quiz #4

A) Act 4 is all Juliet. She considers options, defies her parents, gets advice, goes against the advice of one trusted counselor and agrees to trust a more unknown one, makes a decision, faces real fears, chooses to make sacrifices, chances death, takes an unknown potion, embarks on an adventure that risks exile or worse. Discuss her character and personality. What does this act reveal about her that we didn't know before? How has her character changed since we first met her in act one? Be specific. Also, while Juliet is going through all of this, what is Romeo doing? How are their characters contrasted by this juxtaposition? What is Shakespeare perhaps suggesting about gender in this act and how does that also contrast from how the gendered "normal" world was presented earlier in the play?

We know in Act one she makes a vow that she will never marry to anyone. However, she does fall in love with Romeo at the frist sight and forgets about the vow. In my opinion, she is an impulsive and immature teenager. Though, she is seriously in love with Romeo, she doesn’t consider the relationship between two famliy, the future of both of them, the possible flaws of Romeo and the establishment of inner communication. She plays a naive, sweet, and kind female character as always in Shakespeare’s play. However, she is quite different from Ophelia, Desdemona, and Cordelia. She is rebellious and willing to fight again the destiny which makes her remarkable. This act reveals her rebellious personality deep down her heart. It shows us the awakening recognizion of her emotion and personal feeling. She is a traditional home girl but, to our surprise, she sleeps with Romeo only three days after they have known each other. She is a sensible teenager at the first act because she has her own logic and thoughts about marriage but now she is enchanted with first-sight love and even threaten Friar Laurence with her own life which is defintely can not be discribed as a calm or reasonable act. Also, she is so sensetive because she believes in Romeo instead of her cousion who has been living with her for thirteen years. While Juliet is going through the sorrow, Because of being banished, Romeo finds Friar Laurence too for help. He promises that he will arrange their first and last night as soon as possible. Juliet is treated just like a piece of property,while Romeo is being banished even though he kills Juliet’s cousion. I think Shakepeare infers that the women’s role is not as important as men’s role during that time.In the first Act, we can feel that Juliet have little right to choose her husband. She is treated like a piece of property in this act which will call on people to focus on women’s feeling.

C) Consider the ending of the play. Is it a tragedy even though the city's natural order is restored by the ending of the feud? Were the deaths worth it?

From my point of view, I don’t think it is still a tragedy after all; instead, I consider it as the best-fit ending of the play. Even though both of Romeo and Juliet are dead, they exchange perminent existance for their love. They exchange their love for forever peace between two hostile family. Because there is no foundation for their first-sight love, it is possible for Romeo to fall in love with the other girl rapidly. Friar infers that the speed of Romeo changing girlfriends just like driving on a highway. It’s hard to explain that how can he prove that he will be responsible for Juliet forever and not break the vows. How can Romeo discovers that there are girls more beautiful than Juliet who are willing to flirt with him outside Verona? It is hard to imagine that when Juliet finds out Romeo is not flawless. He will be old and bad-tempered sometime. What will she do when she realizes that Romeo is not the Mr Right she is dreaming of? What will she do when she figures out that he is just a normal people who she thinks too positive for ? Will they understand and tolerate each other, or they can’t heal the disappointment and break up?  It’s the best for both of them to sacrisified for each other when they reach the climate of the love. As we all known, feeling and passion decrease from time to time. Their deaths worth because they are dare to fight against the rule and tradition at that time. Their love is beyond hatred. It will inspire the audience that the good will always be long-lasting. I don’t feel really sad for them, constractly, I feel glad that they are dead for each other when they are willing to devote their lives for love.

F) Choose either Romeo or Juliet and analyze their portrayal in the film. What characteristics are highlighted and how? Be specific? Is this faithful to the original play? Why or why not?

Juiet is a lady who is more than a pretty face. She has her own values; she is dedicate;she is rebellious but she is still a teenage who is not mature. Juliet is not that into Paris because she doesn’t think wealth and nobility is the first priority to marriage. Instead, she thinks love foundation and feeling is more important. She is different than other girls around her age. In my opinion, her passion is highlighted in the film. She is anxious about knowing any information about Romeo. I can remember a monologue in the film. Juliet says: “It, which refers to marriage, is like a kids owning a new clothes, but not allow to wear it.” She compares her feeling to the kids urging the wear new clothes. It is imagery and impressive. I can understand her passion to see Romeo. When she says goodbye to Romeo, she risks herself being found out by Lady Capulet to give Romeo her necklece. I notice that it is a cross. We know that Juliet is a Christian so it can represent her true love to Romeo. I feel it is quite immature for Juliet in the film because she easily believes what Romeo has said. They exchange their first kiss after Romeo says something fancy to her. It illustrates her passion to Romeo too. It is faithful to the original play but is exaggerated. Shakespeare tries to build a female character who is not a puppet of her parents and families. Deep down in her heart she has her passion, pursue and love.