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Example research essay topic: Romeo And Juliet Montague And Capulet - 1,689 words

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Although the story of Romeo and Juliet is over 500 years old, it is as relevant and appealing today as it was when first performed. Although dated, the story of Romeo and Juliet still holds great appeal and relevance to todays society, despite the differences in morals and values between William Shakespeare's audience 500 years ago, and Baz Luhrmann's audience today. The arising issues of order and authority, fate and love entertain / ed and appeals / ed to both viewers in different ways. Shakespeare's original play, Romeo and Juliet reflected the important Elizabethan concerns in relation to authority, law and order, making it relevant to the audiences morals and values of the time, as well appealing and entertaining. Shakespeare explored the consequences of order breaking down in society, demonstrated through many characters disobedience's, with the result of chaos and ultimate consequence being the deaths of Romeo and Juliet.

All characters were disobedient in some way, including Romeo and Juliet themselves. For instance, they both deceived their parents by getting married, Romeo killed Tybalt and Juliet faked death. Other characters, such as Tybalt, Mercutio, Montague and Capulet boys, went against the orders of the Prince by continuing violent actions in the city of Verona. The Friar and the Nurse are also guilty because they aided the young lovers immoderate actions - their meetings and marriage. Shakespeare offers the simple solution to this chaos as being obedient by respecting authority, law and order, being responsible with power as well as to be punished for their sins. This punishment is ultimately seen at the end of the play following the deaths of Romeo and Juliet.

All characters have been hurt by this, hence being punished for their disobedience's; All are punished! the Prince. In this sense, Shakespeare's play sets morals for the Elizabethan era, displaying the results of disobedience, violence and chaos. Luhrmann's modern appropriation of the play also deals with authority, law and order, however instead of setting morals and offering solutions, it is relevant in that it displays a different viewpoint on modern society.

He displays the world as being hectic and very fast, focused mainly on wealth and power, having lost sight of true values such as love, compassion and moral tenders. This representation of todays society is also appealing to the audience as Luhrmanns also presents an artistic take on the traditional Romeo and Juliet story. The general perspective of society is represented throughout the film by panoramic shots of the city of Verona, involving violent, hectic scenes such as police raids, gun fights, speeding cars and other generally violent actions. The scenes are quick and vivid; the sequencing constantly changing and moving quickly. The violence seen is similar to the play in that it is a vital role in the morals of the plot.

The panoramic shots of the city also reveal the giant religious statue of Jesus, in the centre of the city. The statue of Jesus is first seen in the opening scene, which introduces the two family households and major business owners, Montague and Capulet: the background is a panoramic shot of two large skyscrapers separated by the statue, with the foreground of two photographs of Old Montague and Old Capulet, also separated by the statue. This paves the way for continuous religious references during the film. The large skyscrapers representing Montague and Capulet businesses are symbols of wealth and power.

The audience is introduced to the hatred between the two families and the statue is seen as a barrier protecting from violence and hatred. The violence is then continued when the film introduces the Montague and Capulet boys in the garage scene. Luhrmanns uses the audiences assumed knowledge of society to create moods about the characters. He uses preset genres created and assumed with other films to introduce the characters personalities. For example, the first shot of Tybalt is Western, using extreme close ups on his steel capped boots and spurs, and emphasised by western-style music.

Other genres introduced are Sure and that of The Godfather. The Montague boys are wearing Hawaiian shirts buttoned down, in a convertible car, seeming very happy and laid-back singing Pretty Piece of Flesh as they arrive at the gas station. Contrasting this genre is the arrival of the Capulet boys. They are all dressed in suits and looking of Latin-American origin.

They seem very serious and suave in comparison to the Montague boys. These contrasting attitudes and appearances of the boys are easily recognisable throughout the film, as well as appealing visual techniques. Shakespeare's play was also relevant to Elizabethan times as it explored the notions of fate, chance, and the degree to which we have control over our lives, something that appealed greatly to the audiences of the time. This is seen throughout the play in the form of numerous premonitions and warnings against the seemingly inevitable and tragic fate of Romeo and Juliet. This leads the audience to believe that heaven / fate had already decided that Romeo and Juliet must die or sacrifice their lives to bring peace to the city of Verona. For example, in the balcony scene, Juliet hesitates at the rapid growth of their devotions, too rash, too unadvised and Romeo has a dream that Juliet finds him dead.

The Friar also warns Romeo against rushing his marriage to Juliet those stumble who run fast, however eventually marries them and tries to aid their reunion. These are examples of the continuing premonitions warning of the lovers deaths, but also how they are also responsible due to the actions of themselves and those around them. In the final scene, the Prince informs Romeo and Juliets friends and family that they are all responsible for their deaths (and consequently punished by them), which is an example of how people do actually have considerable amounts of control over their lives by the choices they make. Chance also plays a major role in the turn of events in the play, for instance, it is only by chance that Old Capulets messenger asks Romeo for assistance with the invitation list and that the Romeo and Juliet belong to the only families they have each been brought up to hate my only love sprung from my only hate Juliet.

Although the film does not deal with the themes of fate and chance to the same detail as the play, it is similar in that it does highlight how we are able to make our own choices in our lives. This is presented to the audience in the form of a dramatic, obvious contrast between religious symbolism and the disobedience's of many characters in the film. From the very beginning of the film, religious icons such as the statue of Jesus and the crucifixes as ts and as the and symbols in the opening credits appear in scenes containing violence or other disobedience's. For example, the garage scene stands out in this manner, as it shows both Montague and Capulet boys bearing religious icons such as the crucifix shaved into a Montague boys head, and the contradictory image of the Virgin Mary on all the guns shown in the scene. The Montague boys also harass a group of nuns exiting the station which also helps to show how the characters are aware of their choices and bad behaviours, and know the difference between right and wrong according to their faith.

This dominant presence of religious references continues throughout the film and shows how people have the power to make their own choices, but more so how these choices ultimately affect others seen in the form of Romeo and Juliets deaths. It seems that after Juliets death and she is placed in the tomb, the characters have realised their wrongdoings and feel guilty, because of the enormous amount of religious icons in the extravagant tomb, seeking forgiveness. However, it is also still a symbol of their continued distraction with their wealth. Shakespeare's original play was a very appealing love story, and when read today, reveals the Elizabethan attitudes towards love. Today, the audience feels sorry for the tragic circumstances of Romeo and Juliets love, and for the treatment of Juliet from her father in regards to her arranged marriage to Paris; however, the audience of the original play would empathize with Old Capulet because his behaviour is common and acceptable of the era, as well as feeling sorry for the young lovers. In this way we experience the types of love and the acceptance of love in the Elizabethan era.

Luhrmann's film also has its appeal for similar reasons. His audience is entertained by the artistic representation of Romeo and Juliets love using symbolism, sequencing and other appealing film techniques. It is also similar in that their deaths / the end of their love is caused by the bad nature of society, and the lovers immoderate love. The symbolism throughout the film is continuous, but particularly apparent in the use of water as a symbol of purity and harmony. During the balcony scene, the water plays a major role in the connection between the lovers.

It is a symbol of their unity and reciprocated love. This symbol of peace and harmony is then tainted by the death of Tybalt as he falls into a pond after being killed by Romeo. This scene also uses sequences of flashbacks to Romeo and Juliet in the pool, memories of the purity and cleanliness of Romeos conscience. It is then non-existent in the scenes of Romeo in the very dry, baron landscapes of Mantua. This symbolizes the loss of his true love, and also any peace and harmony he knew before being banished.

Other romantic symbolism in the film includes the extreme close-up shots of Romeo and Juliet when they are together, for example, in the tomb, repeated shots of the wedding ring a physical symbol of their love. Together, Shakespeare's original play and Baz Luhrmann's modern appropriation is a relevant and appealing insight into the Elizabethan era as well as modern society. By comparing the two, it is made obvious the changes and differences in morals and values over 500 years.


Free research essays on topics related to: plays a major role, law and order, montague and capulet, morals and values, romeo and juliet

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