Baz Luhrmann has changed Romeos historical, social and cultural background. Baz Luhrmann has done this so people can reconigise and understand more about Romeo and the way he lives.
Romeos social background remains the same; that he’s the only son in the family. Romeo was born into a family where everyone knows him and where everyone critics him, for just being a Montague.
Romeo is a romantic, tragic figure where he falls in love so easily. When he does he finds the one who loves him back there is a boundary between them, just because of there names and there parents dispute.
In the film Romeo is made into an attractive character by his hair and style, which makes him more appealing. He also smokes which makes him look cool and young. In one scene Romeo is playing snooker, which relates to a young man. Baz Luhrman reinforces that Romeo is very romantic. Romeo has a “sexy” style to him compared to anyone else in the film. This makes him special.
There are some Similarities of the film, which support the play; such as the wealth of the two families. Even before the play is read the chorus says “two households both alike in dignity”. This means that both of the families are of similar or high social standing.
It’s easy to identify with De Caprio’s Romeo in the following episode of Juliet’s fake death. In this episode Romeo is rash, surprised, shocked as he sees Juliet as the only thing worth living for. Romeo goes mad to find anyways of trying to be with Juliet. SO he takes some Poison, so that there love would last forever. When Romeo goes to visit Juliet in the chapel he describes Juliet beautifully and poetically. For example he says, “Is crimson in thy lips and in thy cheeks, and deaths pale flag is not advanced there”. Romeo still thinks and talks about Juliet’s beauty even though she has passed on. Romeo always talks about Juliet’s beauty because they had only met 2 days ago and they hadn’t really seen each other.
Romeo sees no point in living; “ Death, lie thou there by a dead man interred.” This means that literally, to be buried by a dead man. Romeo is going to kill himself as already dead.
Romeo is as important to Juliet, as Juliet is to Romeo. As Juliet is really lonely, she only has Romeo but he has his friends. This is why Juliet and her nurse’s relationship are so important. Juliet’s nurse treats Juliet as her own daughter. Romeo wants to be with Juliet at all costs. For example, “Thou art not conguered; beauty’s ensign yet”. Saying to the battle between life and death for possession of Juliet’s body. I can identify more with this because I would do the same for the person I loved. Romeo has different emotions put together and he realises that even if she was alive they still couldn’t be together. If they were in heaven they would have no rules and can be together with out any worries.
The audience can sympathise with Romeo in the film at the caplets ball.
At the beginning of the Caplets ball each of Romeos friends are dressed hard and loud. However Romeo is dressed as a knight, chivalrous and ready to rescue the damsel in distress.
Romeo is very innocent like a child when Mercutio offers him the drug. Romeo is persuaded to take the drug by Mercutio talking about love. Which automatically makes the offer appear more attractive to Romeo. In Mercutios speech to Romeo about taking the drug, he says “Though lover’s brains, and then they dream of love” Now that sentence would really appeal to him. Obviously this scene was different in the play and the line “the dugs are quick” in fact comes much later in the play.
When Romeo and Juliet first meet it’s so intense; and they don’t even speak. However it seems as if they have fallen in love at first sight. When Juliet dances with Paris all that can be heard is the background music and Romeo and Jfilet staring at each other.
When Romeo diseoues that Juliet is a Capulet he’s shocked and frightened that they may nave be together.
Juliet’s emotions are shown at the end of the play when she runs from window to window and says “My only love sprung from my hate to only early to seen unknown to late, Prodiscuse birth of love it is to me I must love or loathed my enemy”.
Juliet is puzzled about her love for a Montague. Romeo does anything for love which also means he would be tray his family.
There is a discrepancy between the play and the film. In the fight scene between Romeo and Tybalt Romeo tells Tybalt “I have to love thee” it is more convincing as it appeals that Romeo is trying to be sincere with Tybalt. However in the play it sounds like Romeo is taunting him. When Tybalt enters for a second time after he kills Mercutio in the play Benvolio mocks him. Within five minites Tybalt is dead. When Romeo finds out Tybalt killed Mercutio the next day. Romeo kills Tybalt in the play whereas in the film Romeo was present when Tybalt killed Mercutio. Romeo was chasing Tybalt in the car at night and that’s when Tybalt dies. Romeo was really quick to attack Tybalt. After Romeo kills Tybalt he says “O, I’m fortunes Fool” Which shows that Romeo only killed Tybalt for pure revenge.
Conclusion
I think that Di Caprios character of Romeo was played extremely well. Di Caprio showed all of Romeos emotions very well. At the beginning of the play Romeo is desperately in love, which tells us about Shakespeare’s way of life. He falls in and out of love and when he falls in love and has someone who loves him back he would have never thought that it would be his enemies. I think that it is not all of Di Caprios acting that helps me respond to Romeos character is how Baz Luhrmann interprets it.
Luhrmanns scenery also helps me to understand and relates to how it really went on in the play and the film Romeo and Juliet.
Di Caprios has acted well on Romeos emotion and they really came though. Besides Baz Luhrmann’s film would have thought Shakespeare would still be impressed with Baz Luhrmann’s film and how he portrays Romeo as exactly in the play. Shakespeare would like the idea of women to play Juilet instead of a man playing the part although this was against the convention of Elizabeth theatre. With Baz Luhrmanns scenery and remake of the play.
