Topic Two 3-14-06

Tonight's writing homework is a response to the last scene of Romeo and Juliet act 5 scene 3. I was quite surprised how different the original Romeo and Juliet was from the 1996 verion. One example is the last scene which I read today, in the original Romeo and Juliet Romeo goes to the graveyard where Juliet's tomb is in hopes to find her dead body and drink a fast working poison that will kill him. Romeo is disocvered by Paris, and they fight to the death when Paris is killed. In the 1996 version Romeo and Juliet Romeo is informed Juliet is dead and currently at the church. Romeo goes to the church with the same poison but this time he drinks the poison without the encounter with Paris. In both versions Romeo drinks the poison, although one scene is in the church and the other in a graveyard with Paris.

I think Shakespeare added the character of Paris to the playwrite Romeo and Juliet to show an added stress to Juliet, and cause more conflict between the characters of the story, and show how much her parents were pushing her to get married. I do not feel that Paris was neccesary in the storyline of Romeo and Juliet and I think the workers from the 1996 version of Romeo and Juliet recognized that. I think Shakespeare could have added a couple more references to pushing Juliet to marriage by Capulet and Lady Capulet, and would have given the same idea.

The final scene of Romeo and Juliet is a very sad ending to a wonderful play. It was depressing that not only Romeo but Juliet as well die at the end of the play, all because of their lve for eachother. During this scene I was sad becuase three of the main characters died and at the same time mad. I have heard Romeo and Juliet called by many names. Some say Romeo and Juliet is the most famous love story, which I agree with. Since the original play was published in 1597, over 400 years ago, it's plot has been used many times in novels and movies. I think the reason this tale has been called "the most famous love story" so many times before is because it's poetic text and strong plot are of amazing staure. The playwrite Romeo and Juliet provides a look back to what it was like a few centuries ago while providing a romantic plot. I think the plot although old still aplies in alot of ways to social pressure today, which is one of the reasons it has been used so many times in recent novels and movies.