English - Romeo and Juliet

‘Baz Luhrmann’s 1996 cinematic production of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet achieves the same dramatic impact as the original play.’
Baz Luhrmann’s 1996 production of ‘Romeo + Juliet’ was created more than three centuries after the original by William Shakespeare. In the 1590’s Shakespeare used structure, language, and imagery to portray several themes such as conflict and love. In the 21st Century, Baz Luhrmann uses camera techniques, modernity, symbols, and sound effects to achieve the same dramatic impact as that of Shakespeare. Both productions also emphasise their dramatic impact through effective staging and casting.
The powerful theme of love is profoundly expressed in both Shakespeare’s original text and also in Luhrmann’s cinematic production.   It is a dominant theme which supersedes above all other emotions and values in the story and is critical to the overall plot through Romeo’s attraction towards Juliet. Both Shakespeare and Luhrmann have portrayed the theme of love, through style and literary conventions to achieve dramatic impact. Shakespeare’s use of rich language and structure is a way in which he has emphasized love to have a stronger dramatic impact. In Scene 5 of Act 1 the use of unique and captivating language is vastly predominant. In regards to Juliet, Romeo states, ‘She doth teach the torches to burn bright.’ This allows the audience to understand the extent of Romeo’s love for Juliet as he perceives her beauty to be stronger than that of a torch. This is also an example of poetic exaggeration – she is so much brighter than the torch that she is able to teach it how to burn brightly. The use of such language is a catalyst in achieving dramatic impact; it results in the audience understanding the extent of Romeo’s love for Juliet. In this particular scene it is important that Shakespeare uses poetic exaggeration to describe Juliet, particularly as the actors on stage were all male, and the audience had to be convinced of Juliet’s beauty....