Blog 13

I want to say that this ending is a super tragic, but it is also realistic. This ending is not like most other love story which gives a explaination or two endings. For example, Romeo and Juliet is also tragic but they still love each other and their death earns the peace, and the Little Memaried makes the girl be part of the nature. However, this book's ending really surprised me because it didn't say Tin Moune becomes a tree or Daniel still loves her which I think is the most realistic ending. "Picking up the corpse by an arm and a leg, he dumped it at the side of the road to await the garbage collectors." As we can se, Riches do not know Tin Moune anymore, and her dead body is finally thrown in the garbage. Even though, Daniel promised her that they will always be together, he still forget all those things and finally get married with the wight rich girl. This is how the real world looks like!

I think this book teaches us that we should not be too emotional and we shouldn't live in our own world. Tin Moune fall in love with Daniel in a extremely short time which makes me feel that she is too emotional. After Daniel was picked up by his father, Tin Moune started to think Daniel in her mind which made Daniel such a great person, but you can never know someone completely without spending so much time with them and talk with them. That's why I think Tin Mune is in love with Daniel in her mind not the Daniel in the real world. All those tragic are cause because Tin Moune over imagine in her head about those things. If she didn't think the car accident is her responsibility; if she didn't consider Daniel as her true love so fast; if she didn't leave the village and all her love and go to Daniel, I believe the story won't be like this. Thus, seeing things with only imagination and self perspective can cause huge misunderstanding and unreal dreams, so we should listen to others' advices and be real sometime! 

The Nutcracker

On Sunday we went to the nutcracker play which is a ballet show. This was the first ballet show I ever see, so I find a big difference but also similar things in the play which are connected with straight play and musical performance. The whole play is about a Christmas night, everyone is checking their gifts and one girl get a nutcracker. Then the nutcracker becomes real and started dancing . After everyone leaves, she got up and see Nutcracker is under the Chrismas tree, and this is the point she starts her dream world. The stage seeking change and different kinds of characters and different countrie’s dance start to go. The very end of the show is when the scene get back to the house and we see the girl is sleeping in the sofa.

I really like the way they set the stage and change the stage. Because they have a really big stage, so it's hard to change the setting in a short time, and they have to represent the dream and the realistic. However, they perfectly solved this problem with lights and props removing. For example, when she is going in her dream, all the house was moved away, and the lights go down. At the point when the Chrismas tree was turned around, she completely get into the dream world, and the lights goes up again. Another thing I noticed is the dress, even thought all the dresses looks similar, I looked carefully and I found out the dress who has solo dance has more color on it. It also helped me easily find where to focus on. My favorite dance in this show was when a man jump up and spouse and splits his leg in the air, and I believed it, just be so hard to do it.

Ballet show is also so different from other plays because there is no dialogue or singing which means I have to follow the story by seeing the dance and setting change. I do enjoyed this play, and all the dancers are so talented and hardworking. I want to say Merry Christmas to everyone! And I hope we will be not so crazy after we come back!

In class questions

1. Why do you think after Tin Moune get shoes and dress the guard let her in?

2. If you are Daniel's father what would you do when you see they are hanging out together, and you don't want that happen.

3. Why do you think Daniel lost his memory?

4. What do you think it means when Tin Moune is trying to hold all the papillon in the cage?

As free!!!

“She took only her imaginary cage filled with papillons, her dreams; this her held to her—her future”(Guy 80). I didn't like Tin Moune’s character so much until I saw this sentence because her courage and reactions are super strong. She didn't do much things against her parents except taking care of Dainel and not doing work, but since Daniel was taken away from her, she started to reacting so nervous and active. When I saw her leave the home with only her dreams, I truly felt the power of her character and the power of dreams and love! I couldn't say anything because I never went out alone with nothing; however, I can still image how lonely and hard for a sixteen years old girl. On my personal perspective, I saw Tin Moube as a sympol of independence and freedom. I know there are so many things involves in love, but independence and freedom are the main topic.

I can always feel Tin Moune doesn't have much freedom and independence, and she wants them so badly and she looks like an outstander in her own village. She is the only person goes to the brook where others are not allowed. Here I see a curious child who is trying to discover more and see more, but rules are limiting her abilities which make her break rules and always want to know more about new things which also explain the reason why she wants to take of Daniel. Because of her desire of new, she started take care of Daniel which is also a decision made on her own, so she is feeling, like finally I can be on my own and I can help others. Then she falls in love with Daniel, but it was too sudden. In my opinion she falls in love with him is not just about love, but also about more proving herself. “I'm not a child, Tonton Julian,” Désirée answered. “I'm sixteen years old—and strong. I have no fear.” (Guy 61). As we can see, she doesn't want Tonton to treat her as a baby anymore because she wants to make her own decisions which is finding her true love Daniel, and she also want Tonton to treat her as a adult who are free as the dreams and butterfly, so she proves herself by going to the big city and finding out the Daniel. With this emotion Tin Moune started her journey which she wishes; however, it won't be easy for her!

I truly like Tin Moune now because she is taking all the pain such as the shoes, couldn't understand the language and Daniel forget who she is which is making her evolving into a new life situation. I know she hopes the dream coming true, but I also understand how hard it is for her to accomplish it. I am looking forward to read more tomorrow. So far, she had shown me a strong character and a great dream. However, as she is showing all her dreams the cage of butterfly will be broken, and I hope she be as free as those dreams!

Quiz

In the musical version they take the elements of butterfly, Tin Moune’s wish of love and her difference between other villagers. These three elements have created Tin Moune’s character, and they also make it more clear on how she reacts and decides things in the following story. I consider that Butterfly represent the freedom and beautiful dreams she had, and Love is one of the thing she always wants which is also the reason she leave the village. Last the difference between her and others make her character more interesting and kind of sad in the story.

In the musical, there are so many places mention the word fly, and I consider it represent the butterfly. “Flying as free as bird” “And my fate in the air” these two lines from the musical directly tell me that she wants to fly and her fate is in the air which just like the butter fly. She wants to be free in the air, so she can control her own fate. In the book, butterfly show up in her imagination which just like the situation in the musical. “She took only her imaginary cage filled with papillons, her dreams; this she held to her—her future”(Guy 80). This sentence tells me that she sees her dreams and butterfly as her future which is so close the meaning of fate. 

And all her wishes and fate are about Dinel and Love. That's why in this musical there are so many things she thought to do with Dinel. “Your car will stop and I'll hop and off we’ll drive…..” This one is when she was imaging when she can be together with Dinel and they drive together, and I see it as a love wish. Also in the book, “I must go. Daniel Beauxhomme needs me.” she doesn't even talk with him much, but she knows or feels strongly that he needs her, and deep down I think that she needs him and she wants to be with him because she wants love. 

Last is the difference between her and others. “Happy to have what they have and stay where they are. They never even look up at the sound of a car!” I feel here is more like she is complaining about others because they never do things fun and new, and Tin Moune's always want to discover new things both in her imagination and real world which is so different from others. In the book, no one wants to touch or get to close to the car, but Tin Mounne does and she takes care of Daniel. Also, when others say “better we had left him at the side of the road to perish.” because they are afraid of that polices and rich people will be angry and punish them. However Tin Moune get to be more carefully to heal him and make him well. And the truth is that she saved his life because of her love to Daniel.

Lively and Realistic

Every time when I set a play I will always go through the back ground information first. Then I will figure out what I want to achieve through the play. Finally I will make all the details clear, such as costumes lights and blocking. Because of these orders I can build the play step by step. To day I will mainly focus on the four gods in Once On This Island. I will go step by step to tell you my idea of building these gods.

As we all know Once On This Island is the musical vision of the novel My love My love, and this novel is based on Little Mermaid which was a fairy tale written by Andersen. In the novel there are four gods and each one of them represent Earth, Water, Love and Death, and they fight each other over years and years. According to this back ground, I will set each god completely different to show how they fight each other and how they represent who they are.

Then I will discover what I want achieve through this play which is the most important thing because all my setting is depending on my objective. I want to show the relationships between these gods and I also want to show how they influence the main characters’ lives by their powers and their symbol. In order to show their relationship and effect, I will work on giving them a clear personality or power which they use all the time. For example, I want God of Love to be gentle and soft and it always show up when the characters need help; I want God of Earth to always be around people and watch them doing things which can show the close relationship between human and Earth; I want God of Water to be more active and a little naughty because the water is both good and bad to people which is just like kids who are so cute but some times do bad things; last I want to make the god of Death to always hide around people and show up when they are in danger because death is something hide around you all the time and it comes out at the worst time to give you the final judge.

Depends on what I said before I want to give each God a color, and they are Red for Love, Green for Earth, Black for Death and Blue for Water. I don’t want to give them any mask, but I do want them to wear some small things, such as rings, necklaces and head wear. For instance, I want Death to hold a skeleton in the hand all the time; Love can have a loving heart crown on her head; Water should have a container; finally the Earth can have a leaves crown and hold animals on the hand. I want the light always focus on the gods when they are talking and the light should be lighter on the one is speaking when others are quiet.

Those are all my ideas about creating these four gods, and I want to work more details on each one of them when we set the play. I am looking forward to see how these gods fight wach other and influence people who are on the Island. I also hope my ideas can help to build Gods more lively and realistic.

Picture

Final Fraft

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Litrature and Performance Written Courswork

A Major Analysis of Play and Performance Of Romeo and Juliet by Sharkesphere

Chosen Extract: Act II Scene II, Act IV Scene I, Act III Scene III and Act IV Scene III

session: November 2015

Word Count: 1866

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Through this project I have analyzed and discovered Romeo and Juliet’s characters' changing personalities, actions and reactions much more comprehensively and deeper than before. I want to show that Romeo and Juliet have learned from each other, and they became more like each other which means Romeo and Juliet switched their character roles. In order to show Romeo and Juliet switching their character roles, I choose Act II Scene II, Act IV Scene I, Act III Scene III and Act IV Scene III to compare and build Romeo and Juliet’ character. I am Romeo, Juliet and the Nurse in these three scenes which gives me a challenge to change between these three characters in a short time. Because this play was written during late 1500s, people in this time period saw men as stronger characters and women as weaker characters, and that was why I am curious about how Shakesphere wrote Romeo such a passive character and Juliet such a active character. In this project, I focused on showing how Romeo transforms to a more complaint character and how Juliet evolves to a more powerful character, by using costuming, blocking and switching actors’ gender which helps me to demonstrate each characters' transformation. Romeo and Juliet influence each other by showing their love, and this finally changes them into each other. 

I choose Act II Scene II which is the balcony scene because this is the point when Romeo and Juliet confess their love to each other which represents the beginning of their relationship. After they fall in love, they start to influence each other which changes their roles, indicating the transition. In this scene, Romeo is the one who acts so aggressive, forcing a solid and proven relationship. For example, “Lady, by yonder blessèd moon I vow,  That tips with silver all these fruit-tree tops—” (2.2.107). As we can see, Romeo vows to Juliet to show his love which shows his braveness. However, Juliet stops him because she 

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thinks that it is such a rush, and it is the first day they meet each other, so she does not want Romeo to promise anything. “It is too rash, too unadvised, too sudden” (2.2.118). In this situation, they both don’t know much about each other, but Romeo chooses to promise something he does’t even know, and Juliet decides to stop Romeo’s crazy behavior to think more before anything happens. Thus, Romeo is the one who initially pushes this relationship forward without considering problems of reality.

When I was blocking this scene, I was Romeo, so I had most movements to achieve this aggressive Romeo. For instance, I broke into Juliet's house first and hid behind a bush to wait for her to appear, then I moved forward to Juliet when I heard the line “O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo? Deny thy father and refuse thy name” (2.2.33-34). While I said my line, I went toward Juliet and jumped on a box which was right next to Juliet’s balcony, so I could be as close as possible to her. When Juliet said “May prove a beauteous flower when next we meet. Good night, good night!” (2.2.122-123). I knew she meant to leave me, so I stopped her by holding her arm tightly. Then, when I said “Wouldst thou withdraw it? For what purpose, love?” (2.2.130), Even though I had heard Juliet confirm her love, I still persevered to get her to tell me again, so I looked in Juliet’s eyes and I held my hand to her's and finally we held our hands together. Thus, the forcing of love and aggressive movements built a Romeo who is brave and wants to show his love to Juliet intensely, and he seeks Juliet’s responding love back.

Juliet's chang is mainly showed in Act IV, Scene I and Scene III, which are scenes in which Friar Lawrence gives her advice about Romeo's banishment and how to stop the marriage between her and Paris which her father forces on her. Even though she is seeking help from Friar, she acts so tough and brave, and she is leading and influencing the 

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conversation. For example, "And with this knife I’ll help it presently. (shows him a knife) God joined my heart and Romeo’s, thou our hands." (4.1.55-58). As we can see, Juliet chooses to kill herself if she has to marry to Paris because she loves Romeo so much. She is forcing Friar to give her a good solution rather than staying at home and waiting. Commiting suicide for someone only met two days ago is an action of such a magnitude that it requires not only love, but also courage. At the end of the conversation, Friar gives Juliet a potion which can create a fake death for her, so she can escape the wedding and reunite with Romeo. Even though, Juliet says all the concerns that she has, she still drinks the potion for Romeo which shows bravery of Juliet’s character. 

“What if it be a poison which the Friar Subtly hath ministered to have me dead, Lest in this marriage he should be dishonored Because he married me before to Romeo? I fear it is. And yet methinks it should not, For he hath still been tried a holy man. How if, when I am laid into the tomb, I wake before the time that Romeo Come to redeem me? Romeo, Romeo, Romeo! Here’s drink. I drink to thee” (4.3.25-33,59). 

These are lines which Juliet says when she is preparing to drink the potion, and these lines clearly show that Juliet worries if she will be dead or Romeo will not be able to find her, but she still drinks the potion because she loves Romeo. The last words she says is about how love will carry her to get through this trail. “Love give me strength, and strength shall help afford” (4.1.129). Juliet is acting extremely brave and active than she ever did before which make her become a more leading character.

My Juliet character in these two scenes was much more brave and active than the Act II Scene II Juliet, and I demonstrate it by switching actors' gender and blocking. In these two scenes, I built a manly Juliet because I wanted to show how she becomes to a character who 

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reacts so quickly and bravely. First of all, I wore the dress which Wiebke wore in the balcony scene, so it showed that I was Juliet in the scene which also made Juliet's character look much stronger. I decided to play Juliet’s role because when I was reading the play I saw what a strong character she is, which was the inverse of people’s view of females during late 1500s. Then, I showed that I would rather die than marry Paris by holding the knife up to my neck which made it appear as if I would kill myself any second. However, when Friar gave me the idea of his potion with which I can avoid death, I put the knife down, then I took the potion from Friar Lawrence without any concern which showed I believed in the power of love. In the next monologue when I drank the potion, I chose kneeling rather than standing because I wanted to show I was depressed and hopeless which also can help showing how I beat hopelessness in a later scene. After I took out the potion, I also pulled out the knife to show I was deciding between commiting suicide or drinking the potion. However, after I remembered how much I love Romeo, I drank the potion immediately. Comparing the bravery when I drank the potion and the hopelessness when I was deciding, I represent how Juliet evolves to a manly character who is full of courage and love.

Act III Scene III was selected because it is between Friar Lawrence and Romeo after Romeo knows that he is banished which can be used in comparison with the scene between Juliet and Friar. Even though Romeo mentions that he would rather be dead if he cannot be with Juliet multiple times, he does not do any actual actions to prove it. For example, “So to be banished from Verona is like being banished from the world, and being banished from the world is death.” (3.3.19-20). This line superficially states how much Romeo loves Juliet, how he does not want to live because he cannot see Juliet anymore. However, he did not do anything, like put a knife up to his neck to show his death wish which makes him looks like a 

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coward. He is not only reacting so passively, but also follows Friar’s order completely which shows he is now much weaker than before. For instance, “But that a joy past joy calls out on me, It were a grief so brief to part with thee. Farewell.” (3.3.174-176). As we can see, Romeo now girlishly follows Friar’s orders and stops fighting for Juliet’s love and the future of their relationship. Compared to Juliet’s development, Romeo deconstructs to a feminine character and loses his courage.

Because we switched actors’ gender for Romeo and Juliet, I played the Nurse in this scene. Even though I played a minor role, the few lines I said still pointed out the most important part which showed how weak and passive Romeo had become. “Stand up, stand up. Stand, and you be a man” (3.3.88). This line directly told  Romeo to claim his masculinity which also reflects that Romeo is being so weak and hopeless just like a little girl. When I was saying this line I also used my hands to hold Romeo up from the ground when Romeo was weeping and blubbering which made Romeo looks even more passive and weak, so the audience can see clearly how Romoe reacts differently than he did before which showed he transform to a girlish character.

Through all these three scenes, I had created a aggressive Romeo, a manly Juliet and a girlish Romeo which accomplish my goal that they have changed into each other along with their relation. This was such a  fun and meaningful project, and I have learned how to achieve a character, and also make the character, setting and story believable and realistic. This was the first time I played a female role, but I didn't feel too hard because I wanted to present a manly Juliet. To be honest, I just acted as myself in the real life because I am the person who is brave and react so fast. Switching gender was also so interesting because audience can more directly see how Romeo and Juliet change into each other because they see the same 

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actor, and costumes helped to distinguish characters. Finally, after I tried my best to work on costuming, blocking and switching actors’ gender, it helped me to demonstrate each characters' transformation which showed how Romeo transforms to a girlish character and how Juliet evolves to a manly character.

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Works Cited

Shakespeare, William, Barbara A. Mowat, and Paul Werstine. The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet. New York: Washington Square Published by Pocket, 1992. Print.

Always Be Careful

I have been working on my Romeo and Juliet project for three weeks, and I have learned not only in class, but also in writing center. From my first 900 words draft to 1700 last draft, I tried my best to organize all my works together in a paper which can clearly show what I have done and all my ideas. In my sophomore year, I used to go to writing center a lot and I could remember everyday’s C period’s teacher. However, writing center has a new place this year, and now Ms. Swift is in writing center everyday to help students who needs writing help. I am so happy about this new system of writing center because I can get help on much longer work now. For example, If I want to check a seven pages paper with a teacher I might need a week to work with a writing center teacher because everyday would be a different teacher last year, but this year I can always get help from Ms. Swift which makes my working speed much faster and working quality much higher. I have worked on this paper from three main parts, and they are grammar, framework and content.

The first thing and it is always the first thing I am worried about is my grammar. I know it is too hard to not make any grammar mistake in the first draft, but I still feel bad about my writing because I always spell word wrong which keeps annoying me. For example, in this paper I spell “knif” many times and Ms. Swift told me every time she saw it, and I felt so embarrassed. I will be much more careful when I write in the future.

Another thing I had a trouble is how I organized my paragraphs, and I have changed so many time to make it fit in my paper. The first time, I organized my paragraphs by scenes, but it made the whole paper looked like a mess because I put all the analysis and performance parts together which made readers so confused. Then I tried to divide my paragraphs into two parts which are analysis and performance. However, Ms. Swift pointed out that I should not have analysis in the performance paragraphs, and I am still working on rewrite all these paragraphs to make it clear and logical.

The last thing is about my content which is the part I need help from both writing center and Ms. Guarino because I have to make sure my ideas can be used and they are clearly represented in my paper. For instance, in my project we switched actor’s gender which will make my paper looked sexist which I do not want to see, so I asked help from Ms. Guarino, and I added a explanation of why I chose to switch the gender in the first paragraph and I hope this will work well.

I truly like writing center because it can always teach me writing and help me to improve my writing skills which I always need to work on, and I will go to writing more and more in the future. I will also focus on my grammar, framework and content in the paper, and I wish I can make this project to the best I can do.

A little less noise there

“A little less noise there.” (J.M. Barrie). This was the first line we used as a joke in the theater, and it never stops. I still remember the first day we barely know each other. However after two months working together, we are now like a family, and we build not only character’s relationships, but also relationships between all of us. I was so nervous during the audition because I had to run the scene with Charlotte who is a excellent actress because I had saw two of her plays, and she did a great job in both of them. To be honest, I am a big fan of Charlotte, and I was so excited and happy that I could work with her in this play. When we had been working together three weeks, I found out that everyone in this play loves theater, and they are all funny and talented. Through this play, I not only learned more about theater, but also built solid and amazing friendships with everyone. I want to thank all of you for giving me such a precious and happy first play experience.

Because this is my first time participate in a English play, I had a hard time figuring out my characters. I would not be as good as I am now if Ms. Guarino, Rachel, Anna and Sam didn’t help me with lines and character’s understanding. I would not be in character so well if Amy and all crew members didn’t help me to find the best costumes and props for me. I would not be so confident and happy if Erin, Wiebke, Charlotte and William didn’t help me to find my position in the play, and Amalia, Maddy, Abi and Dilyara always make me laugh. I also want to give a special thank to William because when we were working together we can always get new ideas for characters, and I always feel like that we are playing together instead of doing an act.

After all, this was a great play, and it feels so differently when I was on the stage than sitting in the audience. I wish that I can work with all these awesome people together more in the future. I love all of you, and I am so proud to say that I finally get on the right track and I could not be happier.

revise

Through this project I have analyzed and discovered Romeo and Juliet’s characters' changing personalities, actions and reactions much more comprehensively and deeper than before. Because this play was writen at late 1500s, people in this time period saw men as stronger chracters and women as weaker characters, and that is why I am curious about how Shaksphere wrote Romeo such a pale character and Juliet such a powerful character. In this project, I focused on showing how Romeo transforms to a more passive character and how Juliet evolves to a more active character, by using costuming, switching actor's gender and blocking which helps me to demonstrate each characters' transformation. My idea of this project is that Romeo and Juliet have learned from each other, and they became more like each other which means Romeo and Juliet switched their character roles. In order to show Romeo and Juliet switching their character roles, I choose Act II Scene II, Act IV Scene I, Act III Scene III and Act IV Scene III to compare and build Romeo and Juliet’ character. I am Romeo, Juliet and the Nurse in these three scenes which gives me a challenge to change between these three characters in a short time. Romeo and Juliet influence each other by showing their love, and this finally changes them into each other.

I choose Act II Scene II which is the balcony scene because this is the point when Romeo and Juliet confess their love to each other which represents the beginning of their relationship. In this scene, Romeo is the one who acts so aggressive, and he forces their relationship to be more solid and protected. For example, “Lady, by yonder blessèd moon I vow,  That tips with silver all these fruit-tree tops—” (Shakspere Act II Scene II Line 107). As we can see, Romeo vows to Juliet to show his love, but “It is too rash, too unadvised, too sudden” (Shakspere Act II Scene II Line 118). Juliet stops him because she thinks that it is such a rush, and it is the first day they meet each other, so she does not want Romeo to promise anything. In this situation, they both don’t know much about each other, but Romeo chooses to promise something he does’t even know, and Juliet decides to stop Romeo’s crazy behavior to think more before anything happens.

When I was blocking this scene, I was Romeo, so I had most movements in this scene to achieve this aggressive Romeo. For instance, I broke into Juliet's house first and hid behind a bush which was a chair with flowers design on it to wait for her to appear, then I move forward to Juliet when I heard the line “O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo? Deny thy father and refuse thy name” (Shakspere Act II Scene II Line 33-34). After I said my line, I went toward to Juliet and stopped on a box which was right next to Juliet’s balcony which was a tall table with some fake flowers around it. When Juliet said “May prove a beauteous flower when next we meet.Good night, good night!” (Shakspere Act II Scene II Line 122-123). I stopped her from leaving me by holding her arm. Then when I said “Wouldst thou withdraw it? For what purpose, love?” (Shakspere Act II Scene II Line 130).  I looked in Juliet’s eyes and I held my hand to her, and finally we held our hands together. Thus, the forcing of love and aggressive movements build a Romeo who is brave and wants to show his love to Juliet intensely, and he seeks Juliet’s responding love back.

Juliet's changing is mainly showed in Act IV, Scene I and Scene III, which are scenes that Friar Lawrence gives her advices about Romeo's banishment and how to stop the marriage between her and Paris which her father forces her. Even though she is seeking help from Friar, she acts so tough and brave, and she is leading and influencing the conversation. For example, "And with this knife I’ll help it presently. (shows him a knife) God joined my heart and Romeo’s, thou our hands." (4.1.55-58). As we can see, Juliet chooses to kill herself if she has to marry to Paris because she loves Romeo so much. She is forcing Friar to give her a good solution rather than staying at home and waiting. To be honest, I would not suicide for someone I only met two days ago, and this needs not only love, but also requires courage to do it. At the end of the conversation, Friar gives Juliet a potion which can create a fake death of her, so she can escape the wedding and reunit with Romeo. Even though, Juliet says all the concerns that she has, she still drinks the potion for Romeo which shows bravery of Juliet’s character. “What if it be a poison which the Friar Subtly hath ministered to have me dead, Lest in this marriage he should be dishonored Because he married me before to Romeo? I fear it is. And yet methinks it should not, For he hath still been tried a holy man. How if, when I am laid into the tomb, I wake before the time that Romeo Come to redeem me? Romeo, Romeo, Romeo! Here’s drink. I drink to thee” (Shakspere Act VI Scene III). This are lines which Juliet says when she is preparing to drink the potion, and these lines clear shows that Juliet worries about if she will be dead or Romeo will not be able to fin her, but she still drinks the potion because she loves Romeo, and her last words say that she drinks it for Romeo. Juliet is acting extremely brave and active than she ever does which make her character become more influential.

My Juliet character in these two scenes was much more brave and active than the Act II Scene II Juliet. In these two scenes, I built a manly Juliet because I wanted to show how she becomes to a character who reacts so quick and brave. First of all, I show that I would rather die than marry to Paris by saying “O, bid me leap, rather than marry Paris, From off the battlements of yonder tower;” (Shakspere Act VI Scene I Line 79). Also, when I was saying this line I held the knif up to my neck which seemed I would kill myself in any seconds. However, when Friar gave me the idea of his potion which can avoid death I put the knif down, then I take the potion from Friar Lawrence whithout any concern, and I believed in the power of love. “Love give me strength, and strength shall help afford” (Shakspere Act VI Scene I Line 129). This line directly told that how much I believed in the power of love would help me to get through this. In the next monologue which which I drunk the potion, I choosed kneeling than standing because I wanted to show that I was depressed and hopeless. After I took out the potion, I also put the knif next to me to show I was wondering that should I suicide or drink the potion. However, after I noticed how much I love Romeo, I drank the potion immediately. Through all these blocking and lines, I have represent a manly Juliet who is full of courage and love.

Act III Scene III was selected because it is the scene between Friar Lawrence and Romeo after Romeo knows that he is banished which can be used to compare with the scene between Juliet and Friar. Even though Romeo mentions that he would rather be dead if he cannot be with Juliet multible times, but he does not do anything actual actions to prove it. For example, “So to be banished from Verona is like being banished from the world, and being banished from the world is death.” (3.3.19-20). This line represent how much Romeo loves Juliet, and he does not wan to live because he can not see Juliet anymore. However, he did not do anything, like put a knif up to his neck which makes him looks like a coward. He is not only reacting so passive, but also follows Friar’s order completely which shows he is now much weaker than before. For instance, “But that a joy past joy calls out on me, It were a grief so brief to part with thee. Farewell.” (3.3.174-176). As we can see, Romeo is now such a good girl who follows Friar’s orders and stops fighting for Juliet’s love.

Because we switched actor’s gender for Romeo and Juliet, I took the Nurse in this scene. Even though I did not have many lines, I still pointed out the most important part which showed how weak and passive Romeo became. “Stand up, stand up. Stand, an you be a man” (Shakspere Act III Scene III Line 88). This line directly told  Romeo to stand up and be a man which also reflect that Romeo is being so weak and hopeless just like a little girl. When I was saying this line I also used my hands to hold Romeo up from the ground when Romeo was weeping and blubbering which makes Romeo looks even more passive and weak, so audience can see how Romeo changes to a girlish character.

Through all these three scenes, I had created a aggressive Romeo, a manly Juliet and a girlish Romeo which accomplish my goal that they have changed into each other along with their relation. This was such a  fun and meaningful project, and I have learned how to achieve a character, and also make the character believable and realistic. Finally, After I tried my best to work on costuming, switching actor's gender and blocking, It helped me to demonstrate each characters' transformation which showed how Romeo transforms to a girlish character and how Juliet evolves to a manly character.

BP2

Juliet's changing is mainly showed in Act IV, Scene I and Scene III, which are scenes that Friar Lawrence gives her advices about Romeo's banishment and how to stop the marriage between her and Paris which her father forces her to get married. Even though she is seeking help from Friar, she acts so tough and brave, and she is leading and influencing the conversation. For example, "And with this knife I’ll help it presently. (shows him a knife) God joined my heart and Romeo’s, thou our hands." (4.1.55-58). As we can see, Juliet chooses to kill herself if she has to marry to Paris because she loves Romeo so much, and she is forcing Friar to give her a good solution which is not staying at home and waiting. To be honest, I would not suicide for someone I only met two days ago, and this needs not only love, but also requires courage to do it. At the end of the conversation, Friar gives Juliet a potion which can create a fake death of her, so she can escapes the wedding and gets back with Romeo. Even though, Juliet says all the concerns that she has, she still drink the potion for Romeo which shows how brave Juliet’s character is now. “What if it be a poison which the Friar Subtly hath ministered to have me dead, Lest in this marriage he should be dishonored Because he married me before to Romeo? I fear it is. And yet methinks it should not, For he hath still been tried a holy man. How if, when I am laid into the tomb, I wake before the time that Romeo Come to redeem me? Romeo, Romeo, Romeo! Here’s drink. I drink to thee” (Shakspere Act VI Scene III). This are lines which Juliet says when she is preparing to drink the potion, and these lines clear shows that Juliet worries about if she will be dead or Romeo will not be able to fin her, but she still drinks the potion because she loves Romeo, and her last words say that she drinks it for Romeo. Juliet is acting extremely brave and active than she ever does which make her character become more influential.

My Juliet character in these two scenes was much more brave and active than the Act II Scene II Juliet. In these two scenes, I built a manly Juliet because I wanted to show how she becomes to a character who reacts so quick and brave. First of all, I show that I would rather die than marry to Paris by saying “O, bid me leap, rather than marry Paris, From off the battlements of yonder tower;” (Shakspere Act VI Scene I Line 79). Also, when I was saying this line I held the knif up to my neck which seemed I would kill myself in any seconds. However, when Friar gave me the idea of his potion which can avoid death I put the knif down, then I take the potion from Friar Lawrence whithout any concern, and I believed in the power of love. “Love give me strength, and strength shall help afford” (Shakspere Act VI Scene I Line 129). This line directly told that how much I believed in the power of love would help me to get through this. In the next monologue which which I drunk the potion, I choosed kneeling than standing because I wanted to show that I was depressed and hopeless. After I took out the potion, I also put the knif next to me to show I was wondering that should I suicide or drink the potion. However, after I noticed how much I love Romeo, I drank the potion immediately. Through all these blocking and lines, I have represent a manly Juliet who is full of courage and love.

Thesis and outline

In this project, I focused on showing how Romeo transforms to a more passive character and how Juliet evolves to a more active character, by using of costuming, switching actor's gender and blocking which helps me to demonstrate each characters.

Bp1: analysis Act II Scene II to show how Romeo and Juliet's character when they first start their relationship, then talk about the performence to show how I represent it.

Bp2: talk about Act IV scene I and Scene III to show how Juliet becomes stronger and active. Then talk the gender switching and costuming which helps me to represent the character.

Bp3: talk about the Act III scene III which the nurse tells Romeo to be a man, and it also show how Romeo turns to a weaker character. Then I will tell the performence which I use blocking to show the girlish Romeo in the scene.

First draft

I have been working on my this project for a whole week, and I have analyzed and discovered Romeo and Juliet’s character’s changing of personality, actions and reactions much more comprehensively and deeper than before. In this project, I mainly focus on how Romeo becomes a more passive and weaker character, and how Juliet becomes a more active and stronger character. They have influenced each other through their relationship, so I choose Act II Scene II, Act VI Scene I and Act VI Scene III. I have to be both Romeo and Juliet in these three scenes which gives me a such hard time to build two characters in a short time because my idea of this project is that Romeo and Juliet has learned from each other, and they became more like each other which means Romeo and Juliet switched their character roles. However, I work this out by costuming and certain movements for different characters. Thus, Romeo and Juliet influences each other by showing their love, and this finally changed them into each other.

I choose Act II Scene II which is the balcony scene because this is the point when Romeo and Juliet confess their love to each other which also represent the beginning of their relationship. In this scene, Romeo is the one who acts so aggressive, and he forces their relationship to be more solid and protected. For example, “Lady, by yonder blessèd moon I vow,  That tips with silver all these fruit-tree tops—” (Shakspere Act II Scene II Line 107). As we can see, Romeo vows to Juliet to show his love, but Juliet stops him because she thinks that it is to quick to vow. I have most movements in this scene to achieve a aggressive Romeo. For instance, I move into the scene first, then I move forward to Juliet, so Juliet in this scene does not need to make any big movement. I also hold her arm when she tries to leave me. At the last, I hold her hand when I show how much I love her. Thus, the forcing of love and active movements build a Romeo who is brave and wants to show his love badly.

In Act VI Scene I and Scene III, my Juliet character is much more brave and active than Act II Scene II Juliet. In these to scene, I build a manly Juliet because I want to show how she becomes to a character who reacts so quick and brave. First of all, I show that I would rather die than marry to Paris by saying “O, bid me leap, rather than marry Paris, From off the battlements of yonder tower;” (Shakspere Act VI Scene I Line 79). Then I take the potion from Friar Lawrence whithout any concern, and I believe in the power of love. “Love give me strength, and strength shall help afford” (Shakspere Act VI Scene I Line 129). This line directly tells that Juliet believes in the power of love will help her to get through this. In the next scene, I choose the part which Juliet drinks the potion. Even though, I say all the concerns that I have, I still drink the potion for Romeo which show how brave the Juliet’s character is now. “What if it be a poison which the Friar Subtly hath ministered to have me dead, Lest in this marriage he should be dishonored Because he married me before to Romeo? I fear it is. And yet methinks it should not, For he hath still been tried a holy man. How if, when I am laid into the tomb, I wake before the time that Romeo Come to redeem me? Romeo, Romeo, Romeo! Here’s drink. I drink to thee” (Shakspere Act VI Scene III). This are lines which I use in my scene, and I cut some lines in the original play. These lines clear shows that Juliet worries about if she will be dead or Romeo will not be able to fin her, but she still drinks the potion because she loves Romeo, and her last words say that she drinks it for Romeo.

I am also in a scene Act III Scene III which is the scene between Friar Lawrence and Romeo after Romeo knows that he is banished, and I am the nurse in this scene. Even though I do not have many lines, I still point out the most important part which shows how weak and passive Romeo becomes. “Stand up, stand up. Stand, an you be a man” (Shakspere Act III Scene III Line 88). This line directly tells Romeo to stand up and be a man which also reflect that Romeo is being so weak and hopeless just like a little girl. When I am saying this line I also use my hands to hold Romeo up from the ground which makes Romeo looks even more passive, so audience can see how Romeo changes to a girlish character.

Through all these three play, I have created a strong Romeo, a manly Juliet and a girlish Romeo which accomplish my goal that they have changed along with the play. This is such a  fun and meaningful project, and I have learned how to achieve a character, and also make the character believable and realistic. Thus, Romeo and Juliet influences each other through their relationship, and this finally changed them into each other.

A Manly Girl

I have been working on my IB project for a whole week, and I have analyzed and discovered Romeo and Juliet’s character much more than before. To be honest, this project is so hard for me because of language, costume and character’s switching up. This was the first time that I read Shaksphere’s play, so I spent a lot of time on translate the language part which was the biggest trouble for me in this project. I have to be both Romeo and Juliet in two scenes which gave me a so much hard time to build two characters in a short time because my idea of this project is that Romeo and Juliet has learned from each other, so they became more like each other which means Romeo and Juliet switched their character role. In order to achieve the character, I had to wear Juliet's costume; however, the costume size does not fit me. I finally worked everything out, and I enjoyed creating this whole project. Thus, it is the first time for me to be a female in a scene and I have learned so much from this project.

Language in a play is lines which is one of the most important thing, and if I deliver lines wrong the whole scene would be a mess, so I have to work extremely hard on my lines. The bad news was that English is my second langue, and this was the first time for me reading a Sharksphere's play. However, after months reading and analysis with Ms.Guarino and all my classmates, I had my idea of this project which focus on Romeo and Juliet, so I had to come up with two ways to deliver lines when I was a Romeo and when I was Juliet. Because I want show Romeo was a strong and active character, so I speak louder and more confident and use so many movements such as going toward to Juliet or holding Juliet's arm to stop her leaving me. Not only my movements showed my character, but also lines showed my character. For instance, my lines forced Juliet to show her love and I wanted to marry her.

Since the second my group decided to switch Romeo and Juliet's character, I knew that It would be my unforgettable memory because I had to be a girl in a scene. However, It was not as hard as I had thought before because in this project I had to show a strong and manly Juliet, so I worked it out pretty quick, but the costume part gave me a bad headache. Because of size differences, I could not find the costume, but I was so lucky because Ms.Guarino lent us some costumes, and one of them was a dress which I could put my arms in the dress to hang it in front of me which looked like I was in the dress. To be honest, It was too funny that I was in a girl's dress, and my laughed and said:" Princess John, you looks amazingly beautiful!"

This is a so fun and meaningful project, and I have learned not only how to perform a scene from Shaksphere's play, but also learned how to make a scene realistic. I will keep working on my ability on reading and analyzing plays especially characters. Thus, I have improved a lot by making this project, and I also had some different experiences in our scenes. I wish I can use what I learned in the future reading and performing to create a higher level performance.

Video

http://youtu.be/6oLDOQcmWIw

Reflection

My group has been working on this project for almost a week, and I am having a hard time with lines and stage settings. Because I want to show how Juliet becomes a stronger character than Romeo, so we switch our character role. However, the problem is that I don't know how to make a strong Juliet character, so I decided to think more like a girl and also add some men style in it. I wish I can build a Juliet which gives people strong, tough and independent, and I have three ideas to make it true. They are movements, project and facial express. 

First of all, I will make more active movements in the scene, for example walking toward to Friar Lawrenece instead of he coming to me. The second thing is that I will project more, for example I will have a lowder voice, so audience can see me as more active character. The last thing is facial express which helps most actors to build their characters because it can show the motion state and personality of a character. I will be in the fearless motion and brave, so I'll react with a face which tells audience that I am ready to do it. I am looking forward to see our scene without script, and I also really want to work on costumes more.

In class writing

My group will have three scenes, and I will be Romeo, Juliet and Nurse in these three scenes because I want to show that how Juliet became to a stronger character. I will play as Romeo in the scene act2 scene2 because in that scrne Romeo is more active than Juliet, so I will move a lot and trying to get close to Juliet. Anothe scene is the one between Juliet and Friar Lawrenece which I will be Juliet to show Juliet's character is becoming stronger, and I will talk so tough and decisive, also I will do Juliet's monologue which she drinks the potion. In that scene I will be more brave, so I won't speak quiet and be nervous, and I will be more fearless and finally drink the potion. The last scene I will be Nurse which is also a female character, and I will also tell Romeo to be a man which is the line showed how weak Romeo is. My character role is about brave and movements on both physically and mentally, and I will also be like a mother person when I am the Nurse.

Scene

Balcony Scene    Act II Scene II

[Enter Romeo Enter Juliet above]

ROMEO

Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon,

Who is already sick and pale with grief

That thou, her maid, art far more fair than she

It is my lady. O, it is my love! 

O, that she knew she were!

JULIET

O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo? 

Deny thy father and refuse thy name, 

ROMEO

I take thee at thy word. 

Henceforth I never will be Romeo. 

JULIET

What man art thou that, thus bescreened in night, 

So stumblest on my counsel ?

How camest thou hither? 

The orchard walls are high and hard to climb,

And the place death , considering who thou art, 

If any of my kinsmen find thee here. 

ROMEO 

stony limits cannot hold love out, 

And what love can do, that dares love attempt . 

Therefore thy kinsmen are no stop to me. 

JULIET 

If they do see thee, they will murder thee. 

ROMEO

Than twenty of their swords. Look thou but sweet, 

And I am proof against their enmity.

JULIET

 I would not for the world they saw thee here. 

ROMEO

let them find me here. 

My life were better ended by their hate 

Than death proroguèd , wanting of thy love. 

JULIET

Thou knowest the mask of night is on my face,

Else would a maiden blush bepaint my cheek 

But farewell compliment .

Dost thou love me? I know thou wilt say “Ay,”

Or, if thou thinkest I am too quickly won, 

I’ll frown and be perverse and say thee nay, 

ROMEO

 Lady, by yonder blessèd moon I vow, 

That tips with silver all these fruit-tree tops—

JULIET

It is too rash, too unadvised , too sudden

May prove a beauteous flower when next we meet. 

Good night, good night. 

ROMEO

 O, wilt thou leave me so unsatisfied?

JULIET

 What satisfaction canst thou have tonight?

ROMEO 

Th’ exchange of thy love’s faithful vow for mine. 

JULIET

 I gave thee mine before thou didst request it, 

ROMEO 

Wouldst thou withdraw it? For what purpose, love? 

JULIET 

My bounty is as boundless as the sea, 

My love as deep.

[ Nurse calls from within]

 I hear some noise within. Dear love, adieu.—

ROMEO

 Sleep dwell upon thine eyes, peace in thy breast.

Act IV Scene I

JULIET O, shut the door, and when thou hast done so, 

Come weep with me, past hope, past care , past help. 

FRIAR LAWRENCE 

O Juliet, I already know thy grief. 

I hear thou must, and nothing may prorogue it, 

On Thursday next be married to this County. 

JULIET Tell me not, friar, that thou hearest of this, 

Unless thou tell me how I may prevent it. 

Do thou but call my resolution wise, 

And with this knife I’ll help it presently. 

< She shows him her knife. > 

FRIAR LAWRENCE 

Hold , daughter, I do spy a kind of hope,

If, rather than to marry County Paris, 

Thou hast the strength of will to < slay > thyself,

Then is it likely thou wilt undertake 

A thing like death to chide away this shame, 

JULIET

 O, bid me leap, rather than marry Paris, 

From off the battlements of any tower, 

FRIAR LAWRENCE 

Hold, then. 

Go home; give consent To marry Paris. 

Tomorrow night look that thou lie alone; 

< Holding out a vial. > 

Take thou this vial, being then in bed, 

And this distilling liquor drink thou off; 

When presently through all thy veins shall run 

A cold and drowsy humor; for no pulse 

JULIET Give me, give me! O, tell not me of fear! 

FRIAR LAWRENCE , 

< giving Juliet the vial > 

Hold, get you gone. Be strong and prosperous 

In this resolve. I’ll send a friar with speed 

To Mantua with my letters to thy lord. 

JULIET Love give me strength, and strength shall help afford . 

Farewell, dear father. 

[FRIAR LAWRENCE exits]

JULIET 

< She takes out the vial. > 

What if this mixture do not work at all? 

Shall I be married then tomorrow morning? 

 < She takes out her knife and puts it down beside her. > 

No, no, this shall forbid it. Lie thou there. 

 What if it be a poison which the Friar 

 Subtly hath ministered to have medead, 

 Lest in this marriage he should be dishonored 

 Because he married me before to Romeo? 

I fear it is. And yet methinks it should not , 

For he hath still been tried a holy man. 

 How if, when I am laid into the tomb, 

 I wake before the time that Romeo 

 Come to redeem me? 

Romeo, Romeo, Romeo! Here’s drink. I drink to 

thee.

 < She drinks and falls upon her bed within the curtains. >

Act III Scene III

FRIAR LAWRENCE

Romeo, come forth; come forth, thou fearful man

Affliction is enamored of thy parts

And thou art wedded to calamity

< Enter Romeo. >

ROMEO

Father, what news? What is the Prince’s doom ?

FRIAR LAWRENCE

A gentler judgment vanished from his lips:

Not body’s death, but body’s banishment.

ROMEO

Ha, banishment? Be merciful, say “death,”

Much more than death. Do not say “banishment.”

FRIAR LAWRENCE

Here from Verona art thou banishèd.

Be patient , for the world is broad and wide.

ROMEO

There is no world without Verona walls

Calling death “banishèd,”

Thou cutt’st my head off with a golden ax

And smilest upon the stroke that murders me

FRIAR LAWRENCE

O deadly sin, O rude unthankfulness!

ROMEO

’Tis torture and not mercy. Heaven is here

Where Juliet lives, every unworthy thing may look on her,

But Romeo may not. 

Displant a town, reverse a prince’s doom, 

It helps not, it prevails not. Talk no more. 

FRIAR LAWRENCE

 O, then I see that have no ears. 

ROMEO 

How should they when that wise men have no eyes? 

Thou canst not speak of that thou dost not feel. 

Wert thou as young as I, Juliet thy love, 

Then mightst thou speak, then mightst thou tear thy hair 

And fall upon the ground as I do now, 

< Romeo throws himself down. > 

Taking the measure of an unmade grave. 

[Knock < within. > ]

FRIAR LAWRENCE 

Arise. One knocks. Good Romeo, hide thyself. 

Who knocks so hard? Whence come you? What’s your will? 

NURSE ,

 < within >

Let me come in, and you shall know my errand. 

I come from Lady Juliet. 

FRIAR LAWRENCE

 , < admitting the Nurse > 

Welcome, then. 

< Enter Nurse. >

 NURSE 

O holy friar, O, tell me, holy friar, 

Where’s my lady’s lord? Where’s Romeo? 

FRIAR LAWRENCE 

There on the ground, with his own tears made drunk. 

NURSE 

O, he is even in my mistress’ case , 

Just in her case. 

Blubb’ring and weeping, weeping and blubb’ring.

 Stand up, stand up. Stand an you be a man. 

For Juliet’s sake, for her sake, rise and stand. 

ROMEO , 

< rising up > 

Spakest thou of Juliet? How is it with her? 

Doth my name lodge? Tell me, that I may sack 

The hateful mansion. 

< He draws his dagger. > 

FRIAR LAWRENCE

 Hold thy desperate hand! 

Art thou a man? Thy form cries out thou art. 

Thy tears are womanish; thy wild acts < denote > 

The unreasonable fury of a beast. 

Unseemly woman in a seeming man, 

And ill-beseeming beast in seeming both ! 

What, rouse thee, man! Thy Juliet is alive, 

For whose dear sake thou wast but lately dead : 

Ascend her chamber. Hence and comfort her. 

But look thou stay not till the watch be set, 

For then thou canst not pass to Mantua , 

Where thou shalt live till we can find a time 

To blaze your marriage, reconcile your friends , 

Beg pardon of the Prince, and call thee back 

ROMEO

Do so, and bid my sweet prepare to chide. 

NURSE

Hie you, make haste, for it grows very late. 

< She exits. >

ROMEO

 How well my comfort is revived by this! 

FRIAR LAWRENCE

Go hence, good night Sojourn in Mantua. I’ll find out your man , 

Give me thy hand. ’Tis late. Farewell. 

ROMEO

But that a joy past joy calls out on me, 

It were a grief so brief to part with thee. Farewell. 

[They exit. ]

John 41

Wiebke 54

Taylor 48

Project

1. I want to analysis the fate of Romeo and Juliet, so I am thinking to do three or four short scene to show how they changed and what make it a fate. Act2 Scene2, Act3 Scene 5, Act5 Scene7

2. I want to also find the character role of Frair Lawrenece because he is the character full with unknown and confusions. I want to do the scene between him and Romeo and Juliet especially when he gave ideas and suggestions.

3. The last one I wan to do is how much two family heat each other and how they get peaceful, so I can also improve that people's death are worth. I want to analysis this by doing scenes which what Tubalt do and How nurse and Romeo's friend reacts to their enermy. 

Inevitable Coincidence Q#2

I think this extreme tragedy between Romeo and Juliet was caused by both their situations and all characters' personalities, and I also think this tragedy cannot be avoided. The whole story happened too fast to give readers time to think why decisions were made in the story. I believe that all decisions were made to reflect who the characters are, what situation they were in and their character's fate. Because of the time period difference we cannot completely understand the situation as people who lived in that time period, but we can feel how strong characters' emotion are. This tragedy happened because of those strong emotions and the situation they were in.

Some people might say that if Friar Lawrence's plan worked, this tragedy could be avoided. However, I don't agree with it because if the enmity between Capulet and Montague still exist, they would never let Romeo and Juliet be together which meant the end of the world to them. I truly believe that if these two family force them to apart they will finally choose their own way to be together forever which is suicide. In this book, there are so much foreshadowing of suicide, and all these foreshadowing reflects Romeo and Juliet's extreme personality which caused they made suicide decision. For example, when Friar Lawrence tried to give a solution to help Juliet with the marriage between Paris and her, she showed her decision which is if she cannot be with Romeo she would rather be dead. “Do thou but call my resolution wise, And with this knife I’ll help it presently. (shows him a knife) God joined my heart and Romeo’s, thou our hands”(Act4 Scene1 54-57). Not only Juliet showed her death wish, but also Romeo showed his decision when he knew that he would be banished. “Calling death “banishment,” Thou cutt’st my head off with a golden ax And smilest upon the stroke that murders me”(Act3 Scene3 21-23). As we can see, if they cannot be together, they want to be dead, so no one can stop them anymore. Unfortunately, I cannot see any hope that Romeo and Juliet be together happy and peaceful like a fairy, and their personal belief won't be changed no matter what happens, so this tragedy cannot be avoided.

Situations can also always influence and change people's decisions and emotions, and when people under different emotions they might do things in a more extreme ways. For example, when the Tybalt came to revenge, Romeo began with a great attitude, “Tybalt, the reason that I have to love thee Doth much excuse the appertaining rage To such a greeting”(Act3 Scene1 33-35). However, after Tybalt killed one of his best friend Mercutio, he became too angry to make a smart decision which can avoided him to be banished, but no one can be completely calm in this situation. Another example is that when Juliet was forced to get married with Paris, she drunk potion to make others think she was dead, so she didn't have to marrie Paris, but she was not impulsive even when she heard Romeo's banishment and Tybalt's death. We can see that a extreme situation can force people to make extreme decisions especially when the person reacts so impusively and so often.

When all these characteristics and situations get together, this extreme tragedy happened, even though we do not like this kind of story, we still enjoyed the moments which showed the love between Romeo and Juliet. However, they were two extreme people in many extreme situations, and finally they went to the end. I wish that if there was only one coincidence less, the whole story would be different, but this is the destiny and this is Romeo and Juliet!

The Banishment

http://youtu.be/JfcO-aL9MPI

Questions

Why Romeo did not get the letter?

Who was asked to send the letter and why?

Where were Romeo after he got banishment?

When did Romeo find out that Juliet was died?

How Romeo got the poison?

Why did Romeo killed Tybelet even though he knew he will be in a so bad situation? If you were him, would you do the same thing?

Do you think that Fair Lawrence really want to help them or not? Why? give examples to support your answer.

What would happen if Romeo get the letter, do you think they will be happy together forever?

What would happen if the nurse tell Juliet’s mother what is going on between R and J?

Do you think their lives are valueable or not because two family became peace at the end?

Talk about what kind of love it is which between Romeo and Juliet, and what makes it.

Think about that would the ending be how different if Romeo and Juliet did not die but their family found out?