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.