Analysis and Evaluation

This appropriation of act 3 scene 1 incorporates both images and text to create a modern adaptation of the original play. There are a number of visual techniques that represent elements of the original play. The salient element of the image is Romeo’s character. The size and colour of the figure represent his rage after Mercutio’s death and hatred of Tybalt. Tybalt’s character is smaller and darker, showing his fear before he is killed.

The centre element of the image can be interpreted in different ways. It can be seen as fate looming over the two households which ties in with the overall theme of the play. It can also be seen as God watching with disapproval over the incident as both families are depicted as highly religious. The background element is a picture of a path with trees on either side. This represents the theme of fate as both the characters are on a set path and cannot move away from it.

The quotes also support the theme of fate. When Mercutio says: “A plague on both your households”, Romeo is given the idea that fate is working against him. The line: “O, I am fortunes fool” refers to Romeo’s belief in fate. It also reinforces Romeo’s belief that fate is working against him. The centre quote: “If ever you disturb our streets again, pay the forfeit of the peace” refers to the Prince’s threat. After Romeo kills Tybalt, he realises he will be punished.

This is an appropriation because it has been adapted from the original text. It has successfully been appropriated for a modern audience because of its modern imagery.

The Techniques of Romeo + Juliet

In act 3 scene 1 of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, Mercutio, Benvolio and Tybalt are in the street. Mercutio begins to taunt Tybalt as Romeo enters. Tybalt tries to start a fight but Romeo tells him he must love him. Mercutio then begins to fights Tybalt and Romeo tries to stop it. Tybalt stabs Mercutio under Romeo’s arm and kills him. Through his anger, Romeo then fights and kills Tybalt. In Baz Luhrmann’s appropriation the scene is set in a modern day Verona beach in America. When Romeo tells Tybalt he has to love him, Tybalt becomes infuriated and bashes him. Mercutio steps in and throws Tybalt on a mirror. Romeo tries to stop him and Tybalt stabs Mercutio with the cracked glass and he dies. Tybalt drives away and Romeo drives after him. Tybalt crashes and Romeo gets his gun. He then shoots and kills Tybalt.

The Themes of love causing violence and fate are central to this scene. In the Original play Shakespeare uses symbols such as light and darkness and poison to show how Romeo and Juliet’s love is tied with fate. Juliet uses a sleeping poison to try and save their love but, in the end, Romeo uses poison to kill himself. Romeo and Juliet’s love is light and the hatred of the families surrounding them is dark. In Act 1 scene 5 Romeo says that Juliet teaches the “torches to burn bright”.

Screenshot

Baz Luhrmann also uses techniques such as lighting, colour and camera angles to express the dark and gloomy mood in the scene. In the image shown here, Romeo has a gun and is shooting Tybalt. Romeo was trying to stop the fighting out of his love for Juliet, but instead it leads to the deaths of Mercutio and Tybalt. It is a very dramatic scene which is emphasised by the fast paced camera shots and heavy rain. The dim lighting and dark colours reflect the sad and confronting mood. The high angle shot looking down on Romeo and the rain display his feelings of gloom and depression. It also shows Romeo looking up at a large Jesus statue as he exclaims: “O, I am fortunes fool!” This symbolises his beliefs of fate and how he is very unfortunate. 

My Appropriation

My Appropriation of Tybalt's death

What is Appropriation?

The NSW English syllabus defines appropriation as: "Taking an object or text from one context and using it in another context." This means, for example, using a text or novel and changing the time or setting in which it takes place. This can also be used in terms of art where artists take old works and change them to suit a modern audience.

There have been many appropriations of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet over the centuries including 'Romeo + Juliet' and 'Pizza my Heart'. Romeo + Juliet was an appropriation directed by Baz Luhrmann in 1996. It uses the main features of Shakespeare's play including the original language and story line. However, the characters and setting have been brought into a modern context. Instead of the city of Verona in Italy, the movie takes place in Verona beach in America. The families are rival companies and the prince is a police officer. The Capulet men are Mexican and the Prince and Mercutio are black Americans. Pizza my Heart was another appropriation that showed the two families as rival pizza restaurant owners. The characters and story line had been changed dramatically to suit a modern audience.