Shakespeare Masterpiece in the 1990s - Term Paper Example

Will the present generation of students appreciate literary compositions despite the emerging modern films being brought to life by state-of-the-art digital effects? Romeo and Juliet is an Italian-inspired tale of lovers who belonged to opposing families, the Montague and Capulet. The Shakespearean play has been given numerous adaptations throughout the years. It has been given hundreds of versions in the theatre stage where it was given birth. However, as the technology advances, the tragic Shakespearean masterpiece has also made its way on the silver screen.

The story of the star-crossed lovers have been filmed twice, there was a film adaptation in 1968 though the most popular version for this generation was the one released in 1996 (Shakespeare and Furnace; Romeo and Juliet film). A 16th century play was given life in the 20th century via the silver screen. In an era filled with different cultural views and subcultures, it was a risk when the script of the 1996 adaptation of Romeo and Juliet used the original lines that were written by the author himself.

Though the lines were written and spoken in a 16th century Elizabethan era way, the lines still were able to touch the emotions and curiosity of present day viewers. One can feel the desperation on the tone of actress Claire Danes in the 1996 film said Juliet’s 16th century lines, “O Romeo, Romeo! Wherefore art thou Romeo?” (Shakespeare and Furness 96) The actors were faced with tasks to learn another way of speaking to give justice to the masterpiece. Lines from the Elizabethan era were given a touch of 20th century effects makes each scene more conveying to the modern audience.

A small concern for understanding the film would be that some of the lines were delivered too fast that they were not truly comprehended by the viewers. That is negative effect of using a language that is not being used in recent years. If the viewer has read the play prior to watching the film, then understanding the storylines would not be such a difficult task. However, when the viewer has not been introduced to the Shakespearean way of writing, there would be a conflict not just in comprehending the words that are being delivered but most importantly the essence of a particular scene in the movie.

The purpose of presenting such a classic play into the silver screen is for the present generation to appreciate such masterpieces that has been taken for granted in recent years. It has been taken for granted in the sense that it is not being fully embraced by the public as the play is not corresponding anymore to the way of living in a world dominated by technology. Romeo and Juliet is just an example of a literary work of art that is just being tackled in school and forgotten after. This should not be the case.

Such masterpieces should be appreciated and acknowledged by the public who are presently more interested in the latest gadgets rather than the books. Only a few who have opened their copies of the play in school truly comprehended the story of the lovers whose lives and love ended tragically. Presenting the play into the silver screen made audiences aware of the beauty that lies within the pages of a Shakespearean work of art. As the lines still carries the 16th century language, it made the viewers go back to the basics and open their books to read what have been said by a character that lead the play to its tragic end.

As the script and the characters of the film still