Romeo and Juliet – Juliet, Film-Play Comparison

Explore the ways in which Romeo and Juliet are presented in this scene and elsewhere in Shakespeare’s play, and the performed versions. Shakespeare’s play ‘Romeo and Juliet’ is set in Verona. The feud between the Montague family and the Capulet family reaches a climax when Juliet’s cousin Tybalt, a Capulet, is killed by Romeo, a Montague. Romeo and Juliet are first seen as very different characters, but later in the play, we realise that these two characters are not as different as we thought. In Act 3 scene 5 of Shakespeare’s play ‘Romeo and Juliet’ the scene first starts with Romeo and Juliet in Juliet’s bed.

They have just spent their first, and last night together. Romeo wakes and realises that he must leave, as he has been banished for killing Juliet’s cousin Tybalt. At the beginning of Shakespeare’s play, Juliet is presented as being intelligent, calm and obedient. “But no more deep will I endart mine eye- than you gives strength to make it fly” This shows that Juliet is obedient and that she is saying that she will not do anything without her mothers or fathers consent. This also shows that Juliet is very intelligent and also that she is an intelligent girl.

Juliet, later on in the play shows her true self and becomes more exposed so that we can see her true personality. We see that she is very sharp and witty. She can take a joke from Romeo and return with a witty reply. This shows Juliet is more, relaxed and less timid and shy than the reader originally thought. Luhrmann’s version of the play ‘Romeo and Juliet’ is set in the 1990s, as a modern day version and instead of using swords, which they probably would have used in Shakespeare’s play, they used guns. Luhrmann’s version of the play is set in L.

A and so he uses places such as Verona Beach in L. A to show the resemblance between Shakespeare’s play and his own version of the play. Act 1 scene 5 in Luhrmann’s film opens with Romeo and Juliet lying together in Juliet’s bed. In Luhrmann’s version of the play, Juliet, who was once portrayed as young, foolish child, is now seen as a mature, sensible young woman. Although this could be portrayed in correctly, because in Luhrmann’s version of the play in the background of Juliet’s room, are a shelf of dolls and toys.

This shows, although Juliet has matured because she is with Romeo she is still a young child of a tender age of 13. The scene is a very intense scene which shows the love and passion that Romeo and Juliet have for each other. By using the sheets of Juliet’s bed they throw over the top of them, this creates the effect of the couple being in a fantasy world all of their own, unfazed by the fact that Romeo must leave. Everything bad seems to be forgotten. It is just Romeo and Juliet making the most of their time together. Reality finally hits them both, when the nurse knocks on Juliet’s door.

Juliet’s mother is on her way to Juliet’s room and at this point, Juliet begins to dress Romeo herself, she dresses him in a brightly coloured shirt and some dark trousers, and dresses herself in a plain white night dress, nearly reaching the floor. Juliet kisses Romeo good bye and sighs but knows that if her mother found out she has just spent the night with him she would surely kill them both. Romeo climbs down her balcony, and Juliet’s distraught, but she must let him go, she knows that if he does not leave the consequences would be worse, than banishment.

Lady Capulet comes bursting in just as Romeo leaves. Juliet’s mother then tells her that she will marry Paris and she cannot believe what she is hearing. She is dedicated to Romeo and Refuses to marry Paris. Her mother gives her no choice and tells Juliet that she will disown her and she will be a disgrace to her and her family. Lady Capulet will not stand for it, and tells Juliet that if she does not want to marry Paris she must discuss with her father. Lord Capulet enters the room, and Juliet tells him that she cannot marry Paris.

Her father loses his temper and threatens Juliet. Zeffirelli’s version of the play Romeo and Juliet is very similar to Luhrmann’s but is filmed and set at an earlier time to when Luhrmann’s was set. This version of Romeo and Juliet is much older and sticks more what Shakespeare wrote instead of being a bit more adventurous like Luhrmann. In Zeffirelli’s version Juliet seems to be a little more immature than in Luhrmann’s play. She seems younger and not as sensible, but also seems just as obedient as she is in Luhrmann’s version.

In this scene, it begins with Juliet persuading and convincing Romeo that it is not yet time for him to leave. ‘It was the nightingale and not the lark’ Juliet persuades Romeo that it is not yet morning by telling him that what he heard was the nightingale, which does not sing in the morning. Romeo insists that he it was the lark, and that he must leave. Juliet shows a passion and love for Romeo in this scene, showing that she doesn’t want him to leave. Juliet wanders how she will live without Romeo. She mourns over him once he is gone. She acts as though she cannot live without him.