Essay On Zeffirelli's Interpretation Of Romeo And Juliet

The Zeffirelli interpretation of Romeo and Juliet is more accurate to the original play when compared to Luhrmann’s interpretation. Although Luhrmann’s interpretation is geared towards a more modern audience, he does not successfully stay true to the original. When examining one of the most iconic scenes, the balcony scene, the setting in Zeffirelli’s is more accurate. This scene is taking place in the garden outside Juliet’s window and on her balcony. The architecture of the balcony is accurate to one that people of the time period would’ve had and the garden authentic to the play. Romeo and Juliet meet on her balcony and have some physical contact but it is not excessive because she is on the balcony and he has to climb up to her. In Luhrmann’s interpretation Romeo is in the courtyard of Juliet’s mansion. She comes out an elevator and he follows her around and listens to her speak. He scares her and they fall into the pool. The addition of the pool
completely takes away the effect that the balcony had in the original. The scene is more physical because there is no distance and this takes away from the purpose of the scene. The balcony served as a barrier between them that was essential to the meaning of the scene. Without it, they are kissing in the pool and their words become less purposeful. Although there is a balcony in Luhrmann’s scene it appears too late and the effect is ruined.
Another area where Zeffirelli’s interpretation of the balcony scene is superior is the costuming.
Romeo is just coming from the party with his friends so he wears tights and a shirt with puffed out sleeves. This is something that men of the Elizabethan era would’ve worn. Juliet has been in her chambers and is wearing a nightgown. The original play doesn’t say much about what they’re wearing but we can infer that this is close to what they would wear. The Luhrmann interpretation has Romeo wearing fake chainmail, paying homage to original play. This is not completely accurate to the times but it does make sense. Juliet is wearing a white dress and a cross necklace. The introduction of this necklace adds an element that wasn’t needed and didn’t give the necessary effect. When Romeo is saying goodbye to Juliet she gives him this cross necklace, possibly to signify her giving herself to him. In the play, the only thing Juliet could give Romeo that night was her word, the addition of the necklace takes away that
purpose.
The tone in the different interpretations of the scene is very different. Zeffirelli’s scene has a few meaningful pauses but otherwise keeps similar pace with the play. Romeo is dopey and fearless with his love, Juliet is more urgent and wants to be careful. Their emphasis on phrases keeps tempo with that of Elizabethan literature. In Luhrmann’s interpretation they use a more contemporary voice and stress words differently. Romeo is delirious, in the other version he is a bit careless but in this version he almost seems intoxicated. Juliet appears terrified throughout the scene until she is on the balcony. There is a lot of pausing so the audience can keep up and the Shakespearean language seems off with such a contemporary interpretation. When Romeo says he will swear by the moon, Juliet almost scolds him. In this version they simply seem less in love.