Romeo and Juliet

Romeo and Juliet is a famous play by William Shakespeare concerning the fate of two young lovers.

Plot

The play begins with a 14-line prologue in the form of a sonnet. The chorus explains to the audience that the story concerns two noble families of Verona, the Montagues and the Capulets, that have feuded for generations. The chorus also tells how "from forth the fatal loins of these two foes/A pair of star-cross'd lovers take their life," and how the tragic suicide of the lovers " their parents' strife," ending the conflict.

Related Topics:
Prologue - Sonnet - Verona - Feuded

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Act I

The action starts with a typical street-brawl between the two families, started by their servants and put down by the Prince of Verona. The Prince declares that the heads of the two families (known simply as "Montague" and "Capulet") will be held personally accountable (with their lives) for any further breach of the peace, and disperses the crowd.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Paris, a young nobleman, talks to Capulet about marrying his thirteen-year-old daughter Juliet. Capulet demurs, citing the girl's tender years: "My child is yet a stranger in the world; She hath not seen the change of fourteen years." Paris persists, arguing "Younger than she are happy mothers made." Capulet invites him to attract the attention of Juliet during a masquerade ball that the family is to hold a day later. Meanwhile Juliet's mother tries to persuade her young daughter to accept Paris's wooing during their coming ball. The question of Juliet's age is again raised, as her mother, echoing Paris, declares, "younger than you / Here in Verona, ladies of esteem / Are made already mothers." Juliet does not want Paris, but, being a dutiful daughter, accedes to her mother's wishes. This scene also introduces Juliet's nurse, the comic relief of the play, who recounts a bawdy anecdote about Juliet at great length and with much repetition.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In the meantime, Montague and his wife fret to their nephew about their son Romeo, who has long been moping for reasons unknown to them. Benvolio promises Montague that he will try to determine the cause. Benvolio queries Romeo and finds that his melancholy has its roots in his unrequited love for Capulet's niece, a girl named Rosaline (an unseen character). Romeo is infatuated but laments that she will not "ope her lap to saint-seducing gold." Benvolio tries to snap Romeo out of his dark mood, to no avail: despite the good-natured taunts of his fellows, including the witty nobleman Mercutio, Romeo resolves to attend the masque at the Capulet house, relying on not being spotted in his costume, in the hopes of meeting up with Rosaline.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Romeo attends the ball as planned, but he does not see Rosaline and falls instead for Juliet. Tybalt, Juliet's hot-blooded cousin, recognizes Romeo under his disguise and calls for his sword. Capulet, however, speaks kindly of Romeo and, having resolved that his family will not be first to violate the Prince's decree, sternly forbids Tybalt from confronting Romeo. Tybalt stalks off in a huff. Before the ball ends, the Nurse identifies Juliet for Romeo, and (separately) identifies Romeo for Juliet.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Act II

:But, soft! what light through yonder window breaks? It is the East and Juliet is the Sun. - Romeo, Act II, scene ii

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Emboldened, Romeo risks his life by remaining on the Capulet estate after the party breaks up, to catch another glimpse of Juliet at her room, and in the famous balcony scene, the two eloquently declare their love for each other. The young lovers decide to marry without informing their parents, because they would undoubtedly disallow it due to the planned union between Paris and Juliet.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Juliet sends the nurse to find Romeo. Accompanied by one Peter, who carries her fan, the nurse exchanges some spicy raillery with the bawdy Mercutio.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

With the help of Juliet's Nurse and the Franciscan priest Friar Lawrence, the two are wedded the next day. Friar Lawrence performs the ceremony, hoping to bring the two families to peace with each other through their mutual union.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Act III

:O, I am fortune's fool! - Romeo, Act III, scene i

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Things take a darker turn in the next Act. Tybalt, still smarting from the incident at the Capulets' ball, meets up with Romeo and attempts to provoke a sword fight. Romeo refuses to fight Tybalt because they are now kinsmen - although Tybalt doesn't know it, as he doesn't yet know that Romeo has married Juliet. Mercutio, who is also unaware of the marriage, is incensed by Tybalt's insolence - and Romeo's seeming indifference - and takes up the challenge himself. In the ensuing swordplay, Romeo attempts to allay Mercutio's anger, momentarily placing his arm around him. By doing so, however, Romeo inadvertently allows Mercutio to be fatally wounded by Tybalt. Mercutio dies, wishing "a plague on both your houses." Romeo, in his anger, slays Tybalt. Although under the Prince of Verona's proclamation Romeo (and Montague and Capulet, as well) would be subject to the death penalty, the Prince instead fines the head of each house, and reduces Romeo's punishment to exile in recognition that Tybalt had killed Mercutio, who had not only been Romeo's friend but a relative of the Prince. Romeo flees to Mantua after spending a final night with Juliet.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Just after Romeo leaves Juliet's bedroom unseen, Capulet breaks the news to his daughter Juliet that he has agreed to fix the date of Paris and Juliet's wedding as three days hence. Unwilling to enter this arranged marriage, Juliet throws a tantrum, telling her parents that she will not marry, and when she does, "it shall be Romeo, whom you know I hate." Capulet flies into a rage.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Act IV

:Romeo, I come! this do I drink to thee. - Juliet, Act IV, scene iii

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Friar Lawrence, a dabbler in herbal medicines and potions, gives Juliet a potion and a plan: the potion will put her in a death-like coma for two and forty hours; she is to take it before her marriage day, and when discovered dead, she will be laid in the family crypt. Meanwhile, the Friar will send a messenger to inform Romeo, so that he can rejoin her when she awakes. The two can then leave for Mantua and live happily ever after. Juliet takes the potion, and things proceed as planned.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Act V

:See, what a scourge is laid upon your hate,

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

:That heaven finds means to kill your joys with love. - Prince, Act V, scene iii

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Unfortunately, the Friar's messenger is unable to reach Romeo due to Mantua being under quarantine, and Romeo learns only of Juliet's supposed "death" through a family servant (An interesting inconsistency in the story. How did the servant get back into Mantua if he saw Juliet's "funeral"?). Grief-stricken, he buys some strong poison, returns to Verona in secret, and proceeds to the Capulets' crypt, determined to join Juliet in death. Upon arrival he encounters Paris, who has also come to mourn privately for his lost love. After killing Paris in a duel, Romeo drinks the poison after seeing Juliet one last time, exclaiming: "O true apothecary! Thy drugs are quick. Thus with a kiss I die.." (Act 5. Scene III)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Friar Laurence then arrives and, entering upon the tomb, find the two bodies of Romeo and Paris, both dead. It is at this point Juliet awakes, and seeing the surrounding death seeks answers. Friar Laurence tells Juliet that:

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

"I hear some noise. Lady, come from that nest

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Of death, contagion, and unnatural sleep:

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

A greater power than we can contradict

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Hath thwarted our intents. Come, come away.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Thy husband in thy bosom there lies dead;

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

And Paris too. Come, I'll dispose of thee

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Among a sisterhood of holy nuns:

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Stay not to question, for the watch is coming;

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Come, go, good Juliet,

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

(There is a noise again (the approaching crowd) )

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

I dare no longer stay."

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Juliet, showing maturity at resolution at this point, knowing all is lost, replies to the Friar's offer "Go, get thee hence, for I will not away." (Act 5. Scene III)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Juliet cannot imagine a rewarding life without Romeo and so she stabs herself fatally with his dagger. The two lovers lie dead by each other's sides, devoted until the last breath of life.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Romeo, Juliet, and Paris are found dead shortly thereafter by a squire, who runs off to alert others. As word spreads throughout Verona about the deaths, the two feuding families and the Prince converge upon the tomb. They are horrified to find Romeo, Juliet, and Paris all lying dead, and Friar Laurence (who has hurried to the crypt but is too late to prevent the tragedy) reveals to them the love and secret marriage of Romeo and Juliet. The feuding families are reconciled by their children's deaths and agree to end their violent feud, as explained by the prologue.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~