Differences Between Romeo And Juliet Play And Movie

Many classic plays and novels have been transformed into movies. Often times, audiences will complain that the movie did not capture what went on in the book and that it added unnecessary scenes while cutting vital ones out. However, sometimes a film will perfectly portray a book and will capture all of the novel’s important aspects. William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet is an excellent play that is dramatic, comedic, and romantic. It perfectly exhibits the emotions someone would want to feel while reading a novel (in this case, a play). The play has been adapted into many different movies, each with their own version of the heartbreaking story. I watched Franco Zeffirelli’s Romeo and Juliet, and I must admit, there were a few key differences

These all come towards the end of the movie, where suspense increases and everything goes terrible wrong for both Romeo and Juliet. The first of these is an exchange between Friar Lawrence and his friend, Friar John. Friar John was suppose to send word to Romeo of Friar Lawrence’s plans, but he is unable to because he is placed under house arrest. Officials believed that he was in the presence of a plagued man, so he cannot leave to give Romeo Friar Lawrence’s letter. This scene contributes to the idea of fate because of course, when something could go wrong it had to. Instead. Romeo’s servant, Balthasar, sends the news of Juliet’s ‘death.’ He received the exact opposite information that he was suppose to, and it ends up becoming an ironic situation. However, in the film, Zeffirelli portrays the scene differently. Friar Lawrence sends Friar John to Romeo, but Balthasar finds him first. Just as Romeo is hearing of the death of Juliet from Balthasar, the two men are passed by Friar John, who is unaware that Romeo is right in front of him. They increase the irony even more in the movie, and by doing that, I feel like the audience can be more entertained. While the difference was notable, it did not affect how I viewed the story very much. Zeffirelli probably wanted to shorten the scene while still adding drama, and he did just that. Another striking difference between the film and the book was the way in which Romeo acquired his poison. After hearing of Juliet’s death, Romeo is suicidal, and he only wants to die. Then he remembers that there is an apothecary he knows who sells lethal poisons to people. Romeo rushes over to the man and bribes him with money so that he can have the toxin and kill himself. At first, the apothecary refuses to sell the poison, but after Romeo persuades him to take the money and leave the venom, the pharmacist cannot refuse the