Dramatic Murders

Dramatic Murders!!!!!!! 

Reported by: Carla WITT and Hannah FLECK 

AP-Verona, Italy: 

Tybalt Capulet, 27,  was brutally murdered last Tuesday by his worst enemy Romeo Montague. What really happened, we will never exactly  know. What we have found out leads us 

to imagine that a terrible fight took place  at Verona beach. Let us remember how a  simple misunderstanding between two  families can become a vicious vendetta.  How Capulet himself said : "This Romeo Montague has officially declared war." 

Love and hate are emotions which are too similar to be ignored. A reliable source told us that Romeo Montague, the suspected murderer, and Juliette Capulet  had been secretly married by Friar  Lawrence last Sunday. Was this the  starting point of this tragic death? Did  Tybalt find out about his cousin's  marriage to Romeo? The love that united the couple may have had for consequence a long lasting peace. But fate deemed otherwise. 

Tybalt's death has caused much pain in  his family as can be understood. "My 

nephew is dead!" cries our Lady Capulet. Since the death, she cries for revenge, 

"for blood of ours shed blood of Montague." At the time of printing, the 

murderer is most certainly far away. The  Prince, who arrived a few minutes after the 

crime, has banished Romeo from Verona:

 

"Leave the city immediately, or else, if he is found, he will be killed!" 

Hurt as he was by  this gratuitous violence, taking this hard  decision rather than executing the young  Montague was perhaps questionable to say the least.  Earlier today Tybalt, who is known by  authorities for his uncontrollable anger, tried  to violently provoke Romeo. During a 

particularly bloody fist fight in which Romeo  refused to defend himself. Mercutio trying to 
defend Romeo was subsequently killed by  Tybalt. Some witnesses report that this was 
an accident, and Tybalt's gun was fired  during the struggle. 

A simple but deadly mistake during a fight  ending in death of another teenager in our 
fair city. This string of violence adds to the long history of a terrible vendetta between 
two very powerful families in Verona.  Benvolio who was one of Mercutio's best 
friends offered to tell us what a good man he  was, "His brave spirit has floated up to 
heaven." 

Romeo, devastated by his friend's death and  consumed with rage did not understand what 
he was doing. What Italian has not been  consumed in a fit of passion whether it be 
love or hate? Overtaken with anger,  remorse, and guilt he did not think twice 
before following Tybalt to find revenge. The  inevitable retribution happened as Romeo 
shot Tybalt in a fit of rage. 


Who is the murderer? And who is the victim? Who is guilty? Who is innocent? In 
a case like this one we cannot say. The facts are simple. But the interpretation is not. 
Considering the violent history of the two  families. What we do know is that at this 
time no one is safe in this city if his name is  Capulet or Montague or even if it is not.
 
The war between these families has just got bloodier and deadly for all.

Murder on Verona Beach

Los Angeles Times

  $ 1,00                                           Thursday, February 2^nd, 2012                                           latines.com                                                     
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Murder on Verona beach 

      When it's hot outside, poeople get angry and hot-blooded. The smallest thing, you get angry. And when you're in the mood to get angry, you find something to get angry about. 

      Indeed today, February 2nd February, there was a fight and someone died.

Around ten o'clock in the evening on Verona Beach, Tybalt Capulet was killed. Tybalt was « quite agressive and quick to draw his sword » according to Benvolio. But why and how Tybalt did die ? 

      « Tybalt hurt Mercutio and it was too late to save him. Romeo was so angry he started screaming. « He's alive and victorious, and Mercutio's dead » . He was fed up of mercy and consideration. And it is his rage that guide his actions... He wanted neither him nor Tybalt to die and go up to Heaven with Mercutio. » says Benvolio.


      Apparently Romeo only wanted to save Mercutio's soul, Benvolio feels bad for Romeo because he is the one who ran into Tybalt, who was angry about the Montagues crashing his family party the other night,


      According to Prince Escalus « Romeo strolled into the middle of a situation, and as things escalated, Tybalt killed Mercutio, Stricken by grief, Romeo promptly challenged Tybalt to a duel and killed him ». Romeo, then, ran away before all of Verona showed up.The prince rules « Romeo won't be killed, but banished from Verona ».


      But the Nurse gives an  interesting detail, Friar Lawrence married Romeo Montague and Juliet Capulet! 
Son and daughter of two enemy families of Verona. This all puts damper on the new marriage. But why did they marry ?


  «  This marriage may be lucky enough to turn the hatred between the families into pure love. » says Friar Lawrence.   

  « I was first afraid that he would lead her into a fool's paradise, it would be an outrageous crime because the girl is so young. But Romeo has a good heart, and I can't imagine him killing anyone without a good reason. Lord, Lord, she was a happy woman. » explained, confidentially, Juliet's nurse.


The nurse and Friar Lawrence were the only people involved in the organisation of this marriage, afraid of the families' reaction and what they would put in place to avoid this union. 

 

$1,00                       THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16^th , 2012                    www.latimes.com

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Dramatic Murders in L.A

Léa Conrath, Hannah Fleck, Carla Witt, Margo Ajazi & Anastasia Gedda 

reporting fom L.A Beach.

A violent conflict erupted between the Montague and the Capulet families in Los Angeles last night.

Summary: 2 dead on each side and one of the murderers is still on the run.

'''I heard the terrific sound of a gun firing. Then blood...blood everywhere ,'' told us nervously a witness.

Last afternoon on a Los Angeles beach and while kids were swimming and eating their ice-creams, Tybalt, Lady Capulet's nephew, deliberately opened fire on young Romeo. Rumours spread all around the city that Romeo got married last Sunday with Juliet Capulet. According to a trusty source, this was the beginning of the feud of yesterday but several members of each family still deny this version of the story.

We are about to conclude that all of this bloodshed started by a misunderstanding: '' Tybalt started the fight before he was killed by Romeo. Romeo spoke to Tybalt politely and told him how silly this argument was. He mentionned that you would not approve of the fight, he said all of this gently and calmly, kneeling down out of respect. But he could not make peace with Tybalt, who was in an angry mood and wouldn't listen to talk about peace. Tybalt and Mercutio began to fight each other fiercely, lunging at one another and dodging each other's blows. Romeo cried out, ''Stop, my friends. Break it up.''. Then he jumped in between them and forced them to put their swords down. But Tybalt reached under Romeo's arm and thrust his sword into brave Mercutio. Then Tybalt fled the scene.'' , stuttered anxiously Benvolio Montague.

Our journal will confirm this version accords with the report of the forensic scientists.

A few hours later, the body of Tybalt Capulet was found, riddled with five bullets.

Peter, the servant of the Capulets, reported how the members of the family were devasted: ''Lady Capulet is definitely shocked by her nephew's death, taht's why I came to speack for her. She wants revenge at the Montagues and that justice must be done. Nevertheless, Mister Capulet told me that he will soon deliver you more information on that subject. As a close member of the Capulets, I think that this murder should be expressly recognised.''

The assassin's murder weapon was dicovered next to the dead body of Tybalt. The investigators informed us that they well and truly found the fingerprints of the presumed suspect: Romeo Montague.

Prince Escalus who is in charge of the investigation expressed: ''He should be charged and punished using strictly lawful methods. After all, he benefits from the right of presumption of innocence and access to a legal representant. In other words, he will be either condemned or released. Now that I interviewed some witnesses, I can say it out loud: Romeo is banished from Verona!''

''Certain clues intend to reinforce the guilt of Romeo. However, the n°1 suspect is still on the run'' , specified our interlocutor.

But where has he run to? We will investigate for you, readers.

During this rough period, we came to listen one of the most unbiased and pacific figure of this city and a close friend for both families: Friar Lawrence.

''In a time of riots and social protests, the police is taking the important responsability of reducing violence in Los Angeles. That means that the use of pressure is necessary during interviews. I hope Romeo will soon give up and cooperate with the police officers. I can say that he certainly murdered Tybalt without knowing what he was doing: he was blinded by his youth. He wanted revenge and as we know, revenge can bring you do stupid things. May God welcome Mercutio and Tybalt, our two loved friends, to the redemption of love. Their souls can now rest in peace.''

Our article finishes on these beautiful and peaceful words: may Romeo hear is council and go himself to the police.

Journalists, are your pens at the ready?

Imagine that you are journalists for the LA Times.

Create an article to be included on the front cover of the LA Times for Thursday 26 January 2012, the day that Tybalt and Mercutio died.

Interview at least 3 of  the following characters: Benvolio, the Nurse, Friar Lawrence, Prince Escalus, Mr. and Mrs. Montague, Mr. and Mrs. Capulet,  Juliette, a police officer, a witness.

Publish your article on this blog!

Be ready to read out your article to the class, and so enact the various interviews!

Write in everyday English, but do feel free to use direct quotes from the original text.

Deadline: 9pm on Wednesday 8 February, 2012.

And, remember, "the pen is mightier than the sword!"

Death and Friendship

Act 3, scene 1

Mercutio
I am hurt.
A plague o' both your houses! I am sped.
Is he gone and hath nothing.

Ask for me tomorrow, and you shall find me a grave man.

Benvolio
Romeo get out of here. The citizens are around, and Tybalt is dead. Don't stand there shocked.The Prince will give you the death penalty if you get caught. So get out of here!

Task
Explain what has happened to make these two men speak so urgently.
Why was it important for the play that Mercutio die.... what were the consequences for both families?

Friar Lawrence (act 2, scene 2):

The sweetest honey is loathsome in his own deliciousness and in the taste confounds the appetite. Therefore love moderately. Love long doth so. Too swift arrives as tardy as too slow.

Task:
Explain what he's saying (eg : who is is talking to and what does he mean?)
React - Think about his words. Do you agree or disagree?

Capulet

Fulgencio Capulet, father of Juliet and Tybalt's uncle, is the patriarch of the Capulet family. He has a comanding character but can also be very friendly.  He is Montague's worst enemy even though they look pretty similar : they are rich but not aristocrates, are approximatively the same age and both have an only child. However, he doesn't have an important place in the story as we rarely see him. We also know that that he believes he know what is best for Juliet and wants to marry her to Paris, he seems to only have good intentions towards his daughter and can be very convivial, such as shown at the scene of the ball. When Tybalt saw Romeo, Capulet tried to calm him and  avoid problems.

How do you find Capulet, do you think he is a "good" character ? Do you have informations to add about him ?

Zhang Francis

Juliet's NURSE

Juliet's Nurse,

            Shakespeare created a loving and powerfull person, she will be Juliet's confidant and a good friend to her all during the play. She raised baby Juliet and now that she is a young woman she's trying to help her grow up in a difficult world. Sometimes the Nurse is maybe to close with the girl who is living a dangerous love, but she understands Juliet. She will be the only one, ecxept Friar Lawrence to know about their forbidden love. The woman has a strong personality and doesn't let anyone get in her way. She will “shou” and express out loud all of her feelings. Suddenly she tries to convince Juliet to marry Paris. Why? She want's her “protegée” to have a good and simple life, and she knows it will be impossible with Roméo. She has always been a Capulet’s servant, but Juliet’s health and happiness, will even make her cross the ligne between the Capulet’s and Montague’s war and she will be traped in this problem until the end of the play. The bond between Juliet and her is very strong, since her birth she’s been proud of her “almost little girl”. Her entire life is devoted to this young girl. She will also be the messenger between Juliet and Romeo, so we can see that the girl has entire faith in her. Even thought sometimes we get the feeling that the Nurse is a happy joking person (sexual methaphore, she encourage Juliet to have fun...) she also have great experience, and has been hurt by life since her husband and daughter have died, Juliet is her only family left so she protects and makes shure that she will have what she wants. What we have to know is that the Nurse is an important caracter, she is a messenger, a confidant and a protective woman in the play. I personnaly think that she is a great nurse, and that she raised Juliet well. I would like to be as couragous and strong as her (without beeing her)! 

Well please tell me what you thought about her and if my commentary was ok?!

Hannah FLECK SPE1

The Nurse.

The Nurse is on the capulet side, she is the personal servant, guardian (and nurse) of Juliet Capulet,

and has been here for her since she was born.

As the primary person to like, she is therefore Juliet's confidante, she is aswell one of the few people, along with Friar Laurence, to be made aware of the magic romance between Romeo and Juliet.

The Nurse is very open with her opinions, advice, and feelings with Juliet. When talking about Paris, she talks like a schoolgirl gossiping about Paris' looks:

 "A man, young lady! Lady, such a man as all the world--why, he's a man of wax."

She is constantly chattering,
some several quotes of the nurse :
pages 45: "No, he's a fine flower, truly, a flower."

pages 47: " Go, girl, look for a man who'll give you happy nights at the end of happy days."

pages 119: "If he says anything against me, I'll humble him, even if he were stronger than he is-"

 When the Nurse suggests that Juliet should forget about Romeo and marry Paris, she loses Juliet's trust and confidence. 

Juliet decides to seek the help of Friar Laurence, thereafter she no longer involves the Nurse in her secret plans. The Nurse plays a critical role in Romeo and Juliet. Her relationship with major characters and her part in the secretive romance of the two lovers causes the play's action to move quickly and in a powerful way.

Do you think that the nurse did the right thing to help romeo and juliet to get married ?

BENARROCH Alicia and OHL Derry

Prince Escalus

Prince Escalus is the ruler of Verona. In the movie he is an officer who judges the Capulet and Montague after the fight between their boys. He doesn't like criminals as we can see on this quote : "Rebellious subjects, enemies to peace, Profaners of this neighbour-stained steel" and he threatens any disturber of peace with death.


He only appears three times in the play.


To my opinion, Prince Escalus is quite important in the movie as he appears as an officer in order to prevent the Capulet and Montague boys from killing each other. For the movie he has a necessary role.
However I think he is useless in the play because he was originally a Prince and Princes don't arrest and judge people, they just sit in their throne and rule the whole country. For me this role has to be played by a troop commander and this would fit perfectly in the movie and make more sense.


Berkand ARI

Benvolio

Benvolio is a member of the Montague family. He is Romeo's cousin and a good and devoted friend to him . He wants Romeo to forget Rosaline. Even though he looks violent he is a peace maker and, at the begining of the play, he stops the fight between the Montagues and Capulets : "Your servants were fighting your ennemy's servants before I got here. I drew my sword to part them"

All along the play he helps and advises Romeo who is depressed and is moping about his sexual life. He's courageous and helpful. : "Be ruled by me. Forget to think of her"

I acted as Benvolio in class, and I liked the fact that he is thoughtful about the other characters in the play, but I regret the fact that  he doesn't appear so much.

I appreciate him because of his kindness . He cares about his friend , Romeo, and he questions him gently and learns that his problem is lovesickness.
Nevertheless , he is often violent but through it he is very affectionate which makes him a likable character.

" You can put out one fire by starting another. A new pain will make the onje you already have seem less. " , Benvolio (act 1, scene 2 )

Tim Guillot and Lea Conrath .

Tybalt

Tybalt is a memeber of the Capulet family : he is Juliette's cousin on her mother's side. He is a very violent charcater, always looking for a fight and has an easy trigger. He hates the Montague family like anyone would hate the devil. He is very protective towards Juliette and aggressive towards Romeo. He is fearless duting fights, arrogant and fahsionable. The pride of the Capulet is of a major importance for him : he is ready to give his life for honor. He always obeys his uncle though. I would not appreciate him as a friend, because of his violent temper and thirst for fight, though he would be a very loyal friend and ready to give his life for you.

Mercutio

Mercutio is Romeo’s best friend. He is kind of the opposite of Romeo : he is definitely not shy and loves partying. Paris, Juliette’s suitor, is very pretentious and Mercutio hates pretentious people. He thinks love is only about the sex and tries to convince Romeo about it. Mercutio is a funny character, he helps Romeo to have fun and focus on something other than the girl he loves. I like this character because he is like us, he is a little childish, loves taking risks and experiments dangerous things (drugs). Mercutio is trying to protect his friend as best as he can, he also dies to save Romeo's honor and life.


                                                                                                     Boussar Manon & Sperandio Tiphaine

What do you think of the Bazz Luhrmann adaptation of Romeo and Juliette?

Do you agree or disagree with the following critics:

1. James Berardinelli 
"Ultimately, no matter how many innovative and unconventional flourishes it applies, the success of any adaptation of a Shakespeare play is determined by two factors: the competence of the director and the ability of the main cast members. Luhrmann, Danes, and DiCaprio place this Romeo and Juliet in capable hands. And, while such a loud, brash interpretation may not go down in cinematic history as the definitive version of the play, hopefully it will open a few eyes and widen the audience willing to venture into any movie bearing the credit "based on the play by William Shakespeare."

2. IMDb User Review
"Danes does a great job playing the flirty Juliet. The movie follows the original script very accurately."

3. The bad reviews
" Baz Luhrmann has made a film that (a) will dismay any lover of Shakespeare, and (b) bore anyone lured into the theater by promise of gang wars, MTV-style."

Open Questions About Juliette

Do you like Juliette in the opening scenes, before she meets Romeo?

What do you think her attitude towards her parents? Should she be more respectful....

Open Questions About Romeo

Do you like Romeo in the opening scenes, before he meets Juliette?

Does he seem strong.. or weak to you? Can you find some quotations that show he is particularly strong.. or weak?

Why do you think Shakespeare chose to present him in such a 'lovesick' manner?

Open Questions About the Nurse and Friar Lawrence

Do the Nurse and Friar Lawrence give good advice?

Can you quote moments when they gave good and bad advice?

Open Questions about Prince Escalus

Did Prince Escalus deal with the Montague-Capulet feud fairly?

What is the role of leaders and of the justice system during such times of trouble?

Can you think of how politicians and leaders in our time haev reacted to riots, gang violence, and social protest?

open questions about Mercutio

 What purpose does Mercutio serve in the play, and how should the audience feel about his death?

Would you like a friend like Mercutio?

Is he really a good friend to Romeo?

Mercutio

Mercutio is a kinsman to the prince and Romeo's close friend.

He's a very funny character! Since the first time he appears in the film he makes us laugh, by wearing a silver dress and high heels. He's friendly even if he seems crazy...

He's an outstanding and interesting character.

He has a lot of imagination but can be quite hotheaded. For example, he doesn't agree with Romeo's vision of love, and isn't scared to say it. He's not romantic at all, for him love is just the affair of one night...

Romy, Zara and Rebecca