Though tragedy is evident in the last acts of Romeo and Juliet, from Mercutio’s death to the death of both Romeo and Juliet, there have been many “fairy tale” adaptations of this tale. Most modern adaptations are less violent and the characters rarely, if ever, see tragedy. The basis of two star-crossed lovers can easily be adapted to any situation or plot, further making Shakespeare’s play still evident in modern American society, with correlations to The Notebook, independent films like Charlie Bartlett and even songs, most recently Taylor Swift’s “Love Story.” The play has been used even in film classics like Rebel Without a Cause and the most relatable to the actual tragedy, without being the same story, West Side Story. Though the ladder of these examples did not have a happy ending, and further relaying the tragedy aspect of the original play, the other examples develop a concept that forbidden love can be justified through teenage rebellion.
In the master of teenage rebellion’s film, Rebel Without a Cause, Dean’s character deals with being the new kid in town. In the movie, a rival gang confronts Jim Stark, Dean, and he fights for the love of Judy, or Natalie Wood. The story line takes the same amount of time as that of Romeo and Juliet which displays teenage rebellion and it’s fast paced movement and lifestyle. Though the two lovers did not die tragically in the end, Sal Mineo’s character, Plato, which is to Stark as Mercutio is to Romeo, dies tragically by wearing Stark’s jacket, and getting shot by the police. In Wood’s other tragic film, West Side Story, the correlation of Romeo and Juliet can be most evidently drawn. The tale is basically the same, except in a different time, and they both end in a blood bath; however, in West Side Story it is a gang scuffle instead of suicide, and Maria, (Wood), does not die.
Compared to the older films that deal with the same subject matter, popular culture today has added a “happily ever after” to sugar coat the tragedy, and make the conflict barely seem like a struggle. In Charlie Bartlett, a troublemaker moves into a new school where he is instantly attracted to the principal’s daughter, another tale of unrequited love. Rebellion is a main issue throughout the story line, and a few more characters are associated to Shakespeare’s classics: Murphey is the Mercutio, providing comic relief and sexual innuendo, while the principal, played by Robert Downey Jr. is a protective father, much like Capulet. However, in this story, nobody dies, and no big tragedy is overcome, but the romantic aspect provides the general conflict. Much like this is the film adaptation and the Nicholas Sparks’ novel The Notebook, which ends in a romantically sappy way, also conveys forbidden love, and characters for comic relief.
In Swift’s song, as well as the music video, “Love Story,” she acts as Juliet, and her and her “Romeo” face the same challenges that Romeo and Juliet faced. The video is a period piece, but she changed the ending, making it optimistic, with changes our views on the specific tale over time.
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