In Shakespear’s and Franco Zeffirelli’s Romeo and Juliet, there are many similarities, but there are also many different substantial differences that can change the impression the viewer may get if they only watch the movie without reading the play. To begin, there are many similarities between Zeffirelli 's and Shakespeare 's Romeo and Juliet. One similarity is that Romeo is very moody; in the beginning of the movie, Romeo can be seen frequently slumped over and talking in a very downcast manner. Similarly, in the play, Romeo is found by Benvolio laying moping around saying, “Should without eyes see pathways to his will!” (I.i.162). Many of the characters act the same in the play and the movie giving a good representation of the play. Someone who watches the movie and does not read the play might get that Romeo is very moody and irrational, which is also shown throughout the play because of Romeo’s rash decisions. The play includes a large fight between Mercutio and Tybalt before both of them die, Mercutio first by Tybalt and then Tybalt by Romeo. In the play, Romeo fights Tybalt after Tybalt kills Mercutio just like in the movie, the Prince can be quoted speaking to the town’s people, “Where are the vile beginners of this fray?” (III.i.135). While there are some …show more content…
One example of a substantial difference is in the play, Paris, Juliet’s fiance, comes to visit her dead body when Romeo comes to kill himself; Romeo and Paris fight and Paris dies as well and asks Romeo, “Open the tomb, lay me with Juliet” (V.iii.73). In the movie, not only does Paris not die, but he never even comes to visit Juliet in the tomb. This changes the viewer’s perspective of the story because Paris plays a smaller role in the story since his main part was when he comes to visit Juliet and is killed. Also, the reader may get a different perspective of Paris’ love for Juliet since he never comes to visit her; in the play, his love seems genuine because he comes to visit her but it seems more fake in the movie since he does nothing when she dies. Another difference from the play to the movie is that Friar Lawrence gives a large summary about the entire play both Romeo and Juliet’s families come to see their bodies. When the Prince comes into the castle the Chief Watchman reports, “Sovereign, here lies the County Paris slain;/ And Romeo dead; and Juliet, dead before,/ Warm and new killed” (V.iii.195-198). This changes the way the view sees the play because there is no recap of the entire play and also no one comes to see that both Romeo and Juliet are dead and instead goes right to their funeral where the Prince makes the families try to work together. The reader