Some of the scenes in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet are different from the ones in Baz Luhrman's Romeo and Juliet. Luhrman interprets the characters in a way that many readers may not have imagined. The symbolism is modernized and changed from play to movie. Some of the scenes changed are the balcony scene, the Capulet party, Mercutio's death, and the lover's deaths.
One of the most famous scenes in all of Shakespeare's plays is the balcony scene in Romeo and Juliet. The way that Luhrman portrays the balcony scene is very different from what is imagined by the readers. Juliet is not actually on her balcony when she is talking to Romeo. She came down and sat by the fountain. Luhrman cuts out much of the dialogue in this scene, but the dialogue left is acted well. The lines where Shakespeare had incorporated the stage directions were left out because the characters could move around and the backdrops in the movie were more realistic. The actors are placed beside each other to show how close they are to each other. (Like in twenty-four hours you could be that close to someone). The placement of the characters in the pool has a symbolic meaning. Water can mean life and youth, but it can also be a sexual symbol. Both Romeo and Juliet are young, and full of life. The second meaning is also in effect because the pool scene is a romantic scene. The way that Lurhman has modernized the play is quite effective. Although, Romeo and Juliet is supposed to be a warning to the lovers not a love story. The balcony scene is a prime example. In the text where Juliet says ". . . It is too rash, too unadvised, too sudden / Too like the lightening, which doth cease to be." ( Act 2, Scene 2) Shakespeare is sending a warning through Juliet's mouth. In the movie, Juliet's words don't have that warning edge to them. They are just dialogue.
The next scene with some substantial differences is the Capulet's party.
