Exploring the Way the Women are Portrayed in Romeo and Juliet
Exploring the way in which the women are portrayed in Romeo and Juliet The main female roles in Romeo and Juliet are: Lady Montague, Lady Capulet, the Nurse, Juliet and Rosaline. They are all portrayed in different ways and they are each from different classes. Lady Capulet, Lady Montague Lady Montague is Romeo's mother and is married to Montague. She has a good lifestyle as she is the top of the top, in Verona, in the Montague family. In Act 1 Scene 1, she seems to mock her husband when he wants to go out into the battle, "Thou shall not stir one foot to seek a foe." By doing this she seems to be a character who is in control of Montague as she can say things like that to him in private. She never seems to speak in public, which shows her to be a quiet character who is being kept under control by Montague. Lady Capulet is Juliet's mother and is Capulet's wife. Lady Capulet, herself married young, she is eager to see her daughter marry Paris. She is an ineffectual mother, relying on the Nurse for moral and practical support. She also mocks her husband in Act 1 Scene 1 when he wants to go and fight the Montague's, "A crutch, a crutch! Why call you for a sword?" She agrees with Capulet and never argues with him or disagrees. This could mean she is weak and Capulet is the stronger person in the relationship. Lady Capulet's relationship with Juliet is very distant. Even
Comparing And Contrasting The Two Videos Of Romeo and Juliet.
Comparing And Contrasting The Two Videos Of Romeo and Juliet We have watched two versions of 'Romeo and Juliet'. One was made in 1968 by a man called Franco Zeffirelli and was set in Verona, in the Middle Ages. A man named Baz Luhrmann made the other movie in 1996. This version was set in America and is very modern. The stars in the Zeffirelli version were Olivia Hussey and Leonard Whiting. The Luhrmann version starred Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes. One of the main differences between the two versions of 'Romeo and Juliet', was the opening. The Zeffirelli movie had quite a slow opening, in contrast to fast and furious opening of Luhrmann's version. Both films used Shakespeare's play properly, but their outcomes were very, very different. Zeffirelli's version of the opening was set in a market square, whereas Luhrmann's opening was in a petrol station. When the Montagues and Capulets have a confrontation in Zeffirelli's film, the argument is quite courteous, in a mocking way. But in Luhrmann's version, everyone is frantic, especially the 'Montague Boys, but they still manage to put a shouted 'Sir!' at the end of each sentence. Also, before the 'Montague Boys' were shown at a petrol station, a newsreader is saying the prologue of 'Romeo and Juliet'. The newsreader then fades out and the viewer is shown empires, belonging to the Capulets and Montagues. This is meant to
In Shakespeare's play Romeo andJ uliet, the theme of love is more important than hate. Discuss this with particular reference to Act 1, scene 1, Act 2, scene 2 and Act 5, scene 1.
In Shakespeare's play Romeo and Juliet, the theme of love is more important than hate. Discuss this with particular reference to Act 1, scene 1, Act 2, scene 2 and Act 5, scene 1. Love and hate are key themes that run throughout "Romeo and Juliet". The opinions of these two topics differ from each character and scene. Shakespeare took a more gentle approach and was sympathetic to the lover's plight as by the end of the play we only feel sorry for the lovers whom had to battle against their obstructive families. In this play it seems as if love is doomed from the start by the society full of hate in Verona. The whole play could have been based on the oxymoron "loving hate", as love will always win over hate. From the very beginning of the play love is condemned and in the prologue all references to love are described with death: "A pair of star-crossed lovers take their life" "The fearful passage of death-marked love" Act1 sc1 There are always interruptions in the love scenes because hate is the backdrop. The lovers' whole situation is fraught with danger. This is illustrated both in the Balcony scene (Act2 sc2) during the balcony scene there is always the fear that Romeo may be caught by one of Capulet's guards and could be killed: "The orchard walls are high and hard to climb, and the place death, considering who thou art, if any kinsmen find thee here." Act2 sc2
Right from the start Shakespeare makes it clear that there is tension between the two families. He does in the prologue by saying 'From ancient grudge break to new mutiny'. This shows the families quarrel and fight
English Coursework Shakespeare Assignment Right from the start Shakespeare makes it clear that there is tension between the two families. He does in the prologue by saying 'From ancient grudge break to new mutiny'. This shows the families quarrel and fight. He also says 'the fearful passage of their death mark'd love, and the continuance of there parents' rage'. By saying this he is showing that the parents are still arguing even though disastrous events have occurred to both their children. The first part of conflict that you see is in Act 1 Scene 1 between the two families is with the servants of the house of Capulet, Sampson and Gregory they are talking about the Montague's servants in a nasty way sort of making fun. Sampson says ' I will push Montague's men from the wall, and thrust his maids to the wall' he is saying that they have no quarrel with women and that he would push the maids against the wall in a sexual way. He says this because he thinks himself and Gregory would have better luck with the ladies. The next part is with the servants of the houses Sampson, Gregory and Benvolio (house of Capulet) Abram and Balthasar (house of Montague). Shakespeare had made Sampson bite his thumb at Abram by doing this the reaction was bad because in Elizabethan times it was a gesture of defiance. When he does this they begin to argue it creates tension and make you want to
Comparison of film versions of Romeo + Juliet.
Comparison coursework Luhrmann and Zeffirelli use very opposite effects and techniques in each of the Romeo + Juliet films. The contrasts between the Zeffirelli 1968 and the Luhrmann 1997 versions are vast. Even though the directors of each film use different effects and techniques. They both tell the story in their own unique way. Zeffirelli's traditional, English, authentic piece of almost theatre with basic use of lighting, camera and sound. Luhrmann's modern, loud, and emotionally gripping piece of film uses a special variety of lighting, camera and sound to emphasise the piece to the max. Luhrmann's is certainly far more powerful than Zeffirelli's in all aspects. Its use of music creates tension, joy, sadness which really adds a great deal of emotion compared to Zeffirelli's. The camera and lighting creates another world and I certainly prefer Luhrmann's to Zeffirelli's. The opening scenes of each both include the famous dialogue: "Two families, both alike in dignity. In Fair Verona where we lay our scene..." Luhrmann's repeats the dialogue twice first using a TV news reporter and then using a modern and powerful approach using text to emphasise the meaning of the dialogue fully. The view of Verona and the "Montague" and "Capulet" skyscrapers, determine the rivalry is down to Business empires of the two families. On the other hand, in Zeffirelli's version it uses
How far is friar Lawrence to blame for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet?
How far is friar Lawrence to blame for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet? Friar Lawrence is the local Roman Catholic priest who is also an apothecary. He is the confident of both Romeo and Juliet and plays an important role in the fate of both. He is more than aware of the family's feuding and seems to be well thought of by everybody. Romeo respects Friar Lawrence very much and sees him as a father figure. When Romeo feels suicidal when he has just been banished from Verona, the Friar tells him to straighten up. `This is dear mercy, and thou seest it not. ` When Romeo confesses that he wants to marry Juliet, Friar Lawrence teases Romeo about how fickle in love he is. `Is Rosaline, that thou didst love so dear, So soon forsaken? ` But in spite of this he still agrees to marry the young couple as he hopes it will end the family's feuding. `For this alliance may so happy prove, To turn your households' rancour to pure love.` He only agreed to it because he had their best interests at heart. I don't think he is to blame for marrying them as he did what he thought was right. And even if Friar Lawrence hadn't married them, who's to say that another Friar wouldn't have married them? Romeo and Juliet both feel as if they can turn to him when they are in trouble. We see this when Romeo has been banished, because he stabbed Tybalt and Juliet has been told that she must marry
Examine the impressions created by the opening scenes Luhrmann's "Romeo and Juliet" and analyse how this is done.
Examine the impressions created by the opening scenes Luhrmann's "Romeo and Juliet" and analyse how this is done. Once the 20th Century Fox logo disappears into blackness, we are immediately presented with an impression of what the film will be like. A television appears in the distance, against a black background (the emptiness of the surroundings make us concentrate on the television, and does not distract us). The fact that we are shown a television tells us that it's a modern film, and has brought Shakespeare to the present day. This is further proved by the fact that the presenter is a black woman, who until recently wouldn't have been given such a job. Her hair and clothes are smart (to show the time period), yet plain, so as not to distract us from what she is saying. Behind her there is a picture of a broken ring, a symbol of broken love, telling those who have trouble with the language, or need some time to adapt, what the story is about. The whole ensemble is given a very detached feel, by the fact that it's a long shot of the television (so we are distanced from what's happening), that her voice is lacking in emotion, and that it's a news program (we're used to stories of death and violence on the news, and often pay them little attention). Although we are not told explicitly that it's a news program, the filmmakers imply it by the colour of the studio, the
How does Shakespeare Show Juliet's Changing Emotions and State of Mind though Language and Drama.
Carly Mckenzie June 11th 2002 How does Shakespeare Show Juliet's Changing Emotions and State of Mind though Language and Drama Introduction Romeo and Juliet, a story of two lovers, was written by William Shakespeare between the years of 1594 and 1596. The basic plot of the play was discovered as early as 3 A.D. and Italian novelists of the 15th century gave it specific features and detail. The names of Capulet and Montague are indeed the historical names of two significant households in ancient Italy but the character names and attitudes are all fictional. The Italians stress that the story is indeed a factual tale and that places such as the Capulet tomb and the Balcony of Giulietta are the places where the tragic tale took place. Juliet doesn't appear in the play until act one scene three where her mother introduces the idea of marriage. This seems strange as she is the heroine of the play yet doesn't appear for a while after most of the others characters (Romeo appears in mid scene of Act one Scene two). In this scene we see the strange, unfamiliar relationship shared between Juliet and her mother we can see this clearly when lady Capulet asks the nurse "thou knowst my daughters of a pretty age". This shows the distant relationship as lady Capulet has to inquire about her daughters' age, the nurse replies that she can tell her age up until an hour, which reflects the
What has lead to the death of Romeo and Juliet?
Response to Shakespeare Romeo and Juliet What has lead to the death of Romeo and Juliet? "Romeo" and "Juliet" the names have passed in to our language to represent love. For many centuries no love story has been more important, powerful, outstanding, and emotional than the tragedy of Romeo and Juliet. I deem there are basically three major parts that lead to the tragedy of Romeo and Juliet, the marriage, the plan, and the deaths in which Friar Lawrence plays a major role. This text I have written comes in both categories, analysis of his role in the play and from Friars point of view. I think Friar Lawrence definitely holds the responsibility, even though he was not actually on stage for most of the play, he was the most important character in the play. Friar Lawrence is a man who is not afraid to take risks when he feels it is necessary to help someone. For example in Act 2, Scene 6, when he marries Romeo and Juliet, he is risking his reputation as a Friar so he can help the two lovers. Also, when he says "In one respect I'll thy assistant be: for this alliance may so happy prove, to turn your households rancour to pure love". He is saying that only reason he will marry Romeo and Juliet is because he hopes that the marriages will end the hostilities between two houses. "Take thou this vial, being then in bed, and this distilled liquor drink though off;" (Act
Juliet's Personal account. Romeo and Juliet.
Juliet As I sit here upon my bed I feel terribly afraid of what I am about to do. Our life has changed very rapidly in these five days. These five days have been my most beautiful days of my whole life, and also the worst and the most fearful. Five days ago I was just a young girl who was about to be married with someone and you came n my life and changed everything. Suddenly you were the only one who was all over my mind, and now I am not even sure whether we will meet again or not. I am not sure whether this potion will work or not. If it doesn't, then will I have to marry County Paris tomorrow? If I have to marry him then I won't live. I will rip my heart of with this dagger I have in my hand. But if it does then I would be able to meet my handsome and loving Romeo again. Oh Romeo! Oh Romeo! I shouldn't kill myself. God joined my heart and Romeo's and if I am to be with him again I must be brave and hopeful. But Friar may be trying to kill me by giving me this poison and telling me that it is a sleeping potion. Even if he is not trying to kill me, then can I trust this untested potion? But methinks that he is still a holy man, he wouldn't do that. I am not sure about anything. Oh Romeo! Why did you have to leave me? Why? You are the only one who cares about me, who knows my problems, then why did you leave me? My parents want me to marry County Paris. I can't marry him.
