Read the dialogue from act i, scene iv of romeo and juliet. romeo: i have a soul of lead so stakes me to the ground i cannot move. which best adapts this dialogue for a modern audience while maintaining the original meaning? a. my leaden soul doth stake me to the ground whence i cannot move. b. i’m so depressed that i feel like my soul’s made of lead and i can’t move. c. my soul, brimming o’er with lead, hast made me so heavy i cannot move. d. i am very tired, i feel like i can’t get up or move from where i’m sitting.

At the beginning of Romeo and Juliet, poor Romeo is depressed. He is sad because a girl named Rosaline does not return his love. 

In Act I, Scene 4, Romeo's friends are attempting to cheer him up by getting him to forget about Rosaline. Romeo will not get over her easily, however. Romeo's friends have come up with a plan: they will crash the party being held by the Capulet family. Romeo is hoping for a glimpse of Rosaline. On the other hands, his friends are just hoping the party will help Romeo forget about her.

On the way to the party, Romeo's cousin Benvolio is discussing how they will dance the night away. Romeo, still upset and sad, is having none of it. He says "he has a soul of lead" that holds him to the ground. He is saying that, because he is so sad, he does not have the heart to dance.

If these lines were to be rewritten for a modern audience, not all of the above options would be correct. Answers A and C can immediately be eliminated. Although they keep the original meaning, they do not use modern phrasing. 

Answers B and D remain. Of the two, Answer D does not contain the meaning found in the original. Romeo is not simply tired; he is depressed and sad. Furthermore, Romeo is not sitting when this line is spoken -- he is walking to the party.

Therefore, only option B best keeps the meaning of the original and rewrites it for a modern audience.