In a post of about two hundred words, discuss the portrayal of the relationship between Juliet and The Nurse in either one of the two screen adaptations of Shakespeare's
Romeo and Juliet. Focusing on events that unfolds in the scene that takes place in Act 2 Scene 5 of the play, which version do you prefer? In your response, remember to use several specific examples from your favored version which should include a discussion of
setting, characterization, mood, theme, or even symbols and how what you saw made for an effective interpretation of the relationship between the two women in Shakespeare's play.
- Please adhere to proper language and grammar.
- Please also note that you should be typing your comment on MS Word format and proof-reading it first before you post. Once a comment is posted to the site, it is there permanently!
- At the end of your comment, please include your full name, class and register number.
- The deadline for your posting is the end of the classroom session in Week 6.
The following clips will help you in your task:
Clip 1: BBC production
Clip 2: Luhrmann's version
Ng Kailing 3Modesty
ReplyDeleteI prefer the BBC production to Luhrmann's version. Firstly, in the BBC production, the body language of the actors are more similar to that in the play. For instance, when Juliet talks to Nurse, she portrays the gentle image of how a girl of her age in the Elizabethan era should act, which is much closer to what is described in the play. However, in the Luhrmann's version, Juliet is much more like a modern teenage girl, which differs from what she would act in the play.
Secondly, the use of costumes. In the Luhrmann's version, Nurse wears a modern red outfit, which makes her look like a modern businesswoman rather than someone who has looked after Juliet since she was young. However, in the BBC production, Nurse is dressed according to her role, thus seeming more like a Nurse than the one in the BBC production.
Thus, I prefer the BBC production to the Luhrmann's version
I prefer the BBC production of act 2 scene 5. The overall portrayal of this scene in the BBC production is more accurate than that of the Luhrmann’s production. The setting is more appropriate and accurate for the play than that of the Luhrmann’s production. This is because the setting in the BBC production looks much older and I feel it is much more similar to that of the actual play of Romeo and Juliet. Also, in the playbook, “the scene is set in Capulet’s Orchard”. However, the setting of the Luhrmann’s production is too mordernised, hence it is totally different from my perception of what the actual setting of Romeo and Juliet should be like. The setting is also set at a place that is not like an “orchard”. The characters in the BBC production are portrayed much more accurately than those of the Lurhmann’s production. In the BBC production, the characters are portrayed with more accurate costumes and look. The way that the characters communicate is also the similar to that of the playbook. This is because lesser lines are omitted from the scene as compared to that of Lurhmann’s production. The Lurhmann’s production is simply too mordenised and too much line are omitted. The scene has lost its actual meaning. Body contact is also lesser in the BBC production as compared to that of the Lurhmann’s production. The Lurhmann’s production has too much body contact. I feel that in the past, people are more conservative and would not be so open with their physical and body contact. Overall, I feel that the BBC production is more accurate than that of the Lurhmann’s production.
ReplyDeleteTeo Jia Hui (22)
3MD
Teo Jia Hui_3MD
ReplyDeleteI prefer the BBC production of act 2 scene 5. The overall portrayal of this scene in the BBC production is more accurate than that of the Luhrmann’s production. The setting is more appropriate and accurate for the play than that of the Luhrmann’s production. This is because the setting in the BBC production looks much older and I feel it is much more similar to that of the actual play of Romeo and Juliet. Also, in the playbook, “the scene is set in Capulet’s Orchard”. However, the setting of the Luhrmann’s production is too modernised, hence it is totally different from my perception of what the actual setting of Romeo and Juliet should be like. The setting is also set at a place that is not like an “orchard”. The characters in the BBC production are portrayed much more accurately than those of the Lurhmann’s production. In the BBC production, the characters are portrayed with more accurate costumes and look. The way that the characters communicate is also the similar to that of the playbook. This is because lesser lines are omitted from the scene as compared to that of Lurhmann’s production. The Lurhmann’s production is simply too mordenised and too much line are omitted. The scene has lost its actual meaning. Body contact is also lesser in the BBC production as compared to that of the Lurhmann’s production. The Lurhmann’s production has too much body contact. I feel that in the past, people are more conservative and would not be so open with their physical and body contact. Overall, I feel that the BBC production is more accurate than that of the Lurhmann’s production.
Both screen adaptations of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet has portrayed the Nurse and Juliet having a very close relationship with each other. However, it is evident that the screen adaptation by BBC Production has a more accurate portrayal of the scene as compared to Luhrmann’s version of the same scene. Firstly, in the actual playbook, it has been stated that the setting of the scene is in Capulet’s garden, a private place. In BBC Production’s video, it can be clearly seen that the scene was followed according to the play, where Juliet is waiting impatiently in the garden for Nurse to come. However in Luhrmann’s video of a modern version of the play, the setting was in the kitchen of the house, which was different from the original setting of the playbook. The atmosphere created in Luhrmann’s version was not effective as compared to BBC production’s video as it does not create an appropriate atmosphere that shows Juliet as a child being confined in a house and not able to roam around the streets freely, whereas it instills the wrong idea that Juliet is a teenager that can easily leave and enter the house whenever she wants.
ReplyDeleteSecondly, both the screen adaptations of the scene are similar of the way how Nurse and Juliet was being portrayed in the playbook; Both Nurses from both videos acted in a way such that they are trying to create suspense and test Juliet’s patience instead of blurting out the news immediately. Conversely, there are some slight differences in terms of the body language used in both videos between Juliet and the Nurse. In BBC’s video, the Nurse was trying to hold back the news to Juliet, yet in a gentle and less obvious way as compared to the Nurse in Luhrmann’s video. The Nurse in Luhrmann’s video tried to create suspense, yet in a very obvious way, such that it seems as though she is trying to tease Juliet and test Juliet’s patience. She was presented as though she was trying to use tactics to gain attention and sympathy from Juliet. Also, the Nurse in BBC’s video seemed to show more affection towards Juliet unlike the Nurse in Luhrmann’s version, where the Nurse seemed to care for herself first more that Juliet. This can be seen when she makes a beeline towards the kitchen’s refrigerator looking for food as soon as she steps into the house and claims that she was “out of breath”.
In BBC production’s video, Juliet was presented similar to the playbook where she tried to flatter the nurse with words such as “good sweet nurse” and “sweet sweet sweet nurse”. She even goes down her knees as if sincerely begging the nurse to break the news to her, showing that she respects how the nurse has taken all the trouble to help her. On the other hand in Luhrmann’s version of the scene, Juliet has more physical contact with Nurse, which can be seen where she massaged the nurse while asking for the news, as though trying to fawn the Nurse into breaking the news to her.
Therefore in comparison, it is no doubt that BBC Production has a more accurate interpretation of the play as compared to Luhrmann’s verison in terms of body language and setting.
Heidi Teo Ling Yun(5) 3FG
ReplyDeleteI think the Nurse and Juliet’s outfit in the Luhrmann’s version is more modern as compared to the BBC production when Nurse really dresses up exactly like a nurse and Juliet’s costume is more decent than the casual Juliet in the Luhrmann’s version which just wears a shirt with jeans. In the playbook, there’s a picture of Juliet at the end of the Scene and it depicts a young lady in the long dress which fits the costume wore by Juliet in the BBC production.
As for the body language that is used in the two videos, Juliet in BBC production is not as touchy as the Juliet in the Luhrmann’s version. Juliet in the BBC production only strokes Nurse’s hair and hugs nurse at the end whereas the Juliet in the Luhrmann’s version does many actions of affection to Nurse like: Back hug, massaging of Nurse’s back and a passionate hug. In my opinion, Nurse and Juliet in the Luhrmann’s version acts more closer to each other as compared to the both of them in the BBC production and the playbook. In the playbook, no actions of Juliet to Nurse were described. Only flattering words were said by Juliet to Nurse in the playbook to hurry Nurse in saying Romeo’s decision.
Yu Ke Ling(20)(3BN)
ReplyDeleteThe Luhrmann's version is a better version. There was a much more impatient and intense conversation between the two of them. Juliet acts out how nervous and anxious she is wanting to know Romeo’s answer. Nurse also talks in a very sarcastic way and also shows herself as being very secretive not wanting to let in to Juliet as though she was playing with her. a lot more affection is portrayed in this version as the both of them are seen as being really close to each other. Juliet shows more affection for nurse by coaxing her to tell her while nurse really wants to keep it from her. and when nurse finally tells her, Juliet portrays a happier and excited feeling in it, which brings out her real happiness in knowing that Romeo is going to marry her.
Ong Rui Zong 3CR
ReplyDeleteThe BBC production pales in comparison to Lurhmann's version. Now, not many would appreciate the BBC production kind of video where it is old fashioned and less relevant as compared to the Lurhmann's version which is more modern. The accent that the BBC used is more exaggerated than the the Lurhmann's version, which does not have a heavier accent. The setting of the play in the BBC is not as attractive as the Luhrmann's and that they used nicer backgrounds and places to make the play more interesting. In the BBC version, the play is more relaxed, less action, more emphasis are on the words that they say, whereas the Luhrmann's version, the position of the people are more scattered around, where they move a lot more.
Name : Anna Ng (1)
ReplyDeleteClass : 3CR
In the BBC production, the choice of costumes and colors is less colorful and more dull. However, in Luhrmann's production, the choice of costumes and colors is more colorful compared to the BBC prouction and the colors are also less dull and attracts more attention. The setting, for the BBC production is more towards the olden times as compared to Luhrmann's production, which is more modern and the scene occurs in Juliet's room. In both Luhrmann's and BBC's production, both show that Nurse and Juliet have a close relationship and are familiar towards each other. Yet Luhrmann's production emphasizes their relationship more as Juliet hugs and massages Nurse after Nurse claims that her back is hurting her badly repeatedly, wanting to claim the attention of Juliet. Therefore, in Luhrmann's production we can sense that Nurse and Juliet are more comfortable with each other.The mood of BBC's production is more worried as compared to Luhrmann's production. In BBC's production, Juliet is not as sidetracked and is anxious and more desperate to know the answer to her question from the start of the scene and can even plead Nurse to tell her what Romeo’s answer is whereas in Luhrmann’s production, the tone is less anxious and less impatient, Juliet even having the patience and calmness to massage Nurse’s back. However, we can see Juliet’s exasperation in both scenes when Nurse says “Your love says, like an honest gentleman, and a courteous, and a kind, and a handsome, and I warrant a virtuous – Where is your mother?” Juliet’s reply to Nurse’s question shows that she is incredulous at Nurse’s question when she says “How oddly thou repliest. Your love says like an honest gentleman, “Where is your mother?”” Juliet sees no link between the topic and her mother. The mood in BBC’s production is more serious as compared to Luhrmann’s production, which is more happy and relaxed.
In my opinion, I prefer Luhrmann’s production more as it is more modern. The colors attract more of my attention and the clip was easier to understand. However, BBC’s production stayed true to the text whereas in Luhrmann’s production, there were parts that were skipped.
DIFFERENTIATED TASK 2 (WEEK 6)
ReplyDeleteI prefer the version made by BBC production, because the choice of costumes for the characters, and props is more relevant at that point in Shakespearean Time, thus this version stays more true to the play. There are more light colours used in the play, probably to portray the pure and innocent love between the two lovers, whereas the dark colours in Luhrmann’s version seems to portray the passionate love between the two lovers.
The setting of the play is in the Capulet’s garden, with Juliet pacing up and down impatiently waiting for the news from the nurse. Then the nurse enters the scene slowly, and delays in telling Juliet of the news. This makes Juliet very anxious, and she keeps pleading nurse for the news. The nurse portrayed the idea of slow, whereas Juliet portrayed the idea of swift and hasty. This contrast between the nurse and Juliet makes the play very appealing to viewers. :D The fact that the nurse delays in telling the news even though she knew that Juliet was desperate for an answer and even plead her constantly, this displays the character of the nurse as been insensitive and long-winded. She also likes to tease Juliet, this hints us about the closeness between the two characters.
Throughout the scene, the nurse had been sitting, while Juliet pacing up and down around the nurse, even helping her to massage to please her. The body language of the nurse shows that she is very comfortable, while the body language of Juliet shows that she is very urgent and eager that she cannot sit still even for a while.
Chen YingXuan (7) 3CR
Rachel Ng_3Cr_
ReplyDeleteMy favored version of the scene is Baz Luhrmann's version. I felt that the modern concept of the play was a creative take that was more easily understandable compared to the BBC production. It is rather difficult to understand Shakespeare's language, but when the scene was fitted into the modern world, it was easier to decipher what Nurse and Juliet were conversing via their choice of body language and the context of the scene. Although the BBC production was more similar to the original setting of the play, I felt that the Luhrmann Version was more interesting. The BBC production was set in the Capulet’s backyard, whereas the Luhrmann version was set in the Capulet’s kitchen, where Nurse was snacking on a piece of chocolate cake from the refrigerator. This could hint that the Nurse had an important role in Juliet’s life as she was allowed to do as she pleased.The costumes used in the Luhrmann Version were much more colourful. The nurse wore a red jacket, which I felt symbolized her personality and devil-may-care attitude. Juliet and Nurse in the BBC production was fully decked out in Victorian Gear, such as full-length dresses that covered their modesty. However, in the modern version, they wore simple and casual clothes that suited the modern times. This allow the dialogue to overshadow their costumes and become the focal point of the scene. Juliet wore a simple white t-shirt with jeans, that suited her innocent image.The close interaction between Juliet and Nurse, the way they talk to each other with no boundaries, seemingly at ease, shows that they have a great bond between them and are comfortable around each other. Both versions of the play feature Juliet embracing Nurse in a warm hug, further proving that they had a great relationship. However, the Modern version was set in a way that people in the modern age could understand, thus Juliet was portrayed as more touchy as she jumped up and down on the sofa that Nurse was resting on. This could be portrayed that Juliet and Nurse had a relationship like that a mother and daughter pair could have, as Juliet’s childish side emerges around the Nurse. The body language used in the clip hinted that Juliet had utter faith and love in the Nurse. However, the lines used in the BBC production were more true to the play as it was a direct production of the play, portraying the play during the Tudor times. Hoever, as Luhrrmann’s version was set in the modern world, some of the lines in their dialogue was tweaked to further adjust into the Play
Victoria Lim _3CR_
ReplyDeleteI prefered the Luhrmann's version. I found the version much understandable as to what was happening between the Nurse and Juliet than the BBC production. The choice of the actress’s body language such as hand gestures and body movement, made it more enjoyable to watch as I was able to understand what they were talking about.
Although the BBC production indeed has a similar setting as the playbook itself, it was still unable to allow the modern audience to perceive what the Nurse and Juliet were talking about. Hence, not being able to really appreciate the play.
BBC production was more formal and less modernized than that of Luhrmann's version. For example, the characteristic of Juliet in both versions showed a distinct difference, as Juliet in Luhrmann's version was more ‘wilder’ in a sense that she was seen jumping on to the back of the chair that the Nurse was already sitting on, giving the Nurse a massage on the Nurse’s back. While, the BBC production showed how Juliet kept a fair distance away from the Nurse only until she got quite emotional. Also, the settings in the two versions were very different. As it is seen on the Luhrmann's version to be a house, while it was seen on the BBC production to be more of a garden in the back yard of Juliet’s residential area. The two versions, too, differ in the clothing that was worn by the Nurse and Juliet. For example, the clothing worn by the Nurse and Juliet in the BBC production was more to the Tudor times as it was more laced and nearly fully covered, showing a more modest Juliet. While, Juliet’s clothing in Luhrmann's version was very much modernized, as shown that she was wearing a normal T-shirt and a pair of jeans.