Differences Between Romeo And Juliet

Every person who has gone through high school probably understand and knows Romeo and Juliet. This piece of seemingly common knowledge is referenced in many movies, books, and paintings throughout time. Often though, much of these references change parts of the classic story to show a different meaning or attract a different audience. The common part of these different artistic interpretations is that the role of characterization exists. Understanding these characters is done through details and any other tools the interpreter has to use. Often, these details can be noticed and show similarities or differences between the interpretation and Shakespeare’s original. Tybalt’s death scene is one that has been interpreted many times with changes
as well. That scene’s characterization is interpreted and shown by Shakespeare’s original play and its usage of words, the ---- Painting through its pictures, positions, and details, and through the Gnomeo and Juliet movie where dialogue and scenes are utilized.
In Shakespeare’s original scene of Tybalt’s death, characterization plays an important role based on the language used. From the text, it can be noted the rising anger by Romeo due to his language. He says,“Alive in triumph and Mercutio slain! Away to heaven, respective lenity, and fire-eyed fury be my conduct now. Now, Tybalt, take the ‘villain’ back again that late thou gavest me, for Mercutio’s soul is but a little way above our heads, staying for thine to keep him company. Either thou or I, or both, must go with him.” This shows how Shakespeare displays that Romeo is fed up with being nice towards Tybalt simply because they are now related. His usage of words, ‘fire-eyed fury’, showed how he is furious at Tybalt’s triumph and confidence and tells him that he will fight now. Tybalt’s response is shown when he says,“Thou, wretched boy, that didst consort him here shalt with him hence.” This shows how he says that he does not care and that Romeo will soon join Mercutio in heaven. His words show his ‘egging on’ of what Romeo said to get him to fight. This leads to Romeo’s burst of fury in which Tybalt dies surprised by Romeo’s intensity. Overall, Romeo’s displayed fury and Tybalt’s ignorance and agitating showed the elements necessary for Tybalt’s death.
Artistic interpretations of the scene of Tybalt’s death often vary with their representation of characterization. Within the ----- Painting, the usage of pictures and details showed the importance and characteristics of Romeo and Tybalt. The most noticeable detail from the painting is the fact that Romeo is thrusting his sword forwards and almost in a rushed motion. This may be the artist’s way of showing how Romeo is angry and letting this out on Tybalt similar to Shakespeare. Tybalt’s posture also reveals how he seems prepared and willing to fight, again very close to the original. He has his sword straight up as if prepared to strike first and has his feet already in position to deliver a strong blow. Benvolio is also shown trying to stop Romeo from perhaps getting into a worse situation and since there are many townspeople around the fight as well. This adds characterization to Benvolio by giving the trait of a peacemaker within the painting which is similar to what Shakespeare gives Benvolio throughout the play. The final key piece of characterization is the look of awe and almost condescending look from the people around showing that the battle is not approved of. That key detail piece is missing from Shakespeare’s version but included within this to perhaps show how the fight was taken by the Prince and his supporters. All in all, the painting shows through the detailed figures how Romeo is filled with fury, Tybalt is wanting a fight, and how Benvolio and the townspeople do not approve of the fight about to and certainly occur.
Another form of artistic interpretations that showed Tybalt’s death was in the theatrical adaptation and animation in Gnomeo and Juliet which showed the scenes characterization through its dialogue and scenes.
Some of the central parts of the story were changed to fit the idea that they were gnomes but for the most part, the plotline remained the same. One difference was that some of the traits of Mercutio were also given to ‘Benny’ or Benvolio. This character was completely loyal to the Montagues through his actions of attacking the Capulets and destroying their honor by attacking their garden. This differs from the original due to Benvolio often being the peacemaker, not the one with the fiery passion to fight. In the fight scene, he witnesses Gnomeo with Juliet and is disgusted, leaving in a rush, which is another difference since Shakespeare does not let Benvolio discover their love until later. When he is almost to his garden, ‘Tybalt’ shows up riding a lawn mower and chases down Benny. Tybalt’s traits are shown here as he is completely driven by rage and seeks to fight similar to Shakespeare’s own version. Tybalt cuts off his gnome hat, being a sign of respect, and tries to crush Gnomeo when he appears. Gnomeo, angry at Tybalt for what he had just done, attacks him on the lawn mower. This shows how Gnomeo was overpowered by his rage that his close friend had had his honor hurt and lost a part of himself. This action of defense driven by rage is similar to the actual traits shown by Shakespeare’s Romeo. They fight on the lawn mower until Gnomeo jumps off after seeing a wall. Tybalt does not believe him so crashed into the wall where he breaks therefore dying. This overconfidence by Tybalt rings true throughout the original play as well as here. A major detail is that Tybalt’s friends then begin to attack Romeo and they believe they have killed him but Romeo eludes them. This shows how Romeo is seen as the main culprit and the Montagues seek to
see him killed. This is a stark difference from the original play were the Prince holds control over the sentence. Altogether, the dialogue and scenes described show how Benny’s honorable traits, Tybalt’s uncontrollable anger, and Gnomeo’s passionately defensive nature led to a climax event where a fight leads to Tybalt’s death and Gnomeo’s fleeing. In conclusion, all three versions of the same scene showed character traits and helped provide insight into how different feelings and actions were shown. In Shakespeare’s original play, the diction, such as Romeo’s, and the ways words were said, such as Tybalt’s and Benvolio’s, helped show characterization. The ----- Painting used its pictures, positions, and details such as how Romeo and Tybalt were shown, and how the faces of passersby looked like, to explain the characterization. Finally, the Gnomeo and Juliet movie clip showed dialogue and scenes, to hear how Romeo felt or to show how Tybalt acted, in order to show the characterization. Each showed characterization differently, using different forms of artistic interpretations to demonstrate the points of each character. While certain constraints exists for some mediums, each showed how Benvolio, Romeo(Gnomeo), and Tybalt acted even if they seemed different in each. In perspective, the role of characterization can be adapted, interpreted, and shown in different ways with different meanings but each can related to a central node such a Shakespeare’s own Romeo and Juliet. This reality is a freedom writers, directors, and artists of all kinds have, a freedom to interpret a masterpiece and bring their own thoughts to their interpretations. These constantly different interpretations are what continue to give Romeo and Juliet the feeling of everlasting relevance, are the reason why it continues to be common knowledge, and perhaps is what keeps it a classic love story that is always adapted and changed in order to satisfy an audience with a timeless tale.