feel the pain of the poison he knows that something is wrong. Juliets eyes tell us at first she is glad to see Romeo, she thinks he knows all about the plan and is at the tomb to collect her and to take her away. It all changes when Juliet sees that something is wrong and then she sees the poison in his hand. Juliet is in a state of panic and confusion, she sees Romeo is dying and that she can´t believe that has taken the poison. She is still in a state of shock when Romeo finally passes away on her knee. In panic and disbelief she finds that her love is so strong that she has no choice to kill herself. She finds Romeos gun and takes the easy way out by putting a gun to her head, she dies instantly and falls upon Romeo with her hand around him, this symbolises their togetherness to the very end. There is no Friar and no Paris in this version as I think this may lessen the impact and tragedy of this scene. In both versions, the ending is similar. The Friar speaks summarises the story and tragedy. I think he does this to try and defend that he is not the guilty party and has not committed any crime. Prince Escalus then speaks and urges the two families to make peace, which at the end is what happens. Balthasar also tries to defend himself by revealing the letter that was written by Romeo to support the friar´s account and to explain the events in Mantua. I don´t think that the Montagues and the Capulets were equally punished because the Capulets had lost two family members, Tybalt and Juliet, and the Montagues only one. I don´t think that Mercutio´ s loss was that important to Lord Montague and Lady Montague as Romeos death was. The endings to both stories made the plot and play understandable to the audience with the speech at the end and of course when the two families settled their differences and made peace.
I think that Shakespear would have thought that Luhrman´s adaptation of his play would have presented his themes and images more clearly because Luhrman has modernised the play probably as good as if Shakespear himself directed the film if not better. The Zefferelli version I think Shakespear would have liked but just not as good as the Luhrman version
My personal favourite is the Luhrman version, mainly because of the impact and creativeness of the final scene, other than that I think that the Zefferelli version is good, because it shows the audience what the play may have been like set back in Shakespears time.
Romeo and Juliet : Creation of Drama
An enormous amount of drama is created in Shakespeare´s play, 'Romeo and Juliet´, in Act 3, scene 5 and in many others as well. The drama is being created in many different ways, by each character. There are two main types of drama that are used throughout the play to create drama; these are the use of suspense and the pace at which some of the characters act.
The drama around Juliet is created by her father, Lord Capulet, her mother, Lady Capulet, and her nurse, and is created using different methods at different intervals in the act I am studying and in many others.
I am going to show how the nurse in the play creates drama around Juliet first; this is because she seemed in the play to have a closer relationship to Juliet than her mother or father.
The nurse treats Juliet almost as her own child, this idea is put forward as the nurse had been Juliet´s main parental model as she had been nursing her since a very young age. Even though the nurse mourns the loss of her own daughter and her husband, she makes many sexual jokes throughout the play, which indicates a more laid back personality. The nurse creates drama through how talkative she is, and how playful she is even in the harder of situations, and seems to be very jovial.
Although the nurse had looked after Juliet for so many years, and the relationship they shared after years of being together, drama is created in the play when the nurse has a change of heart towards Juliet, and with her plain 'black and white´ look on life. Throughout this scene, the nurse rapidly changes her mind of Juliet´s marriage with Romeo, and urges her to marry count Paris, as this would please her parents and stop any trouble from brewing. This is shown when the nurse says, "I think it is best you married the county".
At the beginning of the scene the nurse, along with Juliet, were the only two people that could see that names did not, and should not matter when it comes down to true love. I think that the nurse creates drama with the audience/reader here as she seems to be Juliet´s best friend and likes to help in any problems until near the end of the scene when she turns on the friendship to try and persuade Juliet to do what her parents think is right instead of doing what she thought was right. I think that the audience would take a dim view on the nurse at this point for turning on such a good relationship. This act almost gets the audience involved in the play as they start thinking what would they have done in her position, and whether they think what she has done is right.
It seems that the nurse uses very simple and common language, which maybe shows her status in the household compared to Lady and Lord Capulet.
In Act 2 Scene 5, drama is created by a certain dramatic trait, the use of suspense, which is mixed with dramatic irony when Juliet returns to the nurse with Romeo´s plans for marriage.
Lady Capulet however uses very extravagant language showing her upper class status in society, yet she does not really have a very good relationship with Juliet and needs the nurse at many important stages throughout the play.
She seems to over-react to situations either that people disagree with her about or that she does not control. This maybe due to the death of Tybalt but other examples in the play can be found.
Juliet turns to her mother is desperation when Lord Capulet shouts and gets angry with Juliet not wanting to marry Paris. She says to her mother, "Or if you do not, make the bridal bed in that dim monument where Tybalt lies". This shows her devotion to Romeo to the audience but to her mother and father this would show a sign of stubbornness. This part of the scene is very dramatic because of the pace, and how tempers rise between members of the family.
When Lady Capulet says, "We will have vengeance for it, fear thou not", it adds drama to the play as it shows how serious she is being at that point, and she uses over-elaborate words that others may not choose to use in a normal conversation.
Drama is also created when she says, "Shall give him such an unaccustomed dram that he shall soon keep Tybalt Company." This is because she is showing her feelings towards Romeo, and saying that if she ever finds him she will kill him and he will join Tybalt in his grave.
When Juliet and Lady Capulet are having a conversation of Romeo (line 75-102) there is a use of double entendre by Juliet. This double meaning adds a bit more drama and excitement to this part of the play as the audience know Juliet is talking of her love fore Romeo, whereas her mother thinks she is speaking of Romeo in a disapproving manner. This is the main part of Juliet´s and Lady Capulet´s speeches in those lines which shows the double meanings clearly, Lady Capulet says "That is because the traitor murderer lives."
Juliet replies with, "Ay, madam, from the reach of these my hands".
Lady Capulet also vows to send a man to Mantua to have Romeo killed, "We will have vengeance for it, fear thou not; Then weep no more. I´ll send to one in Mantua". This adds drama as the audience become anxious and excited to see if she carries out her plan and has Romeo killed.
Throughout the play, Lady Capulet makes many speeches aimed at Juliet, some of these more vital than others, like sending a man to kill Romeo. It comes to mind that she thinks that Tybalt´s death has affected her the most out of everyone as she does not think he was punished accordingly for the crime committed.
Lord Capulet is very temperamental and seems to care a vast amount for the welfare of his only daughter. He creates a lot of drama through the play with his strong and dramatic language. His lines were written to show he is an important figurehead and is in control of everything in the house.
He seemed to have two extremes of personality depending when he was being questioned or if it was affecting him greatly.
He told Juliet she would marry Paris, "The County Paris, at Saint Peters church, shall happily make thee there a joyful bride". When Juliet refused to marry Paris Capulet´s mood changed dramatically, this made this part of the play much more dramatic and exciting. Capulet used his strong language to threaten and insult Juliet; he made such comments as, "Hang thee, young baggage, disobedient wretch!" Capulet's strong language in this scene showed his superiority over Juliet. At first, he seems as though he cared about Juliet when she was crying, but he soon became almost uncontrollable in anger. This differs greatly to his temper nearer the beginning of the play when Romeo turned up to the ball, and Capulet stopped Tybalt making a scene because of the different names they possessed. In this part of the play, he seemed very calm and relaxed and as though he did not care about names that night, he just wanted things to run smoothly.
Overall, drama is created mainly by the use of suspense and the strength of the language used by different characters at different parts of the play, especially when that mood is not expected to be shown in that part. I have also concluded that a character´s language was written to suit the image of them to others and to make the play interesting and exciting throughout.
Romeo and Juliet
Four hundred years ago, William Shakespeare wrote The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet, a popular play that continues to capture the imagination and emotions of people around the world. The drama portrays the passionate, violent and often desperate lives of the youth of Verona. Even today, the tragedy resembles a blueprint of the problems that the adolescents of the twentieth century must face each day. In this play, Shakespeare explores the pitfalls of young love, and the consequences they receive from their actions. They explained their love to be true love and they knew that they had to be together, even though their families were enemies and it was truly forbidden for the two of them to marry. The whole idea of love in Romeo's and Juliet's thoughts was totally misunderstood, and they demonstrated in many sections of the play that they truly did not know what true love was. In this play, Shakespeare shows that love can cause and finish anything, even love that is not honestly discovered. The influence of parents played a major part in the tragedy of Romeo and Juliet. To start with, the general situation is rather like a family conflict. The feud between the Capulets and the Montagues had been passed down through the generations, until the youngest child had been planted with the seeds of hate. From the beginning of the play, it is learned that the Capulet's held the decisive judgement of what Juliet's future would have in store. "But saying o'er what I have said before. My child is yet a stranger in the world. She hath not seen the change of fourteen years. Let two more summers wither in their pride Ere we may think her ripe to be a bride." (I,ii,7-11) This demonstrates Capulet's intent of choosing Juliet's husband. Romeo and Juliet kept their relationship secret from the start, in fear that their love affair would be rejected by their feuding families. That is what led to the death of both lovers. Had they held a more open relationship, eventually, both families would have accepted it. However, considering the circumstances, the street brawl and the later death of Tybalt, Romeo and Juliet felt that their parents would not have been able to understand the love between the two youths. In today's society, youth are constantly advocating the change from total dependence on family, to their own independence. Young people often think they know better than their parents, often believing that instead of helping them, they are only punishing them. Romeo and juliet found that they new better then their parents, but after realizing the wrong they caused when both committing suicide. Romeo was too young to realize that he had to take responsibility for his actions and he had to accept the consequences. This is one of the pitfalls that Shakespere portrayed in his play for young love. Romeo did not understand the outcomes of his actions. He never realized this until the damage was done. He was too involved in his love for Juliet that he didn't devote himself to any other circumstances. Young love is often an ever-changing emotion that enthrals adolescents. When a boy sees a beautiful girl, he often thinks that he is in love. That is similar to the emotion Romeo experienced: "To call hers, exquisite, in question more. These happy masks that kiss fair laidies' brow, Being black, puts us in mind they hide the fair. He that is strucken blind cannot forget The precious treasure of his eyesight lost. Show me a mistress that is passing fair; What doth her beauty serve but as a note Where I may read who passed the passing fair? Farewell. Thou canst not teach me to forget." (I,i,238-246) Here, Romeo is saying how much he loves Rosaline, and that he cannot forget about her. However, a couple of scenes later, his love quickly changes: "O, she doth teach the torches to burn bright! It seems she hangs upon the cheek of night As a rich jewel in an Ethiop's ear - Beauty too rich for use, for earth too dear. So shows a snowy dove trooping with crows As yonder lady o'er her follow shows. The measure done, I'll watch her place of stand And, touching hers, make blessed my rude hand. Did my heart love till now? Forswear it, sight, For I ne'er saw true beauty till this night." (I,v,51-60) How quickly young love changes. Juliet, a little more cautious than Romeo was, refused to allow him to swear his love by the moon. "O, swear not by the moon, th' inconstant moon, That monthly changes in her circled orb, Lest that thy love prove likewise valuble." (II,ii,114-117) Young love can often distracting in the minds of young people. Romeo and Juliet found it unbearable to be without each other, and, to a young couple, the feelings can be mutual at times. Young love often ends up being ignorant, instead of passionate and true heart. Most of the time, the two youths are too fickle to understand or even feel what true love is, due to immaturity. Life in Verona seems to have seldom difference from today's situation. Romeo portrayed himself to be too fickle to understand what actual love was. He thought that he was in love with Rosalin, and then fell in love with Juliet having no idea what true love really was other than the image in his thoughts. Obviously, Romeo was not ready to commit himself and the reasons why the certain obscenities took place was because Romeo had to take the consequences for the actions he committed. Young people seem to face the same problems, make the same difficult choices and confront the same obstacles. Parental influence, young love and the revenge code still have an effect on youths, even after four hundred years, these problems are still present in the everyday lives of today's youth and for this reason, young love can cause or finish anything. In conclusion, from the very beginning, the love of Romeo and Juliet was destined to be destroyed. It is tragic that both these people had to give their lives just so they could love each other. There were circumstances throughout the course of their lives that led up to their deaths. If their parent's had not been feuding and if the Nurse had not betrayed Juliet, the outcome of this story would have been different, although fate could not be changed. This was the most important factor in the lives of Romeo and Juliet. In my opinion the quote that accurately summarizes this play is, "For never was there a story of more woe, than this of Juliet and her Romeo." (Romeo & Juliet, V, iii, p. 138, ll.309-310) Love is the biggest thing that can happen in human life. It can make your life incredible or forgettable. In the case of Romeo and Juliet, it was both. They had something between them that would never be destroyed. Their determination to stay together through the tough times was incredible. Even when they knew that their relationship would never be normal, they never gave up. It was a case of love at first sight when their eyes locked on each other. The story of Romeo and Juliet is more to do with love than hate. Nearly every scene of the text has love conveyed in some way in them. From the pain Romeo suffered from the rejection of Rosalyn, to the first scene where the two meet. The only scene in the whole story where love isn't conveyed is the very first scene where we see the first conflict between the Capulets and the Montagues. That just shows how much of an impact love has in Shakespeare's story about two star-crossed lovers. Romeo and Juliet had such a strong love that they would die for each other. This is what Shakespeare is trying to show us what love is all about and this is why he chose to write this story, not to show hate, but to show love. The love in the story is not only shown between Romeo and Juliet. It is also shown in the form of filial love between Romeo and Mercutio. Romeo 'loved' Mercutio as a friend so much that he would vow revenge on the person that brought upon his death. The friendship was everlasting and would always be treasured by Romeo, even after Mercutio's death. Other love was shown between Juliet and the Nurse. Juliet grew up with the nurse by her side all the time. The nurse was more of a mother to Juliet than Lady Capulet ever was. Romeo's parents cared for him much deeper than Juliet's did for her. His mother was always worried or concerned about where he was and what he was doing, hoping he wouldn't get caught up in any trouble. Shakespeare also shows paternal love to go along with the others in the text. I guess that you could say that their was a bit of love from Juliet's parents towards her in that they only wanted what they thought was best for her as well as getting what they want at the same time. They imagine that Juliet would be happy living her life with Paris, although Lady Capulet was much more loving than her husband was. Romeo and Juliet is a story purely based on love. The majority of the text makes references to love and how it effects those involved. Hate is only shown between the two families only when they are together, not when they are living their normal lives. Most of the hate comes from Tybalt's mouth anyway, we hardly hear any words of hate from anyone else's mouth. I have come to the conclusion that Romeo and Juliet is more to do with love than hate because of the style of language used and the way the characters express how they feel about one another. The story contains mostly references to love and therefore would conclude that the story was written about love. After all, love is something that everyone can relate with. omeo & Juliet In the novel Romeo and Juliet, Romeo shows two different kinds of love depending on before and after he meets Juliet. Before Romeo falls in love with Juliet he lives a life of sadness. Even though he has many friends he still finds a way of putting his friends behind him and living a miserable life.He is very miserable because he has fallen in love with a woman by the name of Rosaline, but she can not love him back because she did'nt even know about it.Romeo did not have the courage to tell her.His love is not true love, he is just in love with the the fact of being in love. He likes the feeling of being in love and will try to be together with anyone as long as he has the love feeling and enjoys the time being,not necesserily the girl he is being with.He is feeling so full of sorrow that he can't take it so he locks himself in his room in darkness yet he doesn't even know if she loves him or not,He is afraid to ask her. His love for Rosaline is great but yet she can not say the same and for that he will continue to be miserable.He has lots of support from his friends and lots of advice given to him but he doesn't take the time to think of the many opportunities he has to chose from, such as forget about Rosaline and find someone else, or tell Rosaline how he feels and see what happens. After he meets Juliet his love for Rosaline disappears and a new and different love appears. As he see her for the first time he falls madly in love. He speaks to her and they both say they feel the same about each other.Even though they are forbidded to get married or even get together with each other,they do.He shows a tremendous excitement knowing that he is loving and getting love back.He gets in trouble because of the killing of Tybalt and he is banned from Verona and he has to leave.When Romeo must leave Juliet and move away neither Romeo nor Juliet can put up with the pain.They fight with all the power they have to try to stay together forever,till it comes to the point that the only solution to be together is by death. They tried everything else but they didn't succeed. He just can't bear to live a life without her. He thinks of his only choices and knows that either he forgets about her and leave town or he stay with her and is sent to death penalty.Even though he knows he has family and friends he chooses to die with her, to be together. So we see a big change In love here.At first he is in love with the idea of being in love and is too shy or ashamed to tell the woman how he feels, but then when he met Juliet and fell in love with her the love was mutual, now he does anything to be together with her. At first he is sad and every minute of his life is sad until he loves Juliet and he is then happy. Romeo's love life to him was a lot more clear and happier even though, it meant having to die together. Romeo and Juliet is also a play which is full of anger, passion, and death. The secrecy of the marriage of Romeo and Juliet pointed out a form of dramatic irony. This is shown by Juliet's " double-edged "phrases when Lady Capulet is denouncing Romeo. For example, "Ay madam, from the reach of these my hands: would none but I might verge my cousin's death." (Act III, Scene V, line 86) or when Juliet states in an awkward way, "indeed I never shall be satisfied with Romeo till I behold him -dead- " (Act III, Scene V, line 95) O there dramatic ironies included when Romeo falls in love with Juliet, Mercutio imagines he is still in love with Rosaline. "Ah that same pale hard-hearted wench, that torments him so that he will sure run mad. " (Act II, Scene IV, Line 4). All the dramatic ironies caused a very lively presence throughout the play and has caught the eye of many readers. Last but not least, Shakespeare' s writing style has also hypnotised people. Shakespeare had artistic power in his characterisation. He was often careless in the plot, suck like Romeo and Juliet where he adds his imagination into the story . This really attracted people as they read the play. In the play, Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare reveals an underlying message that points to the contrasts between youth and age that are even apparent now today. The youth of society tend to question and then possibly disregard the rules that are important to their parents if they do not have good reason to believe in these rules. The rebellious actions of youth can eventually cause their own untimely destruction. We see today in the headlines many instances where teens have followed their own unguided course bringing about tragic results. Shakespeare shows us in his play how these factors contributed to the tragedy of Romeo and Juliet. The youth of the society is quite different from the aged of society. Romeo and Juliet were brought up to despise other families because for centuries the Montagues and Capulets had been feuding. These two young people who found love at first sight could not find a problem with each other even though their parents felt that they were their enemies. They were able to cross the barrier of hate that was put before them all their life. This was a remarkable leap because it defied the traditional code of ethics handed down from generation to generation. Romeo and Juliet's parents would never even think of relating to an enemy of the family never the less falling in love with one. Juliet is caught by love that blinds her reason. She even goes as far as stating she will "…deny her name for only the name is an enemy not Romeo". The older generation accepted traditional beliefs without question. This was their way of showing respect to their parents. On the other hand, Romeo and Juliet had the conviction and trust in themselves to formulate their ideas based on their own experience of love. Throughout the play, Shakespeare purposely reveals an underlying theme that contrasts youth from age. The youth are the new radical generation who have revolutionized their traditional way of life. The youth overcome barriers and break traditional ideals. The youth of society can react at a much faster pace than people of older generations. Juliet, a young person, felt that the aged moved too slowly. Juliet exclaimed "The clock struck nine when I did send the nurse. / In half hour she promised to return… / But old folks, many feign as they were dead, / Unwiedly, slow, heavy, and pale as lead (pg. 105)." Juliet is an impulsive young women who felt that she might have reacted too rashly.. Juliet weas frightened and uttered "It is too rash, too unadvis'd, too sudden; / Too like the lightening which doth cease to be / Ere one can say 'It lightens.'" These examples contrast the speed of the youth and the sluggishness of the aged - the impulsive versus the more reasoned reaction. In modern day society, kids act at such an incredible pace that grownups can not relate to. Kids can operate on the fastest video games out on the market with no problem. If an adult plays, it will be a whole different story. The main reason kids can play the video games with no problem is due to the fact that they are used to the speed. They have been playing them their whole life! Adults did not grow up playing video games and therefore are not accustomed to it. These games are hard for them to follow and often make them dizzy. Adults are worried that kids do not analyze the repercussions of their actions and the results that could affect their life. In today's high-tech world, kids question the authority of their parents because they believe they have a better way of doing it. The traditional code of ethics would have dictated that Romeo do what Lord Montague asked and not question why. Romeo abandoned everything and followed his heart. This is applicable in today's modern day society. The issue of respect and authority of elders is questioned at every turn. The traditional way of behaving has changed dramatically. Now kids talk back to their parents and find no problem with it. In earlier times this was unheard of. Now parents no longer rule their children by a strict sense of morality or fear. This has resulted in a less strict society which tolerates more. The innocent love between Romeo and Juliet ended in a horrible tragedy due to their families' intense hatred for one another. Both families understand how this extreme hate causes this tragedy. Prince Escalus says to the heads of the two households, "See what a scourge is laid upon your hate, /That heaven finds means to kill your joys with love." Society has needed an example of love in order to rectify hatred, and love is shown to have moral power. Also, in the play there is another level of interpretation. Love is triumphant over death, time, fate and especially hatred. Now the families can look back and wonder how the beautiful and innocent love between Romeo and Juliet turned into a horrible disaster because of ancient hatred. Members of the family start to question some of their own beliefs that they grew up learning. They do this to see if their code of ethics makes better sense than their parents! Four hundred years ago, William Shakespeare wrote The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet, a popular play that continues to capture the imagination and emotions of people around the world. The drama portrays the passionate, violent and often desperate lives of the youth of Verona. Even today, the tragedy resembles a blueprint of the problems that the adolescents of the twentieth century must face each day. In this play, Shakespeare explores the pitfalls of young love, and the consequences they receive from their actions. They explained their love to be true love and they knew that they had to be together, even though their families were enemies and it was truly forbidden for the two of them to marry. The whole idea of love in Romeo's and Juliet's thoughts was totally misunderstood, and they demonstrated in many sections of the play that they truly did not know what true love was. In this play, Shakespeare shows that love can cause and finish anything, even love that is not honestly discovered. The influence of parents played a major part in the tragedy of Romeo and Juliet. To start with, the general situation is rather like a family conflict. The feud between the Capulets and the Montagues had been passed down through the generations, until the youngest child had been planted with the seeds of hate. From the beginning of the play, it is learned that the Capulet's held the decisive judgement of what Juliet's future would have in store. "But saying o'er what I have said before. My child is yet a stranger in the world. She hath not seen the change of fourteen years. Let two more summers wither in their pride Ere we may think her ripe to be a bride." (I,ii,7-11) This demonstrates Capulet's intent of choosing Juliet's husband. Romeo and Juliet kept their relationship secret from the start, in fear that their love affair would be rejected by their feuding families. That is what led to the death of both lovers. Had they held a more open relationship, eventually, both families would have accepted it. However, considering the circumstances, the street brawl and the later death of Tybalt, Romeo and Juliet felt that their parents would not have been able to understand the love between the two youths. In today's society, youth are constantly advocating the change from total dependence on family, to their own independence. Young people often think they know better than their parents, often believing that instead of helping them, they are only punishing them. Romeo and juliet found that they new better then their parents, but after realizing the wrong they caused when both committing suicide. Romeo was too young to realize that he had to take responsibility for his actions and he had to accept the consequences. This is one of the pitfalls that Shakespere portrayed in his play for young love. Romeo did not understand the outcomes of his actions. He never realized this until the damage was done. He was too involved in his love for Juliet that he didn't devote himself to any other circumstances. Young love is often an ever-changing emotion that enthrals adolescents. When a boy sees a beautiful girl, he often thinks that he is in love. That is similar to the emotion Romeo experienced: "To call hers, exquisite, in question more. These happy masks that kiss fair laidies' brow, Being black, puts us in mind they hide the fair. He that is strucken blind cannot forget The precious treasure of his eyesight lost. Show me a mistress that is passing fair; What doth her beauty serve but as a note Where I may read who passed the passing fair? Farewell. Thou canst not teach me to forget." (I,i,238-246) Here, Romeo is saying how much he loves Rosaline, and that he cannot forget about her. However, a couple of scenes later, his love quickly changes: "O, she doth teach the torches to burn bright! It seems she hangs upon the cheek of night As a rich jewel in an Ethiop's ear - Beauty too rich for use, for earth too dear. So shows a snowy dove trooping with crows As yonder lady o'er her follow shows. The measure done, I'll watch her place of stand And, touching hers, make blessed my rude hand. Did my heart love till now? Forswear it, sight, For I ne'er saw true beauty till this night." (I,v,51-60) How quickly young love changes. Juliet, a little more cautious than Romeo was, refused to allow him to swear his love by the moon. "O, swear not by the moon, th' inconstant moon, That monthly changes in her circled orb, Lest that thy love prove likewise valuble." (II,ii,114-117) Young love can often distracting in the minds of young people. Romeo and Juliet found it unbearable to be without each other, and, to a young couple, the feelings can be mutual at times. Young love often ends up being ignorant, instead of passionate and true heart. Most of the time, the two youths are too fickle to understand or even feel what true love is, due to immaturity. Life in Verona seems to have seldom difference from today's situation. Romeo portrayed himself to be too fickle to understand what actual love was. He thought that he was in love with Rosalin, and then fell in love with Juliet having no idea what true love really was other than the image in his thoughts. Obviously, Romeo was not ready to commit himself and the reasons why the certain obscenities took place was because Romeo had to take the consequences for the actions he committed. Young people seem to face the same problems, make the same difficult choices and confront the same obstacles. Parental influence, young love and the revenge code still have an effect on youths, even after four hundred years, these problems are still present in the everyday lives of today's youth and for this reason, young love can cause or finish anything. In conclusion, from the very beginning, the love of Romeo and Juliet was destined to be destroyed. It is tragic that both these people had to give their lives just so they could love each other. There were circumstances throughout the course of their lives that led up to their deaths. If their parent's had not been feuding and if the Nurse had not betrayed Juliet, the outcome of this story would have been different, although fate could not be changed. This was the most important factor in the lives of Romeo and Juliet. In my opinion the quote that accurately summarizes this play is, "For never was there a story of more woe, than this of Juliet and her Romeo." (Romeo & Juliet, V, iii, p. 138, ll.309-310) Love is the biggest thing that can happen in human life. It can make your life incredible or forgettable. In the case of Romeo and Juliet, it was both. They had something between them that would never be destroyed. Their determination to stay together through the tough times was incredible. Even when they knew that their relationship would never be normal, they never gave up. It was a case of love at first sight when their eyes locked on each other. The story of Romeo and Juliet is more to do with love than hate. Nearly every scene of the text has love conveyed in some way in them. From the pain Romeo suffered from the rejection of Rosalyn, to the first scene where the two meet. The only scene in the whole story where love isn't conveyed is the very first scene where we see the first conflict between the Capulets and the Montagues. That just shows how much of an impact love has in Shakespeare's story about two star-crossed lovers. Romeo and Juliet had such a strong love that they would die for each other. This is what Shakespeare is trying to show us what love is all about and this is why he chose to write this story, not to show hate, but to show love. The love in the story is not only shown between Romeo and Juliet. It is also shown in the form of filial love between Romeo and Mercutio. Romeo 'loved' Mercutio as a friend so much that he would vow revenge on the person that brought upon his death. The friendship was everlasting and would always be treasured by Romeo, even after Mercutio's death. Other love was shown between Juliet and the Nurse. Juliet grew up with the nurse by her side all the time. The nurse was more of a mother to Juliet than Lady Capulet ever was. Romeo's parents cared for him much deeper than Juliet's did for her. His mother was always worried or concerned about where he was and what he was doing, hoping he wouldn't get caught up in any trouble. Shakespeare also shows paternal love to go along with the others in the text. I guess that you could say that their was a bit of love from Juliet's parents towards her in that they only wanted what they thought was best for her as well as getting what they want at the same time. They imagine that Juliet would be happy living her life with Paris, although Lady Capulet was much more loving than her husband was. Romeo and Juliet is a story purely based on love. The majority of the text makes references to love and how it effects those involved. Hate is only shown between the two families only when they are together, not when they are living their normal lives. Most of the hate comes from Tybalt's mouth anyway, we hardly hear any words of hate from anyone els
To what extent Fate was responsible for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet?
Before judging to what extent Fate was responsible for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet, we must first answer the question: what is fate? According to the Oxford English Dictionary, fate is the 'inevitable destiny or necessity destined term of life; doom.' On a more basic level, fate can be described as a preplanned sequence of events influencing one's life. In Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, is it true to say that Fate was the sole contributor to the deaths of the young couple, or was their demise brought about by the mistakes of others?
In the modern world, most people choose to believe that they have a sense of responsibility and can control their own lives. They suppose that their problems are caused by the actions of themselves or those influencing them. From one viewpoint, it is true to say that the deaths of Romeo and Juliet were caused by the mistakes made by themselves and others: the influence of fate was almost nonexistent. Four characters in the play intensely manipulate the tragic path of the young couple: (apart from Romeo and Juliet themselves) Mercutio, the Nurse, Tybalt and the Friar.
Mercutio, one of Romeo's friends and a supporter of the Montague household, changed the course of events by encouraging Romeo to go the Capulet's masquerade and duelling with Tybalt in town. If Mercutio had not encouraged Romeo to go to the Capulet's dance, the couple would never have met and their deaths would have been averted. But was Romeo destined to meet Juliet, regardless of the actions of others?
If Mercutio had not taunted Tybalt in town whilst out with Romeo and Benvolio, Romeo would never have got into his fight with Tybalt and therefore would not have been banished. Perhaps, however, the fight initiated by Mercutio that hapless day was inevitable: could it be that Romeo was somehow destined to be exiled?
The Nurse, Juliet's committed servant who treated her almost like a daughter, changed the course of events by going behind Lord and Lady Capulet's backs. If the Nurse had not performed Juliet's bidding and acted as her messenger, it is possible that Juliet would have given up on the idea of her marriage to Romeo and the couple's deaths would have been averted. However, there is a strong possibility that regardless of the Nurse's influence, the couple would still have gone ahead with their doomed marriage once they had fallen in love.
The Friar, Romeo's friend and assistant of Juliet in her final plan, changed the course of events by helping the young couple in their plans to marry and assisting Juliet in her scheme to be with Romeo once again. If the Friar had not agreed to marry Romeo and Juliet, it is possible that the couple would have given up on the idea of being together. On the other hand, Romeo and Juliet may have been fated to marry and would have partaken in the ceremony one way or another no matter what the Friar's decision.
If the Friar had not suggested his dramatic plan to the desperate Juliet, she may never have seen Romeo again and the couple would have stayed alive, albeit in depression! Perhaps, however, that if Juliet had not had the chance to see Romeo again she would have committed suicide anyway. The couple may have been doomed regardless of the Friar's decision to involve Juliet in his elaborate plot.
Tybalt, the cousin of Juliet and hotheaded enemy of the Montague household, changed the course of events by agreeing to fight Romeo in town. If Tybalt had not deliberately started to make fun of Mercutio, the two would not have got into their duel and Romeo may have been safe from the threat of banishment.
Romeo, the youngest son of Lord and Lady Montague and Juliet's husband, was in fact a major influence on the events leading up to the deaths of him and his young wife. Romeo acts too hastily throughout the play: he shouldn't have asked Juliet to marry him so suddenly, and he should have thought more carefully before rushing back to Verona after hearing of Juliet's death. Romeo also acted violently and without thinking when he killed Tybalt and, later, Paris. Perhaps if he had thought about what he was doing a little more before acting, the deaths of him and his fair Juliet would have been averted.
Juliet, the beloved daughter of Lord and Lady Capulet and Romeo's lover, was also a major influence on the events leading up to the deaths of her and her husband. Juliet shouldn't have deceived and disobeyed her parents, and, like Romeo, she was too hasty in rushing into marriage. She was already engaged to marry Paris at the time of the ball, and until then, had been very happy with her parents choice. If Juliet had not been so fickle as to fall in love with Romeo on the night of the masquerade, they both may still have kept their lives.
Nowadays, most people do not have much time for the theory of fate. They like to believe that they are in control of their own destiny, and that any difficulties arising from their actions can be sorted out. But what if all our actions are already planned out, and no matter what we do the ultimate consequence will be the same? Some people argue that Shakespeare wanted us to believe this was the case in Romeo and Juliet, and several quotations from the play can support this view.
The first example of a reference to fate is in the prologue, at the very start of the play.
'From forth the fatal loins of these two foes
A pair of star-cross'd lovers take their life;
Whole misadventured piteous overthrows
Do with their death bury their parents' strife.'
This quotation implies that even from the very beginning, the young couple were doomed. 'Star-crossed' refers to the astrological outlook on destiny that was much more widely accepted when Shakespeare wrote his tragedy. By including this line so early in the book, Shakespeare creates a sense of anticipation in the audience. From the start they know what the eventual outcome will be, but the questions of 'how?' and 'why?' are only answered as the play progresses.
Another example of one of the characters from the play referring to fate is when Mercutio attempts to make Romeo go to the Capulet dance. Romeo eventually agrees, but he still feels uneasy:
'I fear, too early: for my mind misgives
Some consequence yet hanging in the stars
Shall bitterly begin his fearful date'
This second reference shows that Romeo never felt happy with the idea of going to the Capulet party in the first place. If he had trusted his instincts and refused to go, the deaths of the two lovers may have been averted. By including these foreboding lines, Shakespeare suggests to the audience that the ultimate destiny of Romeo and Juliet was, in fact, fated.
After the Capulet masquerade, Juliet refers to fate once realising that Romeo is a Montague:
'My only love sprung from my only hate!
Too early seen unknown, and known too late!
Prodigious birth of love it is to me,
That I must love a loathed enemy.'
Juliet suggests that the meeting of the two young lovers was perhaps too extraordinary to be solely based on coincidence. She acknowledges the paradoxical situation of her 'only love' sprung from her 'only hate'. By including these lines, Shakespeare increases the tension in the audience by giving a clue as to how the lovers will meet their demise.
When Juliet talks to the Nurse after finding out about Romeo's banishment, she again cries out an exclamation based on fate.
'Alack, alack, that heaven should practise stratagems
Upon so soft a subject as myself!'
This remark demonstrates Juliet's anguish upon hearing of her lover's banishment. She remarks upon 'heaven's stratagems', or in other words, fate. By including these lines, Shakespeare attempts to make the audience pity the doomed couple, especially the innocent, young Juliet, but at the same time realise that their unhappy destiny cannot be changed.
Friar Lawrence refers to fate when he is told that Romeo did not receive his vitally important letter.
'Unhappy fortune! by my brotherhood,
The letter was not nice but full of charge
Of dear import…'
This quotation displays the worry of the Friar as he realises the disastrous consequences that could unfold if Romeo does not receive his letter in time. Shakespeare could have phrased this sentence differently to place the blame upon the messenger, but instead he expresses it as though it was the fault of fortune. This is a prime example of the beliefs concerning fate in the 16th century.
A final example of one of the characters from the play referring to fate is when Friar Lawrence is talking to Juliet shortly before she stabs herself:
'A greater power than we can contradict
Hath thwarted our intents.'
The 'greater power' that Friar Lawrence refers to is, of course, fate. His statement does not make Juliet feel any better however, as she promptly commits suicide! Shakespeare again chooses to place the blame on a higher power rather than an individual, signifying his desire to make the audience believe that no one person or thing was responsible for the deaths of the young couple but fate.
After looking at the two viewpoints as to who was to blame for the deaths of the young couple, the countless references to fortune and fate make it easy to conclude that Fate was to a great extent responsible. It seems apparent that Shakespeare meant for his audience to interpret the happenings of the play as influenced by some higher power, and if fate really does control everything about our lives then it would be sensible to assume that the actions of all the characters in the play were also fated.