How does Bas Luhrman’s staging of key scenes “Romeo and Juliet” Essay Example

emotions, but ultimately results in death. The prologue consistently references fate through phrases like "fatal loins" and "star-crossed lovers". Fate is described as an inevitable event. Thus, from the onset, the audience is aware that Romeo and Juliet will meet their demise amidst their families' feud.

Romeo notices this before entering Capulet's mansion when he says "by some vile forfeit of untimely death". Romeo and Juliet give similar warnings at other moments in the future. The prologue is repeated to highlight its significance, accompanied by a series of fast-paced images. These images include various religious symbols, which Luhrman uses to show that Shakespeare sets the play in a society where religion and its regulations are highly valued compared to modern times. As the images progress, there is a gradual depiction of the deterioration of societal order.

However, there is an image of a sign that says "Phoenix Gas". The image of the phoenix resembles Romeo and Juliet's love accurately. Following the prologue is the first scene, which depicts a meeting between the Montague and Capulet boys. As the gunfight begins, the film alternates between slow and quick scenes. The slower scenes serve to extend the tension during the fight. Close-ups are used to emphasize crucial statements, like when Tybalt declares, "peace, I hate the word". The fighting intensifies to a moment where petrol starts spraying around them.

Luhrman effectively builds tension in the audience by showing the potential for conflict. The presence of a metal sign that reads "add more fuel to your fire" hints at an impending explosion. This tension manifests when a Montague character tries to flee and ends up colliding with traffic, symbolizing the

citizens of Verona being caught in the feud between the two families. The ballroom scene is particularly symbolic, as Luhrman modifies the story to illustrate Romeo's intoxication with love.

Mercutio gives Romeo L. S. D. The first half of the party is portrayed as a distorted image of love. This is evident in Mercutio singing in women's clothing and Tybalt kissing Juliet's mother. The atmosphere of the party intensifies with a crescendo of music and light. Romeo symbolically washes his face and removes his mask, signifying his transformation and new identity. It is during this time that he encounters Juliet and discovers a different kind of love. In conclusion, Bas Luhrman's direction of Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet" aims to provide a deeper understanding of the tragedy for a new generation. This is achieved by merging Shakespeare's words with a twentieth-century setting that the audience can relate to more easily.