Concentrating now on Act 5 Scene 3, the setting has been slightly changed. The tomb where Juliet is sleeping under the influence of the drug, is a very dark one. Paris proves this with the line; “give me thy torch boy”. Whereas, in the film version the tomb is lit up to display the bodies of deceased member of Juliet. The lights are emphasised on a big cross by her resting place, perhaps reminding you that this is in fact a tomb and not a morgue. In the background there is the light echo of a piano playing a soft tune, something that couldn’t be portrayed in the text. This music completely changes the scene from the madness of their lives outside of the tomb to a state of peace and wellbeing in the tomb.
One very obvious change from the original version is the decision Luhrman made to take Paris out of the scene. In the original he comes and ends up fighting with Romeo, leading to Paris’ death. The reason he does this is probably to keep the feeling of unity between Juliet and Romeo. No one can come between them it seems; unlike if Paris entered to declare his love for Juliet, as then it would seem that Paris loved her as much as Romeo. This is not the case, and without having Paris in the scene Romeo’s love appears to be the only love there is at the time. Also, the fight disrupts the feeling of peace and tranquillity in the tomb. A fight would grab the attention of the new modern audience, and lead them to forget about the emphasis on love that is trying to be shown in this scene. With characters such as Paris added to the tomb scene, the whole thing is complicated further. Luhrman, it seems, just wants to bring the sharp point of love and the bond between Romeo and Juliet instead of adding characters that will make no difference to the overall outcome of the film.
Before Romeo ends his life besides Juliet in the book, he gives a long speech speaking of his love for Juliet, and how he will die to be with her. “Here’s to my love” he ends it, before drinking his poison and dying. The speech in the book is very long, and draws on way too much to be given in the film if Luhrman is going to grab his viewer’s attention. The speech, although cut down, still includes quotes from the original that are required to show the love he has for Juliet, and is given in such a way that the character is shown once again as a caring, loving person away from the killing he did just a short while before. As he is giving the speech, and towards the end of it especially, Luhrman adds Juliet coming back to life. In the original Juliet doesn’t awake until after the Friar has arrived. In the film she regains full consciousness as Romeo takes the poison. He realises she is awake just as he dies, adding a whole new element of sadness to the scene. It gives an entirely new approach than the text, because you feel like screaming “NO” at him as he takes the poison, knowing that Juliet is coming back to life. The tension builds up, and the chilling climax really hits home as Juliet realises what he has done.
In Shakespeare’s version, Juliet gives another long speech and then stabs herself, just as people are gathering outside the tomb. Again, Luhrman makes dramatic changes to this part of the scene. To keep up with the modern audiences, the dagger becomes a gun. A close up of the weapon of choice is shown, presenting the viewer with a sense of what’s to come. When she pulls the trigger, she doesn’t say a word. The bullet is fired without any death speech, Juliet’s face tells you how she is feeling, and no words are required.
In the play, the two families unite and decide to erect statues of their beloved Romeo and Juliet. In the film this is another thing that is left out by Luhrman. Maybe it is because the viewer knows that their love will never be forgotten, and a statue is not necessary to show this. He wants the viewer to know that a statue isn’t needed for people to remember the two lovers by, because the story of their tragic romance is going to be enough.
The final speech is then said twice. Initially by the prince, and finally by the newsreader. The two main lines are really emphasised at this point, because they outline the film in no uncertain terms. “For never was a story of more woe, than this of Juliet and her Romeo”.
To sum things up, most of the changes are made because the film and the play were written in different times and for different audiences. The modern audience would not want to watch a film adaptation that is reminiscent of the original in the way it is presented because they are used to seeing newer things, with more special effects. The original would just bore them. But one thing is for certain, both of the versions tell the same story overall. One of the tragic love between two people, destined to be apart, yet brought together by fate.
David Carey
