Romeo and Juliet is a well-known play written by William Shakespeare on 1597, which illustrates a tragic love story between a son and a daughter of two opposing families; the Montagues and the Capulets, which takes place in Renaissance period of Italy. The original play was directed and modernised on 1996 by Buz Luhrmann, named Romeo + Juliet, which illuminated the metaphors more visually. Shakespeare and Luhrmann both has portrayed the theme ‘love at first sight’ differently in act I scene V by narrative structure, mood, and the characterisation of Romeo.
There is a significant difference in narrative structure, which will affect the theme ‘love at first sight’. “If I profane with my unworthiest hand…” (Romeo and Juliet, Act I Scene 5 lines
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“Is she a Capulet? O dear account! my life is my foe’s debt.” (Romeo and Juliet, Act I Scene V line 117) This is the scene where Romeo realises that Juliet was a Capulet. The phrase “my life is my foe’s debt” is an idea from Romeo, that his life is debt forever to an enemy, the Capulet for being in love with Juliet; which is a metaphor that he loves her so much. Also, this “debt” is “dear”, which means that being love with her is costly, as Nurse said, but also means that he understands they should have fallen in love if no one would accept them for being a couple; In fact, he is suppose to hate her not to love her. From this, we could feel that Romeo is shocked. Romeo is more passionate on Juliet in the film (Luhrmann, 1996, 30:13). When he first talks Juliet, he brings his face towards her and tries to kiss her immediately, and Juliet avoids him. This gives audience an image that Romeo is being a bit forceful to her, and in the perspective that he could not hold his feelings, he will be considered immature. Also, at the end of this scene, the phrase after “Is she a Capulet” does not exist, but instead his face looks confused, and whispers to him self. Luhrmann eliminating this phrase and instead replacing with confused expression makes Romeo more frivol, since the audience cannot tell what he actually is thinking about, therefore it is possible to interpret that he is just panicking …show more content…
Luhrmann has portrayed the theme by differentiating how they meet, so their starting of the love will be more equal and romantic, contrast the play by ‘dynamic’ and ‘serene’ to emphasise emotions, and changed their love more sexual so it is