Proof I Am Done With Juliet.

I am the first to admit that in the 1996 version of Romeo and Juliet, Juliet is my least favorite character. I hate the way she acts in the balcony scene, and when she talks to Friar Lawrence - very whiny, and kind of annoying. However I like her actions when she drinks the potion and says goodnight to her mom.

The movie adapted Act 4 Scene 1 by shortening it, and increasing tension and violence. This is clear with the music used. It gets very high pitched and ominous when Paris leaves, and much deeper as Juliet runs down the hallway with tears streaming down her face. She speaks of death with a gun held to her head, then turns it on him. Traditionally, a knife would have been used - but a gun is louder, more violent and dramatic. We noted in class that the movie begins and runs much like a soap opera - and dramatic effect is important in a soap opera, and therefore important here. This dramatic effect is intensified when she says “I long to die.” Her mascara is running down her face, she is dressed in all black, and the music reaches a high note then dies out. The only sound to accompany that line is her own tears. I find this dramatic effect is often useful in a movie adaptation, however here it is just annoying. She is over reacting, crying, and acts too quickly. Still, no matter how annoying it may be, it is shocking to see her pick up a gun and point it at herself. There is an obvious feeling of desperation and fear. Reading Romeo and Juliet conveys less of these emotions, perhaps because we cannot watch it happen.

In only one scene is there an exception to my hatred of Juliet - when she drinks the potion. This scene is very well done, qualifying as one of my favorites. When it opens, there is a transition from her, dressed in a wedding gown at the church, in a vision of purity. We have just seen Romeo miss the letter explaining her plan, and the audience knows the white wedding dream will never come true. The, we see Juliet, on her knees praying in front of Mary. She asks what will happen if the potion does not work, then gets into bed as her mom walks in to say goodnight. The interaction between these two is different from the first interaction before the ball - You can see it in Juliet’s eyes that she does not know how to say goodbye. She tells her mother “farewell, God knows when we shall meet again.” (4.3.14) The sadness in her voice demonstrates this is her way of apologizing, and of saying goodbye. She knows her love is too strong to remain a Capulet, but deep down Juliet loves her mother. When reading it, I felt much more panicked - there was less pausing, and I read Juliet as frantic and all over the place. There was a clear difference. I also saw an interesting use of foreshadowing through imagery. When Lady Capulet shuts off the light, Mary glows in a bask of candlelight. Later, when we see Juliet in her coffin, she is surrounded by candles, and the scene has very soft lighting. I saw an immediate comparison between Juliet in her coffin and Mary on her shrine. I believe this indicated the purity of Juliet and the innocence she possesses in death.