Take home quiz

Marinda Hsu

2016.10.14

IB Lit & Performance

Ms. Guarino

Take Home Quiz

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?

Juliet have always been a pure, innocent and naive young girl in the story, her less experience in the society have made her obedience and trusting to her parents’ orders on her life. After meeting Romeo, we eventually discovered her hidden courage and rebellious attitude to her controlling parents. During Act One, we see how Juliet was dressed as an angel and how she was so easily attracted by another young handsome man. Many descriptions and techniques in the scenes during the first few acts all shows her gentle personality. Gradually, we see Juliet’s characteristic change extremely obvious within Act 3 scene 3 where she had a verbal fight with her father, rejecting to marry Paris. While Juliet was going through all these changes and conflicts, Romeo was outside of Verona, being exiled from the Prince. During this period of time in the Act, Juliet have became a stronger girl and was making many decisive choices to gain her freedom and make her thoughts into reality. No matter from choosing to take the poison or saying no to the nurse’s suggestion. On the other hand, Romeo was being a weaker part with less power to fight for their love during that time. Perhaps, Shakespeare is stating that the expected role of gender was being wavery and replaced comparing to the normal expected role of gender earlier in the play. Juliet’s role as a female that was expected to be obedience and weak have turned into more of a male characteristic in the society during that time period. For example, Juliet’s mother is a woman having typical characteristics. Oppositely, Juliet was being more strong and making many brave sacrifices in order to help herself and her husband Romeo to be together.

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?

Since Romeo and Juliet are the main characters, I think an ending of their death in the play will always be a tragedy, even though the Montagues and the Capulets reconciled. But on the other hand, it could also be seen as a satisfying ending in some specific viewpoint. First of all, the death could be prevented so closely if one of the priest did successfully get the message from Friar Lawrence to Romeo, then no misunderstanding will lead to the death of Romeo; Even though this is obviously a tragedy for Romeo. But on the other side for Friar Lawrence, the death might seemed worthy even though his beloved children are dead, but this have also brought out the same outcome he wanted in first place, an end of the feud. Second of all, Romeo and Juliet were trying so hard just to be together with each other. The death have eventually brought them together; it brought Romeo rushing back to Verona and it made this two lovers forever beside each other with their families’ understanding and permission.

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?

Romeo’s portrayal is bold and impulsive in the film, which is faithful to the original play. He is also always deeply in love with someone, starting from Rosaline to Juliet. Even though as an audience we questioned and disliked the fast change on Romeo’s love, he soon have proved how his love can be true and sincere. This affectionate characteristic Romeo has was being highlighted in both the film and the original play. Romeo said “Her I love now Doth grace for grace and love for love allow; The other did not so” right after he met Juliet on the balcony and went to Friar Laurence, this shows his impulse; but later on when he did not hesitate to die with Juliet, have brought out his concentrated and deep love that have been questioning by the audience. Romeo is also being described as a free young man comparing to how Juliet was always staying inside her room. Romeo and his friends were always driving around, basically doing whatever they want without restrictions from their family. Therefore, Romeo fits the role of male during the society well within his first impression. In my opinion, the overall potrayal of Romeo in the film  is faithful and similiar to the original play from Shakespeare.