“O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?“
This quote might be the most famous one from the love story of Romeo and Juliet. It is known by many people around the globe and translated into various languages. It is also known, that the tragedy deals with the ideal of true love and attends to the contact with insurmountable disparities.
Down to the present day they are numerous variations of the original plot, for instance in ballet, classic theatre or movies. The tragedy´s popularity is not deniable, and wittingly or unwittingly the story seems familiar to almost every reader or viewer. This has the cause that in almost everybody´s life there is or was at least one point, where most of the people can relate their personal love-fate to this of Romeo´s and Juliet´s; A loving couple separated by the hate-filled relationship of their families.
At that point, it is nonessential if the separating barrier is represented by parental home, origin, social class, religion, or financial background. Due to this, Romeo and Juliet still is of current interest and affects readers emotionally even centuries after its publishing. This is, for me personally, fascinating, and I want to research into the play to understand Shakespeare´s way of thinking and intentions as well as to explore the limitations and possibilities when it comes to transfer this demanding work by Shakespeare into twenty-first century scenarios.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- 1. The tragedy "Romeo and Juliet" at a glance
- 1.1 Introduction
- 1.2 Personal constellation
- 1.3 Summary
- 1.4 Staging
- 1.4.1 The original tragedy
- 1.4.2 In the Film
- 2. Analysis of two key-scenes, comparison between the Book and the Film
- 2.1 Scene 1 "love" (Act 1, scene 5)
- 2.1.1 Content
- 2.1.2 Comparison of the two stagings
- 2.1.3 Use and importance of language
- 2.1.4 Message of the scene about the tragedy in general
- 2.2 Scene 2 "perspective" (Act 5, scene 3)
- 2.2.1 Content
- 2.2.2 Comparison of the two stagings
- 2.2.3 Perspectives of the protagonists
- 3. Interpretation of the selected scenes, conclusion
- 3.1 Content
- 3.2 Current reference
- 3.3 Conclusion / Epilogue
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This comparative study aims to analyze the themes of "love" and "perspective" in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet and Baz Luhrmann's film adaptation. It will explore Shakespeare's writing style and intentions, and compare them to a modern interpretation to assess the play's enduring relevance. The study utilizes a scientific approach to decode the subtext and complexities of the plot.
- The portrayal of love and its impact on the characters.
- A comparison of the original play and its modern cinematic adaptation.
- The significance of language and its use in conveying meaning.
- The exploration of different perspectives of the protagonists.
- The enduring relevance of Shakespeare's work in a contemporary context.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
1. The tragedy "Romeo and Juliet" at a glance: This chapter provides an introduction to Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, highlighting its enduring popularity and exploring its continued relevance to modern audiences. It sets the stage for a comparative analysis with Baz Luhrmann's 1996 film adaptation, emphasizing the universality of the themes of love, hate, and familial conflict. The introduction also briefly sketches the play's plot and introduces the key characters, laying the groundwork for a deeper analysis of their motivations and actions in subsequent chapters.
1.2 Personal constellation: This section delves into the character profiles of the main players in Romeo and Juliet. It offers insightful etymological analyses of character names (e.g., Escalus, Montague, Capulet) to suggest inherent traits and roles within the play's dynamic. The descriptions highlight the relationships and tensions between the Montagues and Capulets, emphasizing the depth of the familial conflict that fuels the tragedy. The analysis of character names and their symbolic meanings provides valuable insight into Shakespeare’s careful crafting of the play’s narrative and its underlying thematic conflicts.
1.3 Summary: This section provides a concise overview of the plot of Romeo and Juliet, setting the stage for the in-depth analysis of specific scenes in later chapters. It notes the play's timeframe (five days) and location (Verona and Mantua), introducing essential plot points without revealing major spoilers. By providing a brief yet comprehensive synopsis, this section effectively grounds the subsequent analytical chapters. The description of the play's structure and setting, including the use of a sonnet prologue, provides context for the analysis that follows.
2. Analysis of two key-scenes, comparison between the Book and the Film: This chapter will conduct a detailed comparison of two key scenes from the play and the movie, focusing on the themes of love and perspective. It outlines the methodology of comparison, setting the stage for in-depth analyses in following subchapters.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare, Baz Luhrmann, film adaptation, love, perspective, tragedy, familial conflict, comparative analysis, literary interpretation, cinematic interpretation, language, character analysis.
Romeo and Juliet: A Comparative Study - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the purpose of this document?
This document provides a comprehensive preview of a comparative study analyzing Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet and Baz Luhrmann's film adaptation. It includes a table of contents, objectives and key themes, chapter summaries, and keywords.
What are the key themes explored in the study?
The study focuses primarily on the themes of "love" and "perspective," exploring how these are portrayed in both the original play and the modern film adaptation. It also examines the impact of these themes on the characters and the overall narrative.
What is the methodology of the study?
The study employs a comparative analysis approach, examining key scenes from both the play and the film. It compares Shakespeare's writing style and intentions with Luhrmann's modern interpretation to assess the play's enduring relevance. A scientific approach is used to decode subtext and plot complexities.
What aspects of the play and film are compared?
The comparison includes analyses of character portrayals, the use of language, the significance of specific scenes, and the overall perspectives of the protagonists. The study also considers the impact of different staging choices (original play vs. film) on the interpretation of the themes.
Which scenes are analyzed in detail?
The study focuses on two key scenes: a "love" scene (Act 1, scene 5) and a "perspective" scene (Act 5, scene 3). These scenes are analyzed in terms of their content, the differences in their staging between the play and the film, and their contribution to the overall meaning of the tragedy.
What is the significance of language in the study?
The study emphasizes the importance of language in conveying meaning, analyzing how Shakespeare's language contributes to the play's impact and comparing it to the language and visual elements used in Luhrmann's film.
How does the study address the enduring relevance of Romeo and Juliet?
The study assesses the play's continued relevance to modern audiences by comparing it to a contemporary cinematic interpretation. It explores how the themes of love, hate, and familial conflict remain resonant today.
What are the key chapters covered in the study?
The study covers: an overview of Romeo and Juliet; a detailed look at the personal constellation of the characters; a summary of the play's plot; an analysis of two key scenes, comparing the play and the film; and a concluding interpretation and current references.
What keywords are associated with this study?
Key words include: Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare, Baz Luhrmann, film adaptation, love, perspective, tragedy, familial conflict, comparative analysis, literary interpretation, cinematic interpretation, language, character analysis.
Who is the intended audience for this study?
This study is intended for academic use, particularly those interested in analyzing themes within Shakespeare's works and their modern adaptations in a structured and professional manner.
- Quote paper
- Sammy Arab (Author), 2014, The Two Central Topics “Love“ and “Perspective“ in "Romeo and Juliet". A Comparative Study of the Film and the Play, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/279263