Romeo and Juliet vs Macbeth

In the first scene of Romeo and Juliet is set out in town, whereas Baz lurhman’s interpretation of Romeo and Juliet it is set out in a petrol station which is also a public place but the main reason this is used as the opening scene is to show that it’s modernised version. In Macbeth the first scene is set out on heath, however in palanski’s 1960 film version is set out on a beach. In both Romeo and Juliet there is violence but of different types.

In Romeo and Juliet the violence is a feud between two families, it is gang related violence whereas in Macbeth two countries are at war, it has control and order unlike Romeo and Juliet.

In both plays the main characters are not seen in scene 1 of the plays however are mentioned and we gain knowledge of the characters through the voice of others. In Romeo and Juliet, Romeo is fist mentioned by his mother, Lady Montague when she says “O where is Romeo? Saw you him today? ” also when lady Montague asks Benvolio where Romeo was he replied that he was up an hour before dawn, walking west of the city and trying to calm his troubled mind, when he saw Romeo in a grove of sycamore.

Benvolio walked towards his friend, but Romeo spotted him and went further into the woods, out of sight.

This shows that he is trying to isolate himself away from everyone. Benvolio knew how Romeo felt so wanted to leave him alone, however lord Montague doesn’t agree that Romeo should be left alone. He tells Benvolio that Romeo is often out in the sycamore grove: “Many a morning hath he there been seen, with tears augmenting the fresh morning dew, adding to clouds more clouds with his deep sighs”. Not only does Romeo wander about, weeping and sighing, he also locks himself in his room and makes it dark.

In Macbeth, Macbeth is first mentioned by the witches, which is not a good sign because in Shakespeare’s day if you are connected to witches in any way its bad. In scene 2, the captain describes Macbeth as “brave” and that his sword is “smoked” with blood. This suggests that Macbeth is a violent and cruel killer. In both plays we can identify that conflict are very close to both Romeo and Macbeth although Macbeth has a greater involvement in it because Romeo isn’t interested in his family feud.

As his father is worriedly talking about him, Romeo appears. Benvolio asks Romeo’s parents to step aside so that he can find out what’s wrong with Romeo. Benvolio promises that if he doesn’t discover what Romeo’s problem is, it won’t be for lack of trying, he says, “I’ll know his grievance, or be much denied” . Benvolio is now seeking out Romeo to find out what’s wrong with him . Though he hasn’t been saying anything to his parents, Romeo is open with his friend.

Benvolio asks questions to Romeo to help the audience find out what’s wrong with him, and Romeo tells him that he is “Out of her favour, where I am in love” Then follows a long discussion of love, during which we find that Romeo is in love. The fact that Romeo confides with Benvolio shows their true relationship . For a moment, it appears that Romeo is tired of talking about love. He asks Benvolio where they are going to have lunch, and then says, “O me! What fray was here? ” But neither food nor fighting can really turn Romeo’s thoughts away from love.

Rather than let Benvolio say anything about the brawl, Romeo says, “Yet tell me not, for I have heard it all. Here’s much to do with hate, but more with love” . In saying, “I have heard it all,” Romeo does not mean that he has heard all about the fight that just took place. He means that he has heard all about fighting in general. And he doesn’t care. Romeos language to benvolio shows his state of mind, he using oxymorons, “feather of lead, bright smoke, cold fire, sick health” this suggests that he has a troubled mind, he is confused and he has a lack of direction doesn’t know what to do this is where benvolio helps him.