Gnomeo and Juliet Compared to Romeo and Juliet

"Romeo and Juliet," a tragic play written by William Shakespeare, tells the story of two teenage lovers who get caught in the clash of their family's ongoing conflict. Despite the devastation of this play, a British-American animated film titled, “Gnomeo and Juliet,” tells a lighthearted and simplified version of Shakespeare’s famous play. One of the most famous scenes in literature takes place in “Romeo and Juliet,” as the two are seen on a balcony, passionately declaring their unconditional love for each other, as well as their desire to marry. In the animated-remake, "Gnomeo and Juliet" takes an interesting approach in showcasing Shakespeare’s famous balcony scene. In the original play, the language expressed to one another is very complex, surreal, and passionate; however, in the animated remake, “Gnomeo and Juliet,” the language is simplified, childlike, and displays a more innocent theme.

The setting is also significantly different. As Shakespeare’s balcony scene takes place in the city of Verona in the early 1600s, “Gnomeo and Juliet” appears to take place in a modern-day garden. Although these are noticeably diverse, the most significant difference in the two scenes is the emotions showcased by the characters. Shakespeare’s version exemplifies the love between the two teenagers as an ecstatic and overpowering need to be together, where the animated remake, “Gnomeo and Juliet,” lacks the intense passion and the overwhelming love the two share. Although “Gnomeo and Juliet” displays a much simpler approach to Shakespeare’s film, the traits of the characters are quite similar. For example, in the original play, Romeo is portrayed as being quite impulsive and immature.

In “Gnomeo and Juliet,” Romeo is also portrayed as impulsive and immature. These characteristics are shown in the animated film when Gnomeo appears to accidentally flip on a switch, followed by a vibrant light-show in the garden. Another similarity between the original play and the animated remake is the unnecessary and ongoing conflict between the two families. In Romeo and Juliet, the conflict displayed between two families, the Capulets and the Montagues. In “Gnomeo and Juliet,” the conflict is also displayed by two families. Although the animated film creates a more innocent and simplified version of the conflict, the overall message is similar: the conflict is unnecessary and ongoing.

Conclusion 

In conclusion, “Gnomeo and Juliet”’s approach to Shakespeare’s famous balcony scene is lighthearted and entertaining, yet lacks the deep emotions and unconditional love that the original displays. Since “Gnomeo and Juliet” is an animated film created for children, Shakespeare’s incredible language lacks greatly. Although there are significant differences in the two, the characteristics and the overall message of the story are similar.  

Research Paper FAQ

What stories are similar to Romeo and Juliet?

Some of the stories similar to Romeo and Juliet are Daz 4 Zoe by Robert Swindells, Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte, and Noughts and Crosses by Malorie Blackman. Most of these books describe the loves that were not meant to be or ended up tragically.

How do Gnomeo and Juliet relate to Romeo and Juliet?

Gnomeo and Juliet is an animated movie based on Shakespeare’s famous play, Romeo and Juliet. In the play and the film, characters fall in love with each other as soon as they meet. Gnomeo and Juliet is an allusion to the play. It has lots of humor and not as much tragedy, and it is suitable for the young audience.

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