Final Draft

Putting Fate in Your Own Hands

Charlie Swan

Literature and Performance (Sl)

Ms. Guarino

11-14-15

1,998 Words

    “Romeo and Juliet” by William Shakespeare explores the theme of fate and destiny. Throughout the play, Juliet, who once seemed so innocent and naive, develops into a mature, young lady. Towards the end of the play, Juliet is able to determine her own fate and destiny by making her own decisions. The Nurse is a constant character to show the difference in Juliet from the beginning of the scenes to the end. Excerpts from, Act 2 Scene 5 portray how Juliet was amiable and innocent, Act 3 Scene 2 shows the turning point in Juliet’s personality, and Act 3 Scene 5, shows the final transition of Juliet into a woman, who makes her own decisions. Juliet's personality undergoes a significant amount of maturation throughout the scenes of the play;  through our performance we were able to show the maturity level changing in Juliet by her relationship with the Nurse, and the choices made in my performance of her body language and reactions that progresses in the three scenes.

     In the play, my partner played the Nurse to help convey the analysis. The Nurse stayed the same. She is vital to the analysis, because she helps show how Juliet’s personality changes. Juliet, is able to react off her, and therefore by having the Nurse the changes can be seen in Juliet. Towards the end of the excerpts, the Nurse is no longer a mother figure to her, and Juliet’s feelings will start changing towards the Nurse as she becomes more in control of her own life. This happens gradually through the excerpts chosen. In the first one the motherly connection is there, the second one it begins to diminish, and the last except it is totally gone. This power change shows that Juliet is no longer a dependent child.

     During the start of Act 2 Scene 5, Juliet's immaturity level and the way she was not fully devolved was shown through my body language and reactions in my performance. In the beginning of my performance, Juliet was modest and meek. She always respected the Nurse and never went against her. This is an important aspect, because it shows how she was still an adolescent and still honored her elders. In order to portray this, I kept my head down, and was very reliant on the Nurse. I would grab her and let her put her arms around me, while leaning into her. Juliet repeatedly asks the Nurse, “What news?”(2.5, 18)  She confided in the Nurse for the news, which is important, because it portrays how she is not ready to be on her own, yet. To show this urgency and dependency I used a childish, whining voice to beg, like a demanding child who is determined to get what she wants no matter what.  During this scene, Juliet never stands up to the Nurse, she gets upset and angry, but was never cruel. The childish, whining voice was also used when I got mad at the Nurse. During one part of the scene Juliet yelled, “How oddly thou repliest!”(2.5, 63) During this part I stomped my feet and crossed my arms, and my face became all scrunched up. I acted pouty and avoided eye contact with the Nurse during this part of the scene, because if I did make eye contact, it would look as if I was challenging the Nurse. During this scene, Juliet never challenged the Nurse, because the Nurse was a motherly figure to her, who she looked up to and respected. This excerpt grasped the young, naive Juliet, who is still a child in need of a mother figure.

     As the scene progresses Juliet shows subtle transitions in her personality and body language that are a preview into the more complete transition of her becoming a lady, that she will be making later in the play. When the Nurse talked about Romeo, I was often in a dreamy state, gazing off into the distance.  This shows a quieter and more thoughtful Juliet, who reflects upon her love of Romeo. I wanted it to look like I was in a trance. When the Nurse said, “Though his face be better than any man’s,” I immediately blushed and stared in the distance, thinking about my love, Romeo.  (2.5,42) This shows how Juliet lives in her own dreamy world, where everything is perfect between her and Romeo. She is in the young and in love stage, which shows the beginning of her transition into a young woman. This is the period of time where Juliet comes to realize she is not in need of the Nurses love anymore, but Juliet needs Romeo’s love and comfort. This realization is the preview into later scenes, where Juliet pushes the Nurse completely away. This slight transition was depicted towards the end of the excerpt, and shows Juliet’s development.

     Juliet starts to transition into a woman in Act 3 Scene 2, when she becomes more grown up and less dependent on the Nurse. However, she is not yet completely independent.  In the beginning of this scene, I ran to the Nurse and held her hands. I gazed up at her when she was talking, and put a concerned look on my face. This shows how Juliet is not fully developed and still cares about the Nurse’s approval of Romeo. Everything starts to change in this scene when the Nurse says, “Shame come to Romeo.”  This is an important part, because it is the key point in the play where Juliet starts to develop into a woman. In order to see this abrupt shift in personalities , I smack the Nurse's hand away and say, “Shall I speak ill of him that is my husband?”(3.2, 106) I made sure that my tone changed towards the Nurse, which in turn the Nurse reacts to. The Nurse shrinks down and her tone becomes quieter and shaker. This is the power change between the Nurse and Juliet. Juliet becomes more authoritative and the Nurse becomes meek. In order to do this, I added more authority behind my voice, by projecting more and adding more emphasis to words. This made me sound more confident and adult-like.  Also, when she says, “Shame come to Romeo,”  my face becomes red with anger, and I no longer stomp or whine like in the previous scene. (3.2, 98)It’s no longer body motion that shows anger, but more facial expressions. I do not pace or move around, but I contort my face to look sad, mad, happy, etc. This shows a greater maturity level, than stomping my feet. My authoritative voice and facial expressions shows Juliet transforming into a new person.

          In Act 3 Scene 5, Juliet transitions into a woman who decides to take circumstances into her own hands, for better or for worse, which is shown through my actions towards the Nurse by pushing her away, and ignoring her ideas. In this scene, she doesn’t count on the Nurse to make her decisions anymore.  For example, in the end of the scene Juliet proclaims, ”Ancient damnation! O most wicked fiend!”(3.5, 247-248) This is the first time that Juliet challenges the nurse, or even says anything bad about the Nurse. This is significant, because it depicts that Juliet is no longer dependent on the nurse; Juliet is willing to challenge the Nurse's opinions with her own. Juliet develops these opinions, which indicates that she is maturing and no longer needs someone to help her make these big decisions. Even though these decisions may not be the smartest, she makes them by herself, which is an adult characteristic. For instance, she makes the decision to "have the power to die."(3.5, 254-255) She is very sure of this decision, because it is her own. In order to illustrate this, I made sure to project my voice during this part, and got really loud. The anger could be seen on my face. I tried to make my face redder and more scrunched up to depict this anger. Also, to shows this anger I put more emphasis on the lines. I would say some louder than others, so I could get certain lines across to the audience. I put more emphasis on the lines, because it conveys that Juliet is serious about what she is doing. This is important, because it shows that she has gained a newfound confidence, in which she lacked before. She is no longer back and forth with her decisions, but she is sure of herself. This self insurance outlines the analysis of her growing up. Also in order to portray this, I looked off to the distant, at one point, and does not  pace anywhere. I made sure to stay in the same place and stand up straight, so it didn't seem like I was antsy. This also makes it seem like she is confident, and her adult-like nature is able to be seen. She is no longer a kid, who paces back and forward like she was in the previous excerpts of the scenes. The performance of this act was used to show the analysis of Juliet grown up, and her separation from the Nurse. She is a independent woman, who does not take suggestions from anyone, and it learned to make her own decisions.

    The separation from the Nurse continues in this scene, when Juliet puts Romeo before everyone else. Juliet, who was once reliant on the Nurse, now puts all of her love and respect into Romeo. She only wants comfort from Romeo, so when the Nurse tries to pat her head and say, "Marry I will, and this is wisely done," (3.5,247)  I move my head away from the Nurse, and I put my back to her as she leaves. This depicts the separation between the two of them. Juliet is actively pushing the Nurse away, because she does not want the Nurse to help her. By doing this she is Juliet says her monologue which ends with, "If all else fail, myself have the power to die."(3.5,255) She says this, because Juliet is willing to take her life for Romeo. If she can't be with him, then she does not want to be anywhere. The Nurse is no longer her main focus, and she does not care how the Nurse will feel if Juliet takes her own life. The detachment of Juliet and the Nurse represents Juliet becoming her own person. She doesn't need the Nurse to make her decisions, nor does she needs the Nurses comfort. She has learned to do all of these things on her own, like an adult.

          The theme of fate and destiny, which is shown throughout the play changes when I looked at the play in this way. Since Juliet is growing up and making her own decisions she becomes in control over her own destiny. She is no longer held down by the people that she once confided in.  Instead, she is coming into her own, and is able to confide in herself. By doing this, the things that happen to her, are her choice. It is no longer that it is destiny or fate that is doing this to her, yet it is herself doing it. At the end of the play it was her decision to take her life. She is an adult, choosing death.  She made this decision without consolation from her elders. It wasn't anyone's fault she did it, it was her own.  This is what I tried to depict throughout the scenes as a whole. My actions and body language were trying to connect the levels in which Juliet grew up, and tie up to the theme of the play. I think my partner and I did a good job in getting the analysis across to the audience. I was able to have a better understanding and was able to look at the play in a new perspective.  In conclusion, Juliet has matured into a young woman, who is able to defend herself.      

Citations

Shakespeare, William, Barbara A. Mowat, and Paul Werstine. The Tragedy of Romeo And Juliet: Folger Edition. N.p.: Demco Media, 2004. Print.