Zeffirelli's Interpretation Of Romeo And Juliet

Romeo and Juliet, is one the most iconic play of William Shakespeare believed to be written around 1594-1595.This love story with a sad twist has managed to stay strong after all these years as it still melts the hearts of the public.It tell us the true definition of love and conflict which are also the are two major themes running throughout the whole play . Love is highlighted by the rebellious love of Romeo and his “fair maiden” Juliet and conflict is portrayed by the warring families who chose to fight because of the feud continued by generations

Interpretations are almost like a fingerprint each interpretation is unique and wouldn’t be the same for any another play. The two men Franco Zeffirelli and Baz Luhrman expressed their interpretations
of the original play. Both of the adaptations possessed similarities and differences which made them their own work of genius. In 1967 Zeffirelli released his Romeo and Juliet, which stuck to the original play by being set in the medieval era and used weapons like swords and crossbows. The Capulet party was held in a castle as they were very common back then because houses didn’t exist . A castle back then would mean power and because the two families are both “alike in dignity” it could show that both the Capulets and Montagues have power over the town and are quite wealthy families because the word dignity means being worthy of honour and respect which the people give the families. A castle also could show protection or defense as the big stone walls are tough and hard to penetrate through , they even almost cut you off from the world and both the families have been behind these wall for so long they have forgotten about how the feud was started. Similarly, Lurhmann told the well-known play from his point of view, challenging Zeffirelli adaptation, by having a film which was popular with the younger audience and because of that it won many awards. The film was released in 1997 and everything was modernized as they were guns for a weapons and cars for transport instead of horses. The film also included a scene where Romeo was given an ecstasy pill by Mercutio, something that was not in the original or Zeffirelli film, the ecstasy was given to Romeo because he got overwhelmed and went to the toilet and if he did not go toilet he would have never saw Juliet (again a reference to fate). The film got the attention it did because it had cast two young characters that go by the name of Claire Danes and Leonardo DiCaprio who had stole the hearts of many people by acting as the famously known Romeo and Juliet.

One of the differences, which is noticed straight away, is the presentation of the prologue. Unlike a trailer which only hints what the film will be like , a prologue gives everything away and tell you what the ending will be like. Shakespeare did this because, people back then wanted different things out the play some wanted love some wanted action, and by telling the play will be about love but also will include violence he would have persuaded the audience to stay. The Lurhmann version has a line “A pair of star-cross'd lovers take their life” and “And the continuance of their parents rage", these lines are used to foreshadow Romeo and Juliet tragic end and tell of the family feud. They both also use the word “star-crossed” which means to go against the stars as people believed your fate is written in the stars and by going against your fate you are on the path to death, this tell us that the film and play are both going to have an equally sad ending. In the Lurhmann version the prologue is shown as a new report to show how important it is because it being announced on TV and only important news is broadcast on TV ,also it tells you how everything said in the prologue will happen because news reports are accurate and are almost never wrong .On the other hand, in the Zeffirelli version you can see images of the film corresponding with a verse of the prologue. This was done to show the viewers about was to come and what they should expect. However, in my opinion the news report is more effective as its short, quick and precise and it instantly makes you pay attention to the report. It even shows the importance of the report but the Zefirelli version doesn’t make you pay attention to it and you might end up missing the prologue as in these modern times people expect more effects and bright colours to pay attention and that isn’t in the Zefirelli adaptation ,but this would have been relevant to the audience of the past who are used to this kind of presentation of the prologue.

In the Zeffrelli version, Romeo wears clothes that match the medieval time period and his colour palette is often black, dark blue and silver as you noticed these are quite dark tones and can be associated with death as death is black or dark and at the end of the play death does occurs which foreshadows again the end for Romeo. At Capulet party Romeo wears silver and blue costume which is suited to that era ,the silver could represent Romeo being a knight because he offers Juliet his protection and loyalty. The colour blue is associated with the sea and the sky this could mean that Romeo has a lot of depth to him like the sea which then arises the question. Is there more to the eye , than meets the eye in Romeos case? It could show how Romeo and Juliet are separated by forces, and that they can never get together without causing problems for people and their families. In the Lurhmann adaptation, Romeo wears modern clothes to match with that era. His main colour palette in the modern adaptation is yellow , orange , red . The yellow , orange and red are colours that are linked to fire this could mean that Romeo is like fire he will bring war or destruction to people near him like Mercutio. Fire is a element that can be combined with many things to create new substances and by Romeo combining himself with Juliet they both could create peace for the future generations of Capulets and Montagues.Also, Romeo gets angry at Tyablt for killing Mercutio and he wants revenge. Both revenge and anger are associated with the colour red and red could foreshadow that someone will get murdered in the film.

During the balcony scene, Romeo says "Juliet is the sun” , a line that is said in both adaptations. The quote is a metaphor describing Juliet as the sun because we associate the sun with light , purity and it show us the projection that you shine out to the world which could symbolize Juliet's beauty. The sun is very important as without it nothing would grow and nothing would get a chance to blossom and by Juliet being near Romeo he starts to grow and become more mature because even though he was raised with hatred for the Capulet family he looks past her name and accepts her for the person she is . The sun in some cultures used to be worshipped and this could show that Romeo worships Juliet with all his heart and he would do anything to be with her. Even if he has to be with her on earth or in the afterlife.

In the Zeffirelli version , Romeo and Juliet first see each other when Juliet is dancing with other men , this could foreshadow that Romeo will be distant in their relationship and he wont be able to be close to Juliet as he wants to.
It could mean that many people will try to protect Juliet from the relationship but Romeo will find ways to be close to her. However, in the Lurhmann adaptation, Romeo and Juliet first see each other by looking through a fish tank full of colourful fishes at the same time. Its love at first sight for the both of them. Romeo says to Juliet when they first meet in the play "Forswear it, sight! For I ne'er saw true beauty till this night." It look like he is talking to himself but he also is indirectly talking to Juliet. This quote is Romeo asking himself question as he is asking himself as to why my eyes have deceived me before because he has never seen such "true beauty" till that night. This quote is a slight exaggeration and is used to tell us about Juliet's beauty as Romeo has never come before someone who makes him question his past experiences of love and when Romeo question himself he is reassuring himself that he actually did see that much beauty. The fish tank could symbolize a lot of things. One theory could be that the water represent love and Juliet and Romeo who is like fire is getting drowned in love which is weakening him. But it could also show that the fishes are all of the people interfering in their love. Another thing it could mean is that it’s a metaphor for Romeo and Juliet's exotic love as the fishes are tropical fishes which you wouldn't find at normal home and an another point the fishes are held in a tank so they are caged just like Romeo and Juliet's
love.