Romeo & Juliet: Death Scene



Romeo & Juliet: Death Scene

Introduction

Thesis Statement

To compare and contrast the two movies and the original Romeo and Juliet text with respect to balcony and death scene.

In the recent past we have viewed two different versions of the adaptation of Romeo and Juliet originally written by William Shakespeare. Franco Zeffirelli and Baz Luhrmann are the two directors who produced the film in 1968 and in 1996 respectively. The two version based on the same drama have been comprehended in a very different way. Major differences among the plays and the text can be seen in the balcony scene and in the death scene.

Discussion

Both Franco Zeffirelli and Baz Luhrmann along with being the directors played the role of co-writers as well. While the Zeffirelli version is nearer to the text as the message it tried to convey has the same tragic affect as that of the text itself. Leonard Whiting played the role of Romeo, while pretty Juliet is acted by Olivia Hussey. Michael York performed the role of Tybalt, Milo O'Shea the role of Father Lawrence and Pat Heywood is pictured as the Nurse.

It is the 1990s in which the version produced by Luhrmann is set. This is the biggest reason of losing its originality. Claire Danes played the role of Juliet. The actress herself is not beautiful; it is the beauty of her nature and her beautiful behaviors that takes the heart of the audience. Romeo on the other hand is played by Leonardo Di Caprio is famous for his handsomeness (Aebischer, 2006). The good looking Leonardo seems out of place with Claire. Paul Sorvino played the role of Capulet, Brain Dennehy the role of Montague, Diane Venora the role of Lady (Gloria) Capulet, and Miriam Margolyes played the role of the Nurse.

While posturizing the plays, the original text by Shakespeare was changed or a few lines were removed because of certain reasons. One of the reasons might be that it is the benefit of the film that it conveys the message without using all of those words that the writers have used in their novels or dramas. Shakespeare was not lucky enough to enjoy this facility in his in his life.

In both of the versions of the movies the death scene is pictured in a very different manner. One has the setting of a tomb while other takes place in church. It is obvious from the setting of the scene pictured in tomb that Romeo is extremely sorrowful. The reason of his sorrow is not only the death of Juliet but it is also for Tybalt. There are the graves of others also in the scene which includes Tybalt's, i.e. Romeo and Juliet are not unaccompanied here. Furthermore, Father Lawrence comes in the tomb as well.

Luhrmann pictured this scene in an extremely changed manner. In his version the dead body of Juliet is lying alone in church. There are lots of candles burning around her. May be by using candles Luhrmann wanted to ...