Analysis of Baz Luhrmann's Romeo and Juliet

This sample essay on Baz Luhrmann Romeo And Juliet offers an extensive list of facts and arguments related to it. The essay’s introduction, body paragraphs, and the conclusion are provided below.

The prologue creates family tension by portraying the violence and hate-filled from the very beginning. It introduces the feud to the audience and highlights how it will play a major role throughout the production. ‘From ancient grudge break to new mutiny’ this displays the confliction and rivalry between the two households.

The prologue is used at the beginning of the play to inform the audience of the story line, and it is done to create pathos for the audience to help evoke emotion.

It is presented as a sonnet; with three quatrains and a rhyming couplet at the end, this emphasizes the importance of the prologue. ‘From fort the fatal lion of these two foes, a pair of star-cross’d lover take their life’ this informs you of the key themes; death marked love and fate.

Stars were often related to destiny therefore implying that Romeo and Juliet are destined to die. Baz Luhrmann further develops the family tension by presenting the prologue on a TV news broadcast; this heightens the tension as it shows the importance of the feud between the Montagues and Capulet’s.

Why Did Baz Luhrmann Modernise Romeo And Juliet

By using a black female reporter it shows the universal awareness, indicating the importance to be shown on national television. Using media also makes it look a lot more realistic and modernized.

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Luhrmann has used fire as a motif, to display the strong, hatred this is also used in act 1 scene 1. Luhrmann has projected the two household’s names on identical sky scrapers. They are in contrasting colours to emphasise……. Furthermore the sky scrapers also convey their high status in society; they are both rich and powerful families.

Finally helicopters have been used to evoke a sense of impression of a warzone. They are used to illustrate how the violence has subsided. Act 1 scene 5 creates further family tension, this is evident from “by his voice, this should be a Montague. Fetch me my rapier, boy. ” This stresses the feud between the two household. “Rapier” is a long, thin sword commonly used in the 16th century for thrusting attacks. This therefore suggests that Tybalt is going to hurt Romeo, foreshadowing his death. Tybalt is presented as an antagonist throughout the production.

He is outraged that a Montague is present at the party, however Capulet reprimands him. “He shall be endur’d” the word “shall” is a command, Tybalt isn’t given the option. This portrays Lord Capulet’s authority and hierarchy through the choice of lexis. Tension is evident between Lord Capulet and Tybalt through “I’ll make you quiet” this is an indirect threat, inferring that if he doesn’t back off he will become violent. Luhrmann further exemplifies the character through his choice of costumes. Tybalt is presented as the antagonist throughout the production.

Luhrmann deliberately dresses him as a devil, because in most religions the devil is related to unnatural evil. The red costume can also be interpreted as connotation, to emphasise his anger. However, the glitter on the costume reduces the severity and intimidation of his character. Capulet is dressed as a royal emperor. He is predominantly in tyrian purple which would have only been affordable to the elites, so it is commonly associated with royalty and nobility. This further exemplifies his hierarchy and how powerful he his character is.

Luhrmann interprets the scene adding extreme violence; Capulet forcefully slaps Tybalt cause inner family tension. This is then contrasted with In Act 3 scene 1, Mercutio further creates tension between the two houses by bellowing a curse on both the Capulet’s and the Montage’s . Their feud has killed him. “A plague on both your houses” The punctuation in this paragraph is very choppy. Changing the rhythm emphasizes and portrays his anger. Mercutio repeats the phrase three times during the scene to intensify the emotion and move the audience.

This curse would have affected the audience them as their devout Christian belief made them very superstitious. This highlights one of the key themes; fate. Baz Luhrmann further develops this by using pathetic fallacy of thunder this is used to echo the mood of fear and add tension to the atmosphere. When Mercutio bellows this he is elevated above everyone else, making the curse more powerful and intense as if he is preaching. He uses a close up shot to illustrate the womb, Mercutio is wearing a white shirt this makes the womb look more horrific and serve.

Luhrmann also inserts another clip into Act 3 scene 2 of Juliet in her bedroom; he uses a soliloquy to display her emotions and inner thoughts. The intense love displayed in the clip contrasts with the anger of Romeo before he kills Tybalt creates pathos for the audience. At beginning of act 3 scene 5, Juliet swears to her mother “I will not marry yet; and, when I do, I swear, It shall be Romeo” Shakespeare has used dramatic irony to add suspense and humour to the scene; as Juliet is already married to Romeo.

This creates family tension due to the abandoned loyalty she has displayed towards her family. Juliet states she won’t look deeply into Paris’s eyes. No more deep will I endart mine eye”. In that era they believed that love entered through the eyes, she is therefore forbidding to love Paris. This contrasts with when she met Romeo for the first time. They gazed into each other’s eyes falling deeply in love. Baz Luhrmann further interpreted it as their eyes met looking into a fish tank. The fish tank represents the tranquillity, while all the chaos is happening around them.

Juliet has been portrayed as a very gentle and calm character throughout the production, however in this scene she confronts her father and refuses to marry Paris. Capulet is outraged; this is evident from “my fingers itch” suggesting temptation for physical violence. “We have a curse in having her” suggesting having Juliet as a child was their misfortune; this emphasises his shame and hatred. The word “curse” would have had a strong effect on the audience as they were extremely superstitious. Capulet is so enraged he threatens to disown her if she refuses to marry “Or never after look me in the face”.

This was like a death penalty to women as they were unable to earn money due in the patriarchal society they lived in. An Elizabethan audience would have found this moving. It also highlights one of the key themes of the production; honour! Baz Luhrmann further develops family tension in Act 3 scene 5 through the stage directions of the mother. Lady Capulet’s fear of talking to Juliet without the Nurse present establishes her as an ineffectual mother. Tension is created due to the lack of mother and daughter relationship which is apparent throughout the production.

He also includes brutal attack and violence against Juliet this highlights the inner family tension. this by using different angles with the camera. He uses a close up shot of Capulet, concentrating on his face. This highlights the expression of anger. Capulet’s strong tone of voice portrays his anger and emotion. He uses fast music to create mood and atmosphere. Baz Luhrmann has successfully modernised Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet for a contemporary audience. Luhrmann uses visual techniques of lighting, colour and camera angles to convey atmosphere of tension and related emotions.