Modernization in Romeo and Juliet
Modernization in Romeo and Juliet Full Essay William Shakespeare’s The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet is one of the most well known tragedies of all time. Two star-crossed lovers, driven apart through the hate between their families, die tragic deaths when they can’t be together. People can interpret the play in countless ways. There have been many versions made throughout the years. Through movies and art form this play has been adapted and changed. In 1997, Baz Luhrmann directs his own modernized version, “Romeo + Juliet”. This movie uses the original text, omitting some parts. Baz Luhrmann puts his own take on the story changing how the viewer sees the play. The modern adaptations in Baz Luhrmann’s version of Romeo and Juliet cause the viewer to have a different perspective on different scenes of the play specifically the prologue, party scene and in the tomb.
The modernization in the movie plays on the plot of the original play, and causes the viewers to think information in the prologue. Shakespeare begins the play with the prologue which was recited by the Chorus once and then the play started. The first part of the prologue begins with, “Two households”, the Montagues and the Capulets, “both alike in dignity”, both with the same social standing, “In fair Verona, where we lay our scene”, in the city of Verona where the play takes place, “From ancient grudge break to new mutiny”, a long standing hatred erupts into new violence, “Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean” where citizens will join and stain their hands with the blood of other citizens (1-4). The next thought Shakespeare puts into the prologue is, “From forth the fatal loins of these two foes”, the children of the enemies, “A pair of star-cross'd lovers take their life;” will fall in love and take their own lives, “Whose misadventured piteous overthrows”, and their unfortunate death, “Do with their death bury their parents' strife” will put an end to their parents feud (5-8).
The modernization in the movie plays on the plot of the original play, and causes the viewers to think information in the prologue. Shakespeare begins the play with the prologue which was recited by the Chorus once and then the play started. The first part of the prologue begins with, “Two households”, the Montagues and the Capulets, “both alike in dignity”, both with the same social standing, “In fair Verona, where we lay our scene”, in the city of Verona where the play takes place, “From ancient grudge break to new mutiny”, a long standing hatred erupts into new violence, “Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean” where citizens will join and stain their hands with the blood of other citizens (1-4). The next thought Shakespeare puts into the prologue is, “From forth the fatal loins of these two foes”, the children of the enemies, “A pair of star-cross'd lovers take their life;” will fall in love and take their own lives, “Whose misadventured piteous overthrows”, and their unfortunate death, “Do with their death bury their parents' strife” will put an end to their parents feud (5-8).