Montague and Capulet are introduced along with ladies, they the start to brawl along with their families. After the fight has commenced the Prince enters and stops the fight he then warns the families that if they are to fight again they would be killed. After the fight lady Montague appears to put the fight behind and talks of nothing but here beloved son Romeo, “I am glad he was not at this fray.” This shows that the Montague household is close. Benvolio goes to find his cousin Romeo. Romeo is introduced as a heartbroken teenager who seems to only want to cry other his lost Rosaline. This puts another slant on things. It shows how Benvolios character can be a reluctant fighter one minute and a caring cousin the next. Romeo appears to have been added into this scene to add a contrast in the violence. Shakespeare has also given Romeo his own unique language, his character speaks in pros, “Heres much to do with hate, but more with love.” I believe this is to show his compassion for love, as love is often associated with poetry. I believe that Shakespeare manages to convey his main theme of speed in this scene extremely well. He manages to show us vulgar men with an idea of rape to a caring Romeo who is in search of love and he manages to fit in a fighting scene.
I then looked at Zeffirelli’s film version of act one scene one. We are brought into the film with the images of Sampson and Gregory and another Capulet walking through the market wearing bright yellow and orange. As the audience of the time had changed Zeffirelli missed out the sexual banter but still wants us to see how vulgar the pair are. So he had one of the two kick a dog and they fell into fits of laughter. They walked for a further four paces and the other stole an apple from a stall, showing their influence on the people of Verona. Two members of the Montague household, who are dressed in green and blue, Abraham and another whose name is not disclosed, walked down the street passed the Capulets. Sampson then bites his thumb at Abraham and an argument brakes out. And yet again the Capulets show how more intellectually challenged they are compared to the Montagues, as Abraham is cleverly winning the argument and all Sampson and Gregory can do is bite their thumbs and spit. I believe the spit is placed in to show more of a modern day physical insult as many people watching the film will not understand the bite of the thumb. An example of the Montagues intelligent influence on the Capulets is how the line, “You Lie.” Is read, it is said as if it is a full fletched point in an informative voice. Abraham’s friend is then pushed, trips and falls into a wall and cuts up his face. A fight then brakes out, although it is the Montagues that show a more peaceful approach to the events it is they who draw their swords. Zeffirelli then changes the lines around and gives Abraham the line, “Draw, If you be men”, although in the text it is Sampson’s line, I believe it is given to Abraham as it is he and his friend that the aggression is coming towards, and Zeffirelli doesn’t want to make it seem like it is purely the Capulets blame. Benvolio enters and is portrayed in a peaceful light, wearing similar clothing to the other Montagues. He was stood in such away he showed neutralisation towards the fight. Tybalt enters, and is shown as an aggressive devil like character, almost as if he was blowing his own trumpet with his appearance, he wore Capulet colours as well as black. He also wore a hat which could easily be mistaken for horns extruding from his scalp. The twos speeches are identical to those of the text. While Benvolio and Tybalt fight a new line is added, Tybalt cuts Benvolios face and says, “Hi di home Fragment!” meaning go home your worthless, I believe this a good use of Shakespeare’s language and added in a creative and worthwhile way, showing how much Tybalt thinks of himself. The fight is finally broken up by the prince and his henchmen who wear colours of both houses to possibly to show his involvement with both. Romeo is introduced wearing identical clothing to Benvolio showing their how close they are and talking of love for Rosaline.
Baz Luhrmann’s first scene is a lot livelier than the others and concentrates more on speed than any other theme of the play. It starts with three members of the Montague household; Gregory, Sampson and Benvolio. Although in our previous version of the film and in the text the two characters are from the Capulet household. I believe Luhrmann does this to show that these characters are more flamboyant and joyful than the Capulets. He dresses the Montagues in brightly coloured shirts and has them driving a yellow soft top car. They are driving through Verona shouting the original lines that Shakespeare rote out of the car at passers by and other vehicles. Obviously some alterations to the text had to take place to allow the duo to be part of the Montague household, such as, “A dog of the house of Montague moves me.” is changed to, “A dog of the house of Capulet moves me.” They pull into a gas station Benvolio reads one of Gregory’s lines, “The quarrel is between our masters and us their men.” although a servant finish the last four words, he then leaves and go inside the garage. As he gets inside the Capulets arrive in a black car with tinted windows and a very serious look to it. The camera pans up the car and shows the number plate reading “CAP005” and the Montagues read “MON005” I believe this is to show that the people within the cars are equals. The Montagues are seen tormenting and being vulgar towards a couple if nuns to show how innocent and joyful they are. A song is playing in the background with the words “a pretty piece of flesh I am”, which is a link to the start of the text version. A Capulet steps out the car and is portrayed as a mean looking menace, the word ‘sin’ is capped over his teeth in the form of a metal gum shield. He is wearing black and red to represent the evil and the link to the devil of Tybalt. His name is Abra which could be linked to the Montagues Abraham, I believe Luhrmann has done this to put the balance back, as he had moved Sampson and Gregory to Montague he need to put a character back to the Capulets. In this version the Capulets get the upper hand and control the fight and the argument, although they dominate it via shouting and shooting. Tybalt then steps out of the car lights a match and drops it on the floor. We see him stamp on it wearing metal plated shoes. Then the camera pans up on him like it did on the car. He is wearing black trousers and a red waist coat with an image of Jesus upon the chest. The fire starts to burn when Tybalt drops match into a cross shaped crack in the pavement. Tybalt takes out his ‘Sword’ which was a hand gun shoots one of the Montagues in the shoulder then aims for Benvolio. The fighting then continues around the streets until officer Prince separates in a helicopter. Capulet and Montague were in two different limos with their ladies and they saw the fight on the news. Capulet asks sternly for his ‘long Sword’ then lady Capulet says lady Montagues line. In Zeffirelli’s version the fighting stops automatically as soon as the Prince is spotted whereas in this version officer Prince doesn’t appear to have much control. I believe this is to show that in the modern society the police are not really respected, I believe Luhrmann’s version to be much more realistic. A lot of Princes speech is cut to make it easier on the cinema going audience. Romeo is shown walking through the bad area of the town mourning over his loss of Rosaline. Where he sees the events of the day on an old television in a shop window and gets angry with his cousin Benvolio. I believe Benvolio to be less effective in this version than he is in the other version; his peaceful factors appear to be lost.
At the start of this scene Shakespeare writes in a costume change. Servants are running around moving parts of the set to get the house ready for the party, while Juliet and Lady Capulet are upstairs getting ready. Capulets welcomes the guests and tells them to dance. Romeo and his friends enter the party and listen to Capulet and Second Capulet talk about when they last wore a mask, meaning when they last went to a masked ball and danced with anonymous people. Romeo instantaneously spots Juliet and falls in love. Tybalt hears Romeo talking about Juliet, and talks about killing Romeo, “To strike him dead I hold it not a sin.” This is yet another example of the harshness and speed to strike of Tybalt and another example of hate towards Montagues. Capulet disallows Tybalt to react. Romeo then goes to speak to Juliet where he uses religious imagery, “This holy shrine, the gentle sin is this,” this imagery sets a scene of innocents between the lovers. Juliet refers to Romeo, “Good Pilgrim” I believe that this shows that she returns the love for him. The two engage in a kiss and Juliet tells Romeo that he kisses by the book, meaning that he knows what he is doing, it may also have another reference to religion and the book may be the bible. Nurse tells Juliet that she must go to her mother, and Romeo asks who Juliet is. The nurse replies with a long answer but does not specifically answer the question, this reflects upon her bubbly and large personality. Then Romeo clicks on that she is in actual fact a Capulet. He claims his life is ruined, “My life is my foe’s debt.” This also reflects on the theme of speed, Romeo has fallen in love and found out the love is impossible in the space of five minutes. Benvolio then says they have to leave and Capulet whispers in Romeos ear that they should stay, possibly because Capulet doesn’t want to admit they are Montagues or he wants to show to the Montagues that he can be welcoming even to his enemies
In Zeffirelli’s version the scene starts with Capulets speech, missing out the introduction with the servants because it was not needed or relevant. As Tybalt (wearing red, white and black, possibly representing danger, peace and death) spots Romeo and goes to Lady Capulet before he goes to Capulet himself, I believe this is because he respects her more; she is close to his age group and more understanding. Romeo and Juliet spot each other and dance a slow dance at first with simple touching of the hand, showing innocents: then the dance speeds up. After the dance has finished on man steps forward and begins to sings. Romeo and Juliet meet for the first time; the lines are kept the same to put across the point of this part of the story being important. As the man is singing it sets a perfect scope for them to meet. The mans voice is high pitched making him seem innocent, this enhanced by the words he uses. The nurse appears to be more flamboyant in this film as she is seen sneaking a drink. A line is added, “It is so late it will soon be morning” which emphasises speed. The nurse then goes to Tybalt and asks who Romeo; this tells Tybalt that something is wrong; this shows his anger towards the Montagues. The line, “my grave is like me wedding bed.” is dropped because it is no longer relevant.
In Luhrmann’s film version Mercutio gives Romeo an ecstasy pill, which makes the film more up to date for people of the present day. The effects are shown with bright lights and wagon wheels which spin around on the screen. Romeo places on his sunglasses (he is wearing an armour suit, which may be to represent that he is going to be Juliet’s man in armour), shows the bouncers his ticket and enters the party. Lady Capulet and Tybalt are seen kissing; this is probably to show that they are nearer in age and that they have a closer relation ship than lady Capulet and Capulet. Tybalt is dressed in a devils suite. Mercutio is dressed as a women possibly to reflect on the ‘queen nab’ from the previous scene, he is centre of attention and is singing ‘Young Hearts’. Mercutio is invited to the party yet he is friends with Romeo. He is not wearing a mask, possibly because he is also friends with the Capulet family or because he doesn’t care if he is found out. Capulet is dressed as Julius Caesar perhaps to show power, Caesar was killed by people that went behind his back and killed him; Juliet goes behind Capulets back and marries Romeo. Then Romeo is pictured in the bathroom. A lady is singing in the background, Romeo catches sight of Juliet through a large fish tank. A really peaceful atmosphere is formed between the two then it is broken by Nurse coming in and took her to Lady Capulet. Juliet is displayed wearing a fairy costume to show her innocents. Juliet is taken to dance with Dave Paris who is the bachelor of the year and dressed in an astronaut suit, as it is seen as a symbol of bravado in America. Then Tybalt spots Romeo and goes to Capulet who slaps him and orders him to leave Romeo alone. Romeo is stood at the side of the dance floor smirking at Juliet as he knows she’d rather be with him. They then meet again and engage in the conversation. While speaking, lady Capulet and Paris approach, so they step into a lift. They kiss against a white background showing the purity of their love. Juliet appears more confident in this version and teases Romeo. The lift stops and they step out, they see Juliet’s’ mother approaching and run back inside the lift and kiss once more. Nurse then takes Juliet away. The rest of this scene is very much the same as the other two versions although Romeo is taken away in a Montague vehicle with the chanting of ‘Pretty piece of flesh’ song.
The next scene we study is act two scene four, this is the scene before Mercutio is killed. It starts with Benvolio and Mercutio discussing Romeo, about how he stayed out last night, they believe he was with Rosaline as they have no idea about Juliet. They also talk about the letter he is sent from Tybalt requesting a sword fight. Mercutio says how accurate Tybalt is with his sword, and how Romeo is going to loose. Romeo enters in a joyful mood, probably because of his new found love. Mercutio mocks Romeo saying he gets no sex, and sarcastically saying that Rosaline is a legend compared to Cleopatra. The pair then have a verbal boxing match. Mercutio surrenders and asks Benvolio to defend him from Romeo. The nurse and Peter enter brining news from Juliet, Peter is not very clever. Romeo starts of the mocking of the nurse, with the comment, “a sail, a sail!” tormenting the nurse because of her awful dress, or saying she looks similar to a ship. The temperature rise’s this builds up great preparation for the fight scene which follows between Tybalt and Mercutio. The nurse asks Peter for her fan and Mercutio finds away to mock her for it, saying that she is going to use the fan to hide her face as it is more attractive than her. She then claims, “I desire some confidence with you.” Yet again showing her stupidity, she meant to say that she desired some conference with you although nowadays this old time joke would not be understood. Benvolio now mocks her by saying that during lent know one would spend money on an old mince pie, referring to the Nurse that he had previously called a hoe.
Romeo tells the nurse that Mercutio is all mouth. Nurse warns Romeo, “Do not deceive my Juliet.” As if she was her mother. The nurse puts off what Romeo is saying; she is like talking to a brick wall. Nurse makes a point about Rosemary and Romeo beginning, possible because rosemary is used at funerals and marriages possibly linked to what Juliet says to commend her to her wedding bed.
Zeffirelli’s film version starts very similarly to the text with Benvolio sat down holding a handkerchief over his face, protecting him self from the sun, discussing Romeo, the handkerchief may have reference to the wedding scene as the positioning of the handkerchief is similar to a wedding veil. Line nineteen after ‘Cats’ till line thirty-six has been missed out possibly because the cinema going audience wouldn’t understand and be able to follow the complexity of the discussion. Mercutio and Romeo are having some friendly banter; Mercutio has lines added in French possibly to mock Romeos love sickness, as the French are known for being romantic. There is also a sense of jealousy in his voice. The nurse and Peter enter, Mercutio mocks and mimics her voice and he mimes sewing. As they talk he puts his arm up under the handkerchief as he tells her the time is upon the prick of noon. She tries hard not to laugh showing her similar personality and humour to Mercutio’s. In this version she does not mix up her words as I said early the cinema going audience would notice the deliberate mistake. Some of the words are replayed with Mercutio making a physical move upon the nurse. He puts his head under her skirt and discovers she needs a good wash. He then puts his head under her veil, again a link to the wedding; she appears to enjoy the attention. The nurses clothes are of both house colours possibly to show the linking of the families. Romeo and the nurse then enter a church which is not referenced in the text. The nurses personality now changes and flips she becomes more serious and mother like. After the conversation he goes to leave stops and allows the nurse to leave first, he makes a pleasant bowing gesture to indicate this, she looks as if she has never been treated like this before, and possibly to remind the viewer she is a servant.
Luhrmann’s version of the film now speeds up again flashing images onto the screen, of the holy church and of the rebellious youths smoking. A contrast between light and dark is introduced and a sleazy atmosphere is set towards the nurse. Luhrmann changes the speeches into visual demonstrations. It shows Mercutio as an experienced gun fighter. A close up on a ring and a necklace with a crucifix on it turning religious imagery into visual images. The nurse is dressed in red and stands out she has no peter with her, possibly because this nurse is portrayed as a more independent women. Mercutio appears to be over friendly towards her and seems jealous when Romeo leaves with the nurse. It changes when the nurse arrives, from it being fun and lively to be being dark and serious. The nurses character changes greatly to emphasise this, she becomes more serious and protective.
I believe that Shakespeare found it important to put across his theme of speed, in his text he does this buy overlaying scenes introducing them at similar times to show more than one thing happening at once. In the Zeffirelli’s version he does it by creating a very similar setting and time frame to Shakespeare’s original. Whereas Luhrmann puts across speed by plashing images and using sound effects to speed along his cinema going audience. I also believe that Shakespeare made an important imprint of religion into his play. He uses a lot of religious imagery and reference to god the bible and the crucifix. Zeffirelli did this by using a lot of worded imagery that Shakespeare had written. Luhrmann showed his religious reference all over the place, from small hard to notice indications like the cross shake crack in the floor to the image of Jesus upon Tybalts chest in the first scene. Also concentrates upon the sad and joking contrasts through out the play, by using alternate characters show this, Benvolio was Shakespeare’s peaceful kind hearted character, and Tybalt was his evil counter part. Zeffirelli portrayed this theme using lighting effects and musical help. While introducing characters he would have appropriately suiting music accompanying their entrance. Luhrmann also used sound and lighting effects to do this yet slightly differently, he would use costumes to show mood and character and use sound to help the viewer understand the language.
