ROMEO AND JULIET

Shakespeare's most famous play, begins with a Prologue explaining that the children of
two feuding families, Romeo of the Montague family and Juliet of the Capulet family, will
both love and die in the course of this play. The action begins with Sampson and Gregory,
servants to the Capulets and Abraham and Balthasar, servants to the Montagues, start a
street fight, which is joined by Benvolio (Montague) and Tybalt (Capulet). Escalus, the
Prince of Verona declares a death penalty for further feuding between the two families.
Meanwhile Capulet (Juliet's father) is keen for Paris to marry his daughter and plans a
party, Romeo and friends deciding to turn up uninvited.

At the Capulet party, Romeo disguised by a mask, falls in love with Juliet, both quickly
learning that they are the enemies of each other's family.
Ignoring the danger, Romeo climbs Capulet's wall to be see Juliet. They admit their love
for one another and decide to marry. Friar Laurence agrees to marry the two lovers
since he hopes this will end the long running feud. The wedding is set for later that day.
The Nurse brings Romeo ropes, allowing him to climb into Juliet’s bedchamber later that
night. The two lovers marry.

Benvolio and Mercutio (Montague) meet Tybalt (Capulet). Tybalt kills Mercutio, Romeo
then killing Tybalt and becoming banished from Verona. Juliet learns of Tybalt's death
and is upset by her husband's banishment. Capulet, unaware of the marriage, decides
that his daughter should marry Paris on Thursday. The two lovers spend the night
together. Juliet, learning that she is to marry Paris, tries to fight her father's wishes,
failing. She decides to commit suicide if all else fails.

Friar Laurence tells Juliet to take a potion making her appear dead, allowing her to run
away to Romeo. Hearing that his daughter no longer opposes the wedding, Capulet,
decides to move the wedding forward. It will now be on Wednesday. Juliet takes the
potion. Capulet, hearing Paris' arrival, tells the Nurse to wake his daughter and she
discovers Juliet is dead. The wedding preparations are changed to those of a funeral.

In Mantua, Romeo learning of his wife's death, decides to risk his life by returning to
Verona to see her one last time. He also buys some poison. Friar Laurence's letter,
telling Romeo that his wife is not dead does not reach him. Friar Laurence heads off to
the Capulet burial chamber where Juliet will soon awake. Paris mourns his bride that
never was. Romeo arrives, opening his lover's coffin to look at her one last time, Paris
then attacking him, believing he is there to scorn the Capulet family.Romeo kills Paris,
placing him beside his wife and then takes his poison, kissing his wife, then dying. Friar
Laurence arrives too late to stop the suicide. Juliet, now awake, asks for her husband.
Now alone, she kisses her husband and stabs herself, dying. Escalus, the Capulets and
the Montagues arrive, Balthasar and Friar Laurence explaining all. Escalus scolds the two
families who finally end their feud. The play ends with the Prince summarising this tragic
love story.