Romeo's impulsivity

Romeo is an impulsive character and his actions are influenced by his emotions. A good example of his impulsivity is when he kills Tybalt after Tybalt kills Mercutio, his best friend. “Now, Tybalt, take the villain back again, that late thou gavest me; for Mercutio's soul is but a little way above our heads, staying for thine to keep him company: Either thou, or I, or both, must go with him.”(III, i, 116-120). This quote happens just after Mercutio dies from the fatal stab from Tybalt’s sword and Romeo is furious at the death of his best friend. In his rage he proposes a duel with Tybalt and in his fury he kills Tybalt. This quote is significant as it shows that Romeo is so bound by his emotions that he cannot control himself. Another example of his impulsivity is when he goes to Friar Lawrence and he gives him this advice: “wisely and slow, they stumble that run fast.” The significance of this quote is that Friar Lawrence thinks that Romeo will ruin things if he doesn’t take it slow. Shakespeare uses a technique called foreshadowing, in this instance to show the reader that something tragic is going to happen to Romeo and Juliet.

Respect your elders!

The family elders in the Capulet household are supreme. Tybalt learns this at the party when he is verbally abused by Capulet for saying that he should start a fight with Romeo. “this trick may chance to scathe you, I know what. You must contray me!...Be quiet, or… for shame, I’ll make you quiet what!" This quote is significant in that it makes Tybalt very angry to just sit and watch Romeo at a party at his house and he cannot do anything about it, he vows to get his revenge later, “I will withdraw, but this intrusion shall, now seeming sweet, convert to bitt’rest gall.” The Capulet family elders are the most important in the house and hold absolute power.

Benvolio Character Profile

How would you describe this character's personality?
Benvolio is a wise character. He is similar to Romeo in the fact that he is conservative and doesn't try to start fights. He is different from Romeo in the fact that he is not a fool of love. Benvolio is always there for his cousin and on countless occasions he helps keep Romeo stable.
How is this character viewed by other people in the play?
Benvolio is viewed as a wise and kind person who is very knowledgeable.
What relationship does this person have to others in the play?
He has a close relationship to Romeo and he acts similar to a mentor." Tell me in sadness, who is that you love?" (I, i, 190). This quote is showing how much Benvolio helps Romeo through his obsession with Rosaline.
What does this character's main role seem to be?
To help Romeo and act as a friend to him.
Are there any specific themes that you can identify that are linked to this character?
His choice of words and that he is always there for Romeo.

Romeo Character Profile

How would you describe this character's personality?
Romeo is a person who seems to fall in love with the wrong girls, and when he falls; he falls hard. His first love is Rosaline, it is a love which is unrequited."This love I feel, that feel no love in this" (I, i, 172). This quote shows us that Romeo feels helpless when it comes to his love for Rosaline. His love for her is more based on looks then personality and his idea of her. Romeo is a bit of a fool. He is unrealistic and a hopeless romantic. He is very conservative and doesn't really like to fight. He is best friends with Mercutio. During the beginning of the book he is depressed by the thoughts of his unrequited love for Rosaline.
How is this character viewed by other people in the play?
Romeo is viewed as a nice, handsome young man by the citizens of Verona. He is viewed by Benvolio as his foolish cousin and Juliet views him as a handsome young man. Mercutio views him as his conservative best friend. His parents view his as extremely sad. "Shuts up his windows, locks fair daylight out... black and portentous must this humor prove." (I, i, 130-132). The significance of this quote is to demonstrate the link between depression and darkness. This is more important later on when he compares Juliet as 'the light'. He is hated by the Capulets.
What relationship does this person have to others in the play?
He has a very hateful with the Capulets particularly Tybalt. Romeo has an estranged relatioship with his parents. He has a playfully antagonistic relationship with Mercutio. Romeo has a close relationship with Benvolio and his relationship with Juliet is passionate and intense. "It is my lady, O it is my love" (II, ii, 10). This quote is showing the signicicance of Romeo's love for Juliet, he has only known her for a short time and yet he loves her.
What does this character's main role seem to be?
He is one of the central characters, the play doesn't exist without him.
Are there any specific themes that you can identify that are linked to this character?
His character follows the theme that he is a romantic and throughout the play he is identified with love sonnets. "My lips, two blushing pilgrima, ready stand to smooth that rough touch with a tender kiss." (I, v, 94-95). The significance of this quote is that it is one of the many love sonnets that Romeo and Juliet share throughout the play.

Romeo and Juliet diary entry

Dear Diary

I know I shouldn’t have but I did. Diary, I snuck out to Valerie’s party and I met a guy there. He was sweet, kind and gorgeous. But he’s 25. As you know I am 17. He kissed me and it was the most amazing experience of my life. But we can’t be together. My parents found out that I kissed a 25 year old guy and they said that if I ever see him again they’ll disown me. Diary I don’t know what to do! He is only 8 years older, its not that much. My parents are 10 years apart, For Christ's sake! I think I love him but I don’t know if I should risk upsetting my parents. Oh Diary! Why is life and love so difficult!

Taylor Swift's - Love Story, discussing its relavance to Romeo and Juliet

Outline the subject matter of the poem?

The subject matter of this poem is that a young girl falls in love with a boy and her parents are forcing them apart. After much pleading on the boy’s behalf the parents, especially the dad, give in and let them get married.

Why is the poem entitled “Love Story”? Use evidence from the lyrics to support the titles significance and relevance.

It is titled “Love Story” because it is the story of love between two characters. “I talked to your dad, you'll pick out a white dress. It's a love story, baby, just say yes”.

Describe the relationship between the two characters. Who are they?

They are people who met at a party and they fall in love. Her dad is making him stay away but they sneak out. I guess you could say they have a secretive relationship.

What evidence is there to suggest that these lovers have to overcome obstacles in their relationship?

The dad is forcing them to be apart. “And my daddy said stay away from Juliet”. But they met secretively. “This love is difficult, but it's real”.

What themes and issues are explored in the lyrics and through the video clip?

The difficulty of love and how parents can effect the relationship.

How does the “Love story” end for Romeo and Juliet in the song? Is this how it ends for the Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet? Why does Taylor Swift end her song this way? What perspective is she writing from and why would they want the story to end this way?

Taylor Swift is writing it from “Juliet’s” point of view and in “Love Story” it ends with them getting married but in Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet they both die. Taylor Swift most likely ends it this way so that it isn’t a tragedy but a romance.

Femininity in the Devil Wears Prada

In the film The Devil Wears Prada femininity is represented through the use of fashion, attitude and the ability to succeed. It can be clearly seen in two of the films principal characters Miranda Priestly and Nigel. Femininity in the film is portrayed through a range of characters and film techniques, including tilts, pans and camera angles. Miranda represents femininity through fashion, make-up and power where as Nigel represents it through his fashion, personality and behaviour. Nigel is the art director of runway, he looks after the fashion articles and photo- shoots. Miranda is the editor in chief of Runway and she is at the top of the fashion industry. Nigel and Miranda’s jobs are very dissimilar; Miranda is the top of the hierarchy and Nigel rests below her. This one makes Miranda superior to Nigel and two shows the diversity in their jobs.

The film demonstrates that an important part of femininity is a person’s attitude. Nigel is an obvious example of this. He shows femininity through his attitude and personality. Nigel shows femininity through his attitude, especially in the way he talks. An example of this is during the movie he says “wake-up 6!” Which is an insensitive fashion insult because, “size 6 is the new 14”. This demonstrates that Nigel has a judgemental attitude when it comes to fashion and Andy. Another way in which he represents femininity is through his creativity and artistic talent. He is head of the art department at Runway and he organises all of the photo shoots. He adds his flair to the way he dresses the models and the way he organises the artistic area of the magazine. This shows that his dedication towards fashion is feminine.

Miranda represents femininity through her knowledge of the fashion industry and her high fashion clothes and designer cosmetics. This is the reason why she is impressed when Andy changes her wardrobe to become more feminine. Miranda lives for fashion and designer accessories. During the film this is evident when she is explaining to Andy her knowledge of the fashion industry and why she wears her lumpy blue sweater. “That sweater is not just blue, it's not turquoise. It's not lapis. It's actually cerulean… and in 2002, Oscar de la Renta did a collection of cerulean gowns… And then cerulean quickly showed up in the collections of eight different designers… that blue represents millions of dollars and countless jobs and it's sort of comical how you think that you've made a choice that exempts you from the fashion industry.” This quote demonstrates her complete knowledge of fashion and the industry in which she works. If Miranda did not know about the fashion industry she would not be seen as feminine, as the industry in which she works is feminine. She also represents femininity through her clothes and fashion. Many examples of this are strewn throughout the movie, such as; on Andy’s first day at work.

During the film both Nigel and Miranda represent femininity, in similar and different ways. In the film there are very little similarities between Miranda and Nigel however they both share the love of fashion and the sense of belonging they receive from working in the industry. Many differences separate Nigel and Miranda, from her superiority to his inferiority. His femininity is portrayed through his character’s personality and behavior. Examples of this are scatters throughout the film such as; when he says “We have to get to the beauty department, and God knows how long that's going to take.” Miranda’s femininity is reliant upon material items, such as designer accessories, cosmetics and clothes. These material possessions helped Miranda into the position she is in today. Without her accessories and clothes, nobody would have noticed her. These two different types of femininity are vastly different but help make the character’s personas complete. The film techniques in the movie are mainly in favor of Miranda as she is more powerful then Nigel, examples of this include that the camera is tilted up towards Miranda and down towards Nigel when they are together. Miranda is also the most dominant person in the shots. She is the most focused on, everyone else is in the background.

In conclusion femininity in the Devil Wears Prada is represented through many different areas. One way, Miranda’s way, is through high fashion, designer cosmetics and accessories. Another way, Nigel’s way, is through attitude, personality and behavior. A person’s persona. Film techniques and characters help portray these types of femininity throughout the film. The Devil wears Prada is a prime example of how femininity is not just about being a woman.