Shakespeare’s Relevance in the Modern World
The 1996 production, Romeo + Juliet opens our eyes to a new perspective of Shakespeare. Starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes, this film does a significant job portraying themes that apply to today’s audience. Baz Luhrmann’s interpretation may be controversal to those who are loyal to the orginal script; however, Romeo + Juliet was a success that made the Greek tragedy into an obsession for newer generations. Romeo + Juliet offers people of old theatrical comprehension levels something approachable, accessible translation of blank verse poetry and prose. Overall, the film follows the original script with the exception of being set in modern- day. Instead of daggers, there are guns. Instead of
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Water surrounds the story of Romeo and Juliet as well as being a major part of Verona City itself. First time we see Romeo he's at the beach and Verona features as a central location throughout the film where many important scenes take place. The first time we see Juliet she's in her bathtub underwater and referring back from the party, Romeo brushes his face and removes his mask leaving it in the full basin. He walks up to admire the fish tank and discovers Juliet looking back at him and the two can't have a play with each other before Juliet is whisked away. After the death of Romeo and Juliet we are given the last image of the two star-crossed lovers not in death but underwater. Water is consistently used throughout the movie to suggest the unclean nature of the city having the need to wash away all of its sins which is something Shakespeare has touched on. Luhrmann reinforces themes of the power of love and hatred throughout the movie. Romeo and Juliet willingly gave up their life for one another which just shows how much they long for each other. The love that they share drives the plot forward and almost every action is in service of their love. For instance, Romeo's decision to prevent the fight between Mercutio and Tybalt was for the sake of Juliet. The hatred between the Montagues and Capulets tune into the theme of the damage hate does to a community. Although Romeo and Juliet try their hardest to make it work as a pair, they’re families prevent them from having anything to do with each other. The film's conclusion implies that the violence and deaths helped to resolve the conflict between the two families, but this resolution came at a very high cost: the peace is "glooming," and "the sun, for sadness, will not show his head." The elegiac tone implies that the harm caused by violence outweighs any potential