Romeo And Juliet Comparative Essay

‘Appropriations are often a reflection of our time’. This can be seen with Shakespeare’s play ‘Romeo and Juliet’, a play which was written almost 400 years ago. Although modern appropriations have been made; with Franco Zeffirelli’s, Elizabethan version (1968), and Baz Luhrmann’s (1996) more contemporary version, the essence of the play, and why audiences appreciate it remain the same. In order to highlight this, comparisons between the ‘Ballroom’ and ‘Balcony’ scenes of each film can be made. Although the setting, costumes and props are very different, the underlying themes remain true to Shakespeare’s original text.

In Zeffirelli’s ballroom scene, it is set in the Capulet’s mansion. This party is a really formal party, as it is a masquerade party, where everyone can do what they want without people knowing who it is, and showing who they are. The costumes of each characters symbolises something different, for the Capulet’s their main colours is red, orange and yellow, as for the Montague’s they are dress in blue light colours, which symbolises fire and water, two different households which can’t get along well. What Juliet is wearing is a red and gold dress which symbolises her love and passion, as for Romeo his wearing blue clothes and a cat mask, which symbolises he is hunting for women and his prey is Juliet. The props in
this version are more efficient for a normal house as they have curtains, masks, plants and stairs.

As for in Luhrmann’s ballroom scene it is more like our times, as we don’t have any more masquerade parties, but we do have costume parties. This too is set in the Capulet’s menschen. This is a costume party where everyone shows what they like and really are. The costumes of the characters too symbolises something. Juliet is wearing a white dress with angel wings, which consider herself as an angel, which symbolises her innocence and virginity. Romeo is wearing a knight armour, which symbolises that he is noble and it might as well mean that he is going to rescue Juliet from marrying Paris. When Juliet and Romeo meet they touch their hands before they kiss for the first time. Tybalt and his gang are wearing skeleton costume, which symbolises they kill and fight, but since Tybalt is their leader he is dressed as the devil, which means he is mean, evil and likes to fight and kill a lot. The props in this version is sort of different from the Zeffirelli’s one, it has more modern things like, elevator, fish tank, staircase, stage and a chocolate fountain. This scene reflects our time as teenagers take drugs, dance, and look for girls and all that.

The Balcony scene in Zeffirelli’s version is set outside the balcony of Juliet’s menschen.
Juliet is not in her red dress anymore as she has found love and now she is wearing a white dress, which symbolises her virginity. Romeo is still dressed in blue as he was at the party. Here is where Romeo and Juliet are together and showing their love for each other, in this version it is less physical and more innocent. The props in the balcony scene are just ordinary props, there are, bushes, balcony, trees and windows. Again the significant of the touching of their hands when they have to go is the same as in the Ballroom when they first
meet.

In Luhrmann’s Balcony scene it is set in a different place, even though in the beginning Romeo is saying words about Juliet to the balcony but she is not there. Juliet comes out and says her thoughts out loud about Romeo outside the balcony and start to make out in the pool. In this version it is more physical than in Zeffirelli’s one. Juliet is wearing a long white dress without her angel wings, which again, symbolises her virginity. And Romeo is still wearing half of his armour suit. The props in this one are richer as they have a pool, elevator, statues and plants.

‘Appropriation are often a reflection of our time’, as we can see this in Shakespeare’s ‘Romeo and Juliet’ play. I agree that appropriation are a reflection of our time, especially ‘Romeo and Juliet’, this is a great example of peoples now days. Modern appropriation have been being made in both Zeffirelli’s and Luhrmann’s version it is exactly the same in the ballroom, the balcony scene and the other important scene. Although the setting, costumes and props are different the same storyline in Shakespeare’s original text remain the same.