How the two directors (Baz Luhrmann and Zefferelli) convey the opening of Romeo and Juliet.

Authors Avatar

How the two directors (Baz Luhrmann and Zefferelli) convey the opening of Romeo and Juliet

        “Romeo and Juliet” is a tragic love story on a background of hatred and animosity. It is definitely one of Shakespeare’s most well known plays, arguably the most well known. The fact that this play is so well known has presented problems to directors who wanted to try and stage or film “Romeo and Juliet” – there is more pressure on them to create something unique and original. The challenge has inspired several directors. Among these directors are Baz Luhrmann and Zefferelli, who both felt motivated enough by this play to turn it into a film. Some aspects of the two resulting creations were very similar, but in other ways very dissimilar, and the two directors approached their task in very different ways – and this is what I want to study.  

        The opening of a play is very important. It makes the reader decide whether he or she wants to read on, gives us our first impressions, and most importantly, it introduces the characters and sets the scene for the rest of the play. So, when writing the opening of “Romeo and Juliet”, Shakespeare takes care of all these points effectively. Shakespeare’s main aims in this opening are evidently to build up tension and ambience, present the reader with an atmosphere of animosity and hatred against which Romeo and Juliet’s love is doomed to fail. I think that he is very successful in this. Scene 1 begins with servants from the rivalling families fighting, which seems more trivial and vaguely comical. But when some of the higher status characters enter the fight becomes more ominous and menacing. Tybalt is introduced at this point, a very sinister character, speaking out against peace – “What, drawn and talk of peace? I hate the word, As I hate hell, all Montagues, and thee,” changing the atmosphere completely, adding a threatening note – he seems to be the real aggressor. This sudden change of mood is effective in building up tension. As even the masters of the houses try to enter the fray, we see that the enmity between the two families is widespread and complete, from the servants to the masters. The Prince of Verona presents an ultimatum – he is sick and tired of the violence in his city, and says that the people of Verona must not fight – if they do so they forfeit their lives. We now know that something will happen against this ultimatum, building up the suspense even more. Of course something does happen against the ultimatum, and people do pay the price with their lives. Romeo dies, Mercutio is killed and Tybalt is killed. Finally the innocent Juliet is sacrificed by cruel irony.

Join now!

        When we are introduced to Romeo he is moping and miserable, speaking in a hyperbolic manner of the devastating effects of love, but he is referring to the game of flirtation rather than true love. The irony of this will become apparent when he genuinely falls in love with catastrophic results. His love contrasts the background of hatred so it is evident that the love will not survive.

It is very interesting to look at how the two directors went about creating the opening mood of the play. The opening of “Romeo and Juliet” sets the scene for the rest ...

This is a preview of the whole essay