Romeo and Juliet

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .The Prologue to Act one. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

"Two households, both alike in dignity
(In fair Verona where we lay our scene),
From ancient grudge break to new mutiny,
Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean.
From forth the fatal loins of these two foes
A pair of star-crossed lovers take their life;
Whose misadventured, piteous overthrows
Doth with their deaths bury their parents' strife.
The fearful passage of their death-marked love,
And the continuance of their parents' rage,
Which, but their children's end, naught could remove,
Is now the two hours' traffic of our stage;
The which, if you with patient ears attend,
What here shall miss, our toil shall strive to mend."

When most people here the title Romeo and Juliet all that comes to mind is a pair of star-crossed lovers that commit suicide for each other. But in fact, there is a lot more to the story.

Plot Synopsis

Act 1

There are these two families that have been feuding for generations, the Montagues and the Capulets. At the opening of the play, yet another fight breaks out in the streets of Verona, started by the servants. Prince Escalus is furious at the two families for disturbing the quiet of the streets, and threatens death for anyone who starts another fight.

In comes Romeo, the son of Lord and Lady Montague. He has a heavy heart. He is in love with Rosaline, who has sworn to remain chaste. Romeo's kinsman and friend, Benvolio, tries to convince Romeo to "examine other beauties" and fall in love with someone else.

In the house of Lord Capulet, Paris, a kinsman to the Prince, is asking to marry Capulet's daughter Juliet. Lord Capulet says that they won't consider suitors for her yet, because she's only 14, but he suggests that Paris woo her in order to win her love. Lord Capulet is holding a party that night, and invites Paris, before sending a servant out with a list of other people to invite. The servant is illiterate.

In the street, the servant runs into Benvolio and Romeo. Not recognizing them as Montagues, he asks them to read the list for him. Romeo obliges, and finds out that Rosaline will be at the feast. Benvolio proposes that they go, and he will show Romeo some other women. Romeo accepts, because he will get to see Rosaline.

Lady Capulet informs her daughter Juliet and her nurse of Paris's intentions towards her. The nurse is very excited, and Juliet is unsure if she will be able to love him. But, she'll "look to like, if looking liking move."

Romeo, Benvolio, and their friend Mercutio (also a kinsman to the Prince) are heading to the Capulet party. Romeo admits that he does not think they should be going, because he had a dream about it. Mercutio goes of on a long tangent about "Queen Mab" to try to lighten his friend's heart, then concludes that dreams are "children of an idle brain, Begot of nothing but vain fantasy". Romeo admits privately that he fears there may be fateful consequences if he goes to the party, but he goes anyway.

At the party, Romeo and Juliet meet and fall in love, not knowing that they are enemies. Tybalt recognizes Romeo as a Montague, and calls for his sword, but Lord Capulet forbids him to fight, as Romeo has behaved himself, and Capulet does not want his party to be disturbed. Both Romeo and Juliet learn who they are in love with as the guests depart.

Act 2

Romeo does not feel he can leave without talking to Juliet again, so he ditches Benvolio and Mercutio, who search for him in vain. Romeo climbs the wall into the Capulet's garden, and overhears Juliet talking about how much she loves him. He climbs up the balcony and they exchange voes of love, and decide to get married the next day.

Romeo runs excitedly to his friend Friar Lawrence early the next morning and tells him all that has happened. The Friar is amazed that Romeo has forgotten Rosaline so quickly, but agrees to marry Romeo and Juliet when he realizes that this might end the feud between the Capulets and Montagues.

Benvolio and Mercutio are still unsure of the whereabouts of Romeo. Benvolio says that Tybalt has sent a formal challenge to Romeo, and they are both certain that Romeo will accept the challenge. Romeo shows up, and engages Mercutio in a bout of wits, which (to everyones surprise,) he wins.

Juliet sends the Nurse to learn the details of her pending marriage with Romeo. Mercutio makes a lot of fun at the lady. Romeo tells the Nurse to send Juliet to Friar Lawrence's, where they will be married. The Nurse relays this to Juliet, and Juliet rushs off. Friar Lawrence marries them.

Act 3

Benvolio and Mercutio are hanging out in the street. Benvolio tries to persuade Mercutio to leave, but he refuses. In comes Tybalt, searching for Romeo. Mercutio and Tybalt don't get along very well, and are about to duel, when Romeo comes in, just married (though no one else knows). Tybalt leaves Mercutio to challenge Romeo. Romeo does not want to fight with his cousin by marriage, and refuses the challenge. Tybalt is furious, and insults Romeo a lot (or in some interpretations, beats him repeatedly over the head...), but he still refuses to fight. Mercutio draws on Tybalt when he sees that his friend won't fight. Tybalt and Mercutio duel, and Romeo comes between them to pull Mercutio away. While Romeo is between the two duelists, Tybalt's sword sinks into Mercutio's breast. The Capulets quickly drag their friend away.

No one seems to realize Mercutio is seriously hurt. "A plague o' both your houses" he curses. Benvolio helps him into a house, and comes out moments later. "O Romeo, Romeo, brave Mercutio is dead". Romeo goes into a rage, and goes after Tybalt, who he challenges, fights, and kills.

Benvolio tells Romeo to flee, and then explains what happened to the Prince. The Prince banishes Romeo from Verona for his part in the fight.

Juliet is waiting for night, when Romeo will come to her. The Nurse runs in, saying that Tybalt is slain and Romeo is banishèd, and Juliet is grief-stricken.

Romeo is hiding out with Friar Lawrence, and is wild with grief. "Banishment? Be merciful, say "death"...'Tis torture, not mercy. Heaven is here where Juliet lives...". The Nurse comes in from Juliet. The Nurse and Friar Lawrence tell him to go comfort Juliet.

Lord Capulet decides that his daughter has been crying so much for her cousin Tybalt, that he needs to try and cheer her up, so he agrees to let Paris marry her next Thursday.

The next morning Romeo and Juliet wake up together, and Romeo reluctantly departs for the nearby town of Mantua, promising to write every day. Juliet's mother after Romeo leaves, and acquaints her daughter with her imminent marriage to Paris. Juliet refuses to be married. Her father gets very angry with her. "An you be mine, I'll give you to my friend. An you be not, hang, beg, starve, die in the streets, For, by my soul, I'll ne'er acknowledge thee..." Her father storms out, closely followed by her mother. The Nurse advises Juliet to marry Paris and forget all about Romeo. Juliet goes to Friar Lawrence's.

Act 4

Juliet runs into Paris at Friar Lawrence's. Paris reminds her of their coming marriage, then leaves. Juliet threatens to kill herself if Friar Lawrence can not find some way to help her. He gives her a potion that will, when she drinks it, make her go into a deep sleep and make her look dead. She is to take it the night before the wedding. Everyone will think she's dead, and she'll be placed in the family vault. 42 hours later she will awake, and Lawrence and Romeo will be in the vault, and Romeo will take her to Mantua.

Juliet asks the pardon of her father, for disobeying him. When he sees her willingness to marry Paris, he changes the wedding so that it will be the very next day.

Alone, that night, Juliet takes the potion. In the morning when the Nurse comes to rouse her, she finds that Juliet is dead, and everyone is very sad, and they bear her to the vault. Romeo's man, Balthasar, sees Juliet born to the tomb.

Act 5

Balthasar tells Romeo that Juliet is dead. Romeo has not received any letter from Friar Lawrence, and he hastens to an poor apothecary, and buys poison from him. Then he rides back to Verona, followed by Balthasar.

Friar Lawrence learns that his messenger, Friar John, was unable to deliver his letter to Romeo, because he was quarantined. Frightened, Friar Lawrence heads for the Capulet's vault alone.

Romeo arrives at the Capulet's tomb. He tells Balthasar to go away and live a happy life and deliver a letter to his father in the morning. Suspicious, Balthasar remains at the graveyard. Romeo goes into the tomb. Paris is already there, putting flowers on his dead bride. Seeing Romeo, a Montague in the Capulet's tomb. Paris believes Romeo is up to some mischief. He challenges Romeo, and Romeo kills him. Romeo sees Juliet's dead body, kisses her, and takes the posion.

Friar Lawrence comes in, and sees Paris and Romeo dead. Juliet wakes up, and wants to know where Romeo is. Lawrence tries to get her out of the tomb, but she sees Romeo's body. A noise outside suggests that the watch is coming, and Lawrence flees the tomb. Juliet, when she realizes people are coming, stabs herself with Romeo's dagger.

The Watch come in, and seeing the three bodies send for the Prince, Lord Montague, and Lord Capulet. They also arrest the flight of Friar Lawrence and Balthasar.

The Prince, Lord and Lady Capulet, and Lord Montague (Lady Montague just died from grief at her son's banishment) come in. Friar Lawrence explains everything to them, and the Prince demands that the Lords end the feud that has cost him two kinsmen. The Lords shake hands and promise to build golden statues of the couple. Final death count is six: Mercutio, Tybalt, Paris, Romeo, Juliet, and Lady Montague.