Romeo And Juliet Act 1 Scene 1 Essay

Log #1: Baz Luhrmann’s 1996 film adaptation of Romeo and Juliet offers a new dramatic lense to the Shakespearean tragedy. During the first and second screening of the film, the audience is introduced to a setting that greatly contrasts that of the original play and the Franco Zeffirelli 1968 film. The name is kept as Verona, but rather than a medieval Italian town, it takes place in a large coastal city. This city best represents California in the 1990’s, as shown by the gang violence, music, and style. All in the opening scene; you can see the Capulets and Montagues fighting, the Montague boys having dyed hair with neon clothes, and the diegetic rock music playing in the Montague car. The change of scene gives the play a more modern perspective
Mercutio then curses the two houses of the Capulets and Montagues. This leads to the third symbol of the film, which is the stars or fate. When Mercutio curses the houses, clouds roll in to darken the scene. This symbolizes that the curse put on by Mercutio has fated the two families for a terrible ending. Until the end of the film, Verona is often shrouded in rain, a reminder of the curse. This is one of many foreshadowings of death and destruction throughout the film. The rain also describes the motif of water in the film. Water is used as both a source of truth and hope, as well as a sign of drowning and helplessness. It is used as a sign of hope whe Romeo and Juliet are kissing in the pool, however it is used as a sign of helplessness when Romeo continuously has images in his head of himself drowning. This motif gives water as mysterious quality, as it could be a positive or negative sign. Along with the motif of water there is a motif of Romeo and Juliet closing off the outside world. When Romeo and Juliet are in bed the morning after their wedding night, it is the second time that they are alone together. They use the covers as a tent around them to block the outside world and have a personal moment. This represents that they are trying to hide from the danger and influence that is hurting their relationship. The screening ends as Juliet drinks her vial of sleep
When Romeo is told of Juliet’s supposed death, he goes to an apothecary to buy poison. This purchase reveals another motif in the film; the uses of plants and poison. Plants and poison are used both in a positive and negative manner. It can benefit people, such as the sleep potion used by Juliet, or hurt people, such as the poison used by Romeo. After Romeo purchases the poison the plot changes drastically from the original play. To begin, Romeo is discovered reentering Verona from his exile. This is unlike both the original and the Zeffirelli adaptation. Romeo has to fend off the police, which represents him fighting off the outside world to be with Juliet. To add onto the changes from the original play, Romeo never gets into a fight with Paris. The Zeffirelli adaptation did this as well. The retraction of the side plot with Paris brings more focus to the love between Romeo and Juliet, rather than violence with the outside world. One important aspect that was added to the movie was the fact that Juliet woke up before Romeo drank his poison. This is different from the original play and Franco Zeffirelli's interpretation. It was added to add another aspect of drama and to show that the lover’s had one last chance to work, but fate still took Romeo at the last second, as he drank the potion just before he realized Juliet was awake. Juliet then shoots