An Essay on "Mademoiselle Juliette"

[Jazzmin]

An Essay on Mademoiselle Juliette

Romeo and Juliet's "randez-vous", their "mots d'amour", their mutual infatuation and fascination - that is all romantic, I do not deny it. Yet... we all know how this story ends, don't we? And when the lovers choose to decease, they are far from well-behaved role models. They are morbidly soulful, Romeo does not learn the truth until it is too late, they are too immagine to imagine life does not end with your first love's death, thus, I do not intend to judge them harshly, all I state for is that their deed is not as heroic as the popculture claims. By their suicides, they perpetrate the grief of their families, not to omit that Romeo and Juliet's sadness would weaken with passing time were they to excogigate for a while; the youngsters have their whole lives before them and they cut the laces of them way too early.

Believe it or not, but Romeos and Juliets still live now, in the 21st century. One Juliet I have recently heard of fortunately did not succeed in killing herself. She attempted to, though.

Adolescent fascination with one's first love is of no condemnation. On the other hand, death, especially suicide, is never jolly. We should not close our eyes to the mischief in order to bear it but for God's sake, let us not glamorize it.

After my little gloomy introduction, it is time to begin with the very interpretation. Don't you worry, Alizée's version of Juliet's situation is lighter and brighter.

Alizée's Juliet is, of course, in love. (How could it be any else? Would we call her "Juliet" then!?) The meaning of her "syndrome de l'amour" is rather clear but it is for the little word "joli" that provokes thoughts. I can see two possible ways to interprete this one. As irony: the love causes much trouble. It meets the resistance of their families and, as I already said, the consequences are not fairly. In the song the line can be a way of laughing off the conventional understanding of the story.

However, it may also refer to the story created not by Shakespeare, yet by Juliet. She is undoubtly clever to notice her life is directed by a man who does not even inhabit in her world. She is not in charge of her own fate, being yet another Shakespearean character. Well, if only her fate were satisfactory! But no, the writer would gladly have her suffer just to receive an interesting play and delights in playing tricks on her.

Why, now it is highest time she played tricks on him. Dear Mr. Shakespeare, thy muse may have sent thee the enlightment yet hast thou asked Miss Capulet what her desire is?

What Juliet desires is "faire la fête, champagne á sabrer coke á décapsuler". She is not fond of loving too much and passing away too young. She, like a great many of her peers, would like to relax after everyday stress. She does not find the orginal drama plot attractive. Feting, in contrary, does not hurt her relatives like suicide or separation would. As long as she does not lose control, why should she not practice "carpe diem"?

As any other human being, she likes to feel good. Substances raising up her mood? Why not! Alcohol lets her have fun, cocaine as well - she takes them then because they are what she needs. Or maybe the "coke" means just that innocent carbonated beverage...

There it comes - Juliet takes over the control. She has decided not to be put in any play. She knows what she wants and wants to be herself.

The song calls the Shakespearean drama a "commedia dell'arte". You know what is going to happen and the characters roles are uncluttered. They all wear conspicuous masks so that you have no problems with recognizing them.

Alizée's lyrics obviously play with the meaning of the word "le drame". Juliet disapproves William's tragedy (a "drama"). Paradoxically, she makes "drama", which means, she causes William's troubles. Double meaning!

My point is not to be an applause to "partying" but rather to show such a lifestyle is a much better option than a tragedy. Miss Juliet does not any harm to anybody by relaxing from time to time. Actually, it might be even beneficial to her mental health. This time, the glorious archetype finally has a chance to be a normal girl.