Romeo and juliet Essay Example For Students

Romeo and juliet Essay SHAKESPEARE’S relationship to the Lord Chamberlain’s Men seems to have involved the production of a couple of new plays every year. Broadly speaking, he provided them with a comedy and a tragedy (or historical play) for every season. The companion pieces to the two lyrical comedies are two no less lyrical tragedies, Romeo and Juliet and Richard II. While the detailed chronology of the four pieces is still unclear, it is generally agreed that they form a distinct group in Shakespeare’s canon. The title page of the first quarto edition of Romeo and Juliet (1597) describes the play as ‘An excellent conceited tragedy’. Two years later, the Lord Chamberlain’s Men released their ‘newly corrected, augmented, and amended’ text, calling it a ‘most excellent and lamentable tragedy’. These qualifying terms prepare us for much in the play. ‘Lamentable’ had been the label fixed to Titus Andronicus, while ‘conceited’ (i.e. ‘witty’) connects the piece with Love’s Labour’s Lost a play that also appeared in an ‘official’ edition in 1599. It is sadly ironic that Romeo himself does his best to prevent a tragedy though it is the misguided sense of honour of his friend, Mercutio, which brings it about. We see how Mercutio is conveyed in a fighting mood at this point in the play. His petulant manner is misguided as it leads to tragedy. In the older version of the film we observe Mercutio with his sword in an over-excited conduct. In this version we dont recognise the seriousness of the situation until Tybalt arrives and the argument is steamed by Mercutios wit and his ability to mock Tybalt. In the modern version of the film the more serious mood of Mercutio is perceived and we feel the anticipation in the air. We feel expectant of something tragic to occur. Mercutio acts with a more indignant tone and fights back Benvolios suggestion of abandoning their stroll with more aggression. Also, the use of guns in the modern version brings about a more solemn atmosphere that a character could be shot dead within a pull of a trigger. The beginning of this scene in the older version, therefore, brings a bigger shock to the tragedy that is to occur as the tone is more placid and moderate. Also in the newer version the use of the more modern music dramatises the scene further. We regard the entrance of Tybalt as the start of the argument. Tybalt, who is furious with Romeo, seeks to find him and in contrast with the older version, the modern version conveys Tybalt as more quarrelsome. He takes Romeos appearance at the party as a personal insult and determines to avenge it. The use of characters has been well chosen and it is at this point where we can really see the contrast of the characters. Benvolio and Tybalt, the peacemaker and the quarreller, are obvious contrasts. Tybalt is always angry; he seems to think it is up to him to keep the feud alive. In my view this anger is conveyed much more immensely in the modern version and I also believe you can spot the differences of the characters more easily than the older version, as they exaggerate the essential features that make that character to stress the contrasts as Shakespeare tried to achieve. Tybalt looks for Romeo and in meeting Mercutio; Romeos friend abuses Tybalt and mocks him further. His words are significant as they infuriate Tybalts anger even more, which makes the tragedy ever more likely. We see how Mercutio is presented in both films and there are quite some differences. Gay, lively, always talking, jesting even in death, he is a clear contrast to Romeo, and though always witty, he has deep feelings which this scene observes. In the up to date version, again, they stress his features much more, making him more gay and lively, for example. We see in the previous act (act2 scene6), how the play ends so quietly with the marriage of Romeo and Juliet, and furthermore Shakespeare achieves an obvious contrast that follows in the next scene: the idyllic, quiet, secret world of love is shattered by Tybalt. The friars opening words in the previous act are cruelly ironic in view of what does happen later: Fate in Romeo and Juliet EssayThe language of Shakespeare in Romeo and Juliet is also very important. Most of the play is written in prose, which is used for normal speech and exchanges. Rhyming couplets were used to either signal the end of a scene or the departure of a character which is shown by Benvolio at the end of Act three scene one, and as he fell , did Romeo turn and fly. This is the truth or let Benvolio die. When Benvolio speaks it is all in rhythmic verse. His speech is used to bring stability and peace to the overheated emotions-and to change the atmosphere for the audience. The end of the speech signals Benvolios departure because rhyming couplets are used and he has served his purpose in the play. The audience would have witnessed many emotions throughout this scene such as- humour, violence, love and death. The peak of emotions would have been at Mercutios death, Tybalts death and Romeos banishment. Mercutios death would have been an effective way to change the mood as only moments earlier, he is joking around, and the next he is a dying man. Tybalts death would have come as a shock , as the audience would not expect Romeo to be capable of such a thing. When Lady Capulet enters the scene, tension would have grown more as she would be known as an uncaring, unsympathetic and hard vengeful woman. After Lady Capulets outburst, Benvolio and the Prince try to calm the situation, making the audience feel another wide range of emotions and moods. The Prince responds to the situation by being just to both the Capulet and Montagues. The scene ends on a very solemn note, so Shakespeare makes sure to use his techniques to open the scene on a lighter happier note. Act three scene one is an important and effective turning point of the play Romeo and Juliet. This is due to the tragic events that take place. In this scene, events happen that change the storyline; these are: Mercutios death, Tybalts death and Romeos banishment. To create drama and tension for this scene, it is very obvious to me that Shakespeare was a brilliant play write. Nowadays, play writes and directors use high technology to create all their effects. This proves to me even more how talented Shakespeare was to create such amazing entertainment for the Elizabethan audience through his choice of words.