We know that Mercutio is a bold character and he kind of shows disrespect for his own life by trying to get into fights, until now, where we see that Mercutio is very lonely and afraid of dying and he blames his hurt which leads to death on the two feuding families. This proves my point further to say that he is scared of dying, as he repeats what he says, and Lurhmann really captures this, as there is an echo on what he says “a plague on both your houses, your houses, your houses, your houses”, also we see in the film that when Mercutio is talking to Romeo, he turns around and revels his wound to the camera, and there is an close up of Mercutio's face, revealing a picture of fright and shock, and Mercutio here knows that he will almost certainly die.
Furthermore, looking at Romeo in Act 3 Scene 1 we see that when he enters, Mercutio and Tybalts conversation, Tybalts attention quickly diverts on to Romeo, so its almost looks like Tybalt is expecting Romeo, as Tybalt says “here comes my man” to Mercutio, so Tybalt is saying here is the man I want to fight.
However, in the previous scene, we have seen that Romeo has got married to Juliet, thus bonding the two families, which are in conflict with each other, so Romeo does not want a fight with his cousin who is unaware of the marriage that has just taken place between him and Juliet. He just wants to make peace by what he says to Tybalt, “good Capulet, which name I tender dearly as my own”. Romeo is making it clear that he does not want a fight by what he says, as he holds the name Capulet as tender as his own name.
Lurhmann points this out, as we see in the film, Romeo pleading with Tybalt, as if to say to Tybalt, what I am telling you is true, and we see Romeo giving up his gun in submission to Tybalt, symbolising that he swears on his life that does tender the Capulet name as his own and that he does not want a fight. Also, we see in the film Tybalt is standing over Romeo and Romeo is beneath him kneeling in the sand, which can be seen as a sign of submission.
Further on, after Mercutio is dead, we see that Romeo's anger over his friend’s death, get the better of him and here Romeo forgets that he is related to Tybalt and goes off to seek revenge. We see that Romeo is in a blind rage and it is almost like Romeo, although he has forgotten that is related to him, seems to take on Tybalts character, as in the film we see Romeo in his car we see that his face is all screwed up, his shirt is not done up, its flapping about and he has blood on his face also he is shouting, which suggests that Romeo forgets his peaceful nature. The blood on him also suggests to the viewer that Romeo is upset and angry by the way Lurhmann portrays him when he is in his car.
When Romeo catches up with Tybalt, we see that Tybalt realises what he has done and drops his gun. What I think Lurhmann is getting at here is that, Tybalt knows what he has done and drops the gun in submission to Romeo and for Romeo to kill Tybalt.
So at the start of the scene Romeo is back from marrying Juliet, so, remembering that he is a Capulet, he does want to fight Tybalt. Then after Tybalt has killed Mercutio, Romeo forgets that Tybalt is a relation to him and sets off to kill him and we see that family influence takes over and Romeo sees it as a Capulet has killed a good friend of a Montague. So, we see Romeo as a Capulet, then as the scene progresses, we see him turn into a Montague, but we never see Romeo being himself, he is influenced by the two families, and Romeo's problem is, that it is Family Vs. His own individuality. As his personality is affected by his family.
Another main character throughout this scene is Tybalt. I find that at the start of the scene, we see that Tybalt is very direct towards Mercutio and to Romeo. As, he says to Mercutio, thou consort’st with Romeo” meaning that Mercutio, is like Romeo's shadow, where ever Romeo goes Mercutio follows.
With Romeo Tybalt calls him a villain, “thou art a villain”, by Tybalt saying this it is clear of his disgust and hatred for Romeo.
I think that Lurhmann grows on Tybalts disgust for Romeo, as in the film after Tybalt has called Romeo a villain, we see Tybalt spits in disgust, and this I feel is done very well by Lurhmann.
Towards the start of the scene, we see that Tybalt is respected as a leader, as when getting out of the car he tells his other gang members to “follow” him “close”, and his gang responds and does what he ask. This shows that they are showing respect for him and obeying what he says. Lurhmann shows this by getting Tybalts gang to follow him in a triangle formation, putting Tybalt at the front, showing that he is the middle and that he is their leader.
Further on, we see that as Tybalt has just killed Mercutio, he seems to lose his bold front, as in the film Lurhmann portrays the way Tybalt looks. He looks afraid of what might happen next and he looks scared, like some one who is out of their depth in problems.
Eventually, Romeo catches up with Tybalt after he has run off, and although Tybalts puts a gun to Romeo's head, Tybalt knows that he has killed Mercutio, and now Romeo is out to kill Tybalt, so Tybalt gives up and drops the gun in submission to Romeo and allows Romeo to kill him. Lurhmann shows this as we see Tybalt dropping the gun.
Towards the end of the scene we see that minor characters are introduced. First I will be looking Juliet.
As we have see at the start of the scene, Romeo has got married to Juliet; however Romeo and Juliet can only see one another at night, due to the fact of the family feud between the Montagues and the Capulets. In the actual play of Romeo and Juliet we see Juliet on her bed longing for Romeo in Act 3 Scene 2, but in the film of Romeo and Juliet, Baz Lurhmann has incorporated Juliet’s scene into Act 3 Scene 1 and Lurhmann is the one that goes into detail on Juliet’s longing for Romeo, as we see here all curled up on her bed and the way she is lying on her bed portrays her longing for her Romeo. Looking further we see that Juliet compares herself to an “impatient child” “before some festival” “that hath new robes and may not wear them”. Here Juliet expresses that she cannot wait until she can meet with Romeo, and she calls herself an impatient child. She also goes onto explain what she likes about Romeo and she compares him to heaven “he will make that face of heaven so fine”, so Juliet is suggesting that Romeo is like a God.
Also looking at the end of Act 3 Scene 1 we see Lady Capulet very upset over the death of Tybalt. After the Prince has spoken to Benvolio to ask what happened, Lady Capulet butts in the conversation and calls Benvolio a liar as he is a Montague. So, seems to be a fiery character, who perhaps wants the last say and who once she has something fixed in her mind, she won’t listen to other peoples stories, “he is a kinsman of the Montague”, so by what Lady Capulet is saying she proves that there is no loyalty between the two conflicting families. In the film Lurhmann has Lady Capulet shouting her opinion to the Prince, thus indicating that she wants everyone to hear what has happened and to hear what she thinks is the truth. Seeing Lady Capulet in this state is a good example of how single mindedness and anger can prevent people from being civilised and tolerant with one another.
In conclusion, throughout Act 3 Scene 1, it turns out that nearly every single character has had their personality changed apart from Benvolio. A reason for this is I think the personality change is due to death, as when Tybalt kills Mercutio, Tybalts comes from being a brutal aggressive character to a person who becomes afraid and finally when it comes to it accepts his death. Romeo on the other hand, starts off being peaceful and when Mercutio is killed, he turns into an animal like person and flies off in a rage to go kill Tybalt, who earlier he wanted to make peace with. The film really brings out the characters vulnerability, when about to die or staring death in the face. By watching the film, it brings out the characters expression, and showing the viewer the actions and facial expressions of the character. I feel the main point which echoes through out the play, is the war between the Montague’s and the Capulets. Also you get the sense, that if there were no division between the two families, no one would have been killed and maybe you may have not seen the characters being so aggressive and arrogant towards one another.
