Tara Rodrigues

Tara Rodrigues

Anderson (6)

Lit/Writ

April 24, 2014

Balcony Scene Writing Assignment

Lurhmann captures the water motif, Romeo and Juliets true characters, and the theme of fate, making it the truest to Shakespeares original intent. Despite the fact that the balcony scene did not take place on an actual balcony, the overall message that Shakespeare was trying to get across was portrayed the best in this version out of the three films. The water motif, which had previously appeared as a barrier between Romeo and Juliet from the fish tank when they first met, demonstrates their love for each other. In the balcony scene, when Romeo and Juliet are in the pool together, the water now unites them and their love is strong. They do not think about the cruel outside world that keeps them apart in reality. When the nurse interrupts in the original play, even after Juliet says goodnight to Romeo, Juliet returns to talk with him again. In Luhrmanns version, Romeo and Juliet also have a difficult time saying good night and leaving each other. The camera angles and close ups help the audience to imagine themselves in the scene and they can relate to the emotions and feelings both Romeo and Juliet display in the scene, which helps the audience understand Shakespeare's original intent of how deeply Romeo and Juliet were in love with each other in that part of the scene. Luhrmann also suggests that there is a higher power in control, because after the nurse leaves from calling Juliet from the window, the curtains still sway and show a statue of Mary, a religious icon, implying that a higher power, possibly God, sees their actions. This indicates the message that Shakespeare was trying to get deliver because it suggests that there is a higher power always watching and in control of Romeo and Juliet.