The play “Romeo and Juliet” is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare, believed to be written in about 1594-1596. The tragedy is set in the Renaissance period in Verona, Italy, involving the fate of two lovers from feuding families. The main themes in the play are love, fate, and violence.
To summarise the play, another battle breaks out on the streets of Verona between the Montague and Capulet families. The constant battling of the two families disturbs the citizens of Verona so to act, Prince Escalus threatens the families by punishment of death if they are to ever disrupt the peace of the city again. After the battle, Romeo Montague, the protagonist of the play, runs into his cousin Benvolio and tells him that he is in love with Rosaline, a woman who does not love him. Benvolio tries to convince Romeo to forget about Rosaline and fall in love with a more beautiful woman who shares the same feelings as him, but Romeo resists and continues to mope about Rosaline. In the meantime, in the Capulet family, Paris, a relative, is arranged to marry Juliet and Lord Capulet sends a servant to issue invitations to a masquerade which will give Paris and his daughter a chance to get to know one another. Juliet discusses the arranged marriage with her mother, Lady Capulet, and tells her that she hasn’t even considered marriage yet but agrees that she’ll look at Paris and doesn’t rule out the possibility that she could potentially fall in love with him. Whilst discussing Rosaline, Romeo and Benvolio cross paths with Lord Capulet’s servant. Benvolio tells Romeo that they should attend the feast, as it would be a good opportunity for Romeo to forget about Rosaline and find a new woman. Romeo is reluctant to attend the party, but agrees to go with Benvolio, only because Rosaline’s name is on the guest list. Later that night, Benvolio and Romeo arrive at the party with their friend, Mercutio and Romeo spots Juliet from across the room. He instantly forgets about Rosaline and falls in love with her – not even knowing her name nor that she is the daughter of Capulet, Montague’s sworn enemy. Whilst Romeo is staring at Juliet, Tybalt, the cousin of Juliet, recognizes him and prepares to attack the Montague but Lord Capulet holds him back. Romeo and Juliet speak to each other at the party and kiss. Soon, they both find out that they are from feuding families and are equally distraught. As Benvolio, Mercutio, and Romeo leave the Capulet estate, Romeo jumps over a wall and leaps into the garden, only to see that Juliet is standing on her balcony above. They call out to one another and agree that they are in love and want to get married. Romeo discusses this decision with Friar Lawrence, who then agrees to marry the pair in secret the following day, as he believes that the new marriage may stop the constant quarrels between the families. The following day, the teenagers get married in Friar Lawrence’s church. Juliet’s nurse, who is aware of the secret plan, arranges for a ladder to get sent from the garden to the balcony, to allow Romeo a way to get in to spend his wedding night with Juliet. The next day, Mercutio, Benvolio, and Romeo encounter Tybalt Capulet – a skilled swordsman. Tybalt is still enraged at Romeo’s attendance at the Capulet masquerade, so he challenges him to a duel. Romeo refuses to fight Tybalt, as he just married his cousin the previous day, but Mercutio challenges Tybalt to a duel, still unaware of the new marriage. Romeo then tries to break up the fight, but Tybalt manages to stab Mercutio by striking underneath his arm and kills him. Romeo then kills Tybalt in rage at his friend’s death and is banished from Verona for his crime by the Prince. Juliet is then told by her father that due to the recent events, that she shall marry Paris in three days. Juliet feels unsure and goes to the nurse for advice. The nurse counsels Juliet to act as if Romeo were dead and just marry Paris, as he is a better match anyway. In disgust with the nurse’s advice, she visits Friar Lawrence, who creates a plan that allows the couple to live together without their family’s constant rivalry and battle. The plan was that before her wedding night, Juliet would drink a potion which would make her appear to be dead. Then, her family would lay her in the family crypt and the Friar and Romeo would rescue her. To alert Romeo to the plan, one of Friar Lawrence’s acquaintances is called upon to deliver a secret message to Romeo.
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