A plague on both houses is an infamous quote from Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, uttered in resentment by Mercutio as he dies. Used in a contemporary context, this phrase can underscore the conflict between two factions, and the inevitability of mutual destruction. It's an excellent backdrop for a fanfiction piece focusing on themes of loyalty, love, and loss. This fanfiction will include a mix of revered classics and 21st-century innovation.

Character Development

The first aspect that we need to explore is the character development. We'll be having characters from the original Shakespearean play which includes Romeo, Juliet, and Mercutio. For this fanfiction, these characters have been retold through a modern lens. Romeo is an idealistic lover, Juliet is a teenager torn between her feelings and her family's expectations, and Mercutio is Romeo's best friend who got caught in the crossfire.

Character development will focus also on inner evolution instead of the external circumstances that precipitate it. By emphasizing this internal perspective, stories can offer deeper insight into the characters and create a more immersive experience for the reader.

Setting

This fanfiction is set in a dystopian future where two powerful corporations akin to the Montagues and Capulets wage war. They vie for control over resources and territorial power. Our characters are positioned within this corporate warfare, navigating through corporate espionage and treacherous alliances.

The use of such a setting not only creates narrative tension but also heightens drama by placing characters in precarious circumstances. This setting creates an environment ripe for plot twists and character conflict.

Structure

Taking a leaf from Shakespearean plays, this fanfiction will rely on a five-act structure. This structure will allow for exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution. This structure will maintain the tradition of the original work while providing room for creative interpretation.

While the structure remains intact, the freedom to tell the story in a nonlinear fashion will add another layer of complexity. Various story arcs intertwined will result in intense climaxes and resolutions that build on each other, adding a fresh spin.

Language and Styling

This story will combine the original Shakespearean language with modern English. The fusion of these two extremes will showcase the timelessness of Shakespeare's work while making it accessible and engaging for present-day readers. The challenge lies in keeping the emotion and intent of the original text intact while modernizing the complicated phrasing and unusual word order that can deter modern readers.

Embracing Technology: Website

this fanfiction will be launched on an innovative platform like Wattpad, a popular website and app for writers to publish new user-generated stories. It aims to create social communities around stories for both amateur and established writers.

Wattpad provides not only a platform to write and read stories but also to interact with other readers and writers. Writing is shared in a serialized format, with the option for writers to update their stories piece-by-piece rather than having to wait until they have finished an entire novel.

Q&A

1. Why use a mix of Old and Modern English? A. To combine the richness and depth of Shakespeare's dialogues and make it easily accessible and relatable for modern readers. 2. Why a Dystopian Future? A. This backdrop adds to the dramatic conflict and emphasizes the theme from the original play, i.e., rivalry between two factions leading to destruction. 3. Why Wattpad? A. Wattpad allows not only for the publication of a story but also interaction with readers. It's a platform where the story can constantly evolve depending on reader feedback.

Conclusion

A plague on both houses fanfiction maintains the essence of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet while incorporating elements of modern storytelling. By retaining crucial elements from the source and yet bringing forth new perspectives, this piece reimagines the Romeo-Juliet saga through a futuristic lens. A unique and captivating fanfiction piece that stands testament to the timeless theme from the original - 'A plague on both houses.'

References

1. Shakespeare, W. (1597) Romeo and Juliet. London: Thomas Creede.

2. Wattpad Corp. (2022). Website and app information. Retrieved from www.wattpad.com.

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