Romeo

Juliet

and

Prologue
The chorus introduces the play and establishes the plot that will unfold. They explain how
two families in Verona the Capulets and the Montagues - have reignited an ancient feud,
and how two lovers, one from each family, will commit suicide after becoming entangled in
this conflict. These lovers are Juliet Capulet and Romeo Montague. Only after the suicides
will the families decide to end their feud.
Act One, Scene One
Two Capulet servants Sampson and Gregory loiter on the street, waiting for some
Montague servants to pass. They banter, using sexual innuendo and raunchy puns to joke
about women, and speak with animosity about the Montagues. They lament that the law
prohibits fighting, and wonder how to start a battle legally.
When the Montague servants Abram and Balthasar arrive, Sampson bites his thumb at
them (which is rude but not illegal). Insulted, Abram confronts Sampson and a fight begins.
Benvolio, Romeo's cousin, arrives to discover the fight in progress. Drawing his sword, he
commands them to stop. Then, Tybalt, Juliet's cousin, walks onto the street. Upon seeing his
rival, Benvolio, Tybalt also draws his sword, reigniting the altercation.
Lord Capulet the patriarch of the family arrives at the battle, and demands a sword so that
he might join in. However, Lady Capulet restrains him, even after Lord Montague emerges
ready to fight.
It turns out that the Citizens of the Watch have spread word of the street fight, and Prince
Escalus arrives before anyone is killed. The Prince chides the Montagues and the Capulets for
their mutual aggression, which he believes is making the streets of Verona unsafe. The Prince
then orders everyone to return home and cease hostilities at the risk of great punishment. He
personally accompanies the Capulets home.
The Montagues and Benvolio remain on stage. The family asks Benvolio where Romeo is,
and he tells them that the boy has been in a strange mood lately. When a somber Romeo

finally appears, the Montagues ask Benvolio to determine the cause of his melancholy, after
which they depart.
When Benvolio asks Romeo about the source of his gloom, Romeo explains that he is pining
for a woman named Rosaline, who plans to remain chaste for the rest of her life. This
unrequited love is the cause of Romeo's depression.
Act One, Scene Two
Paris asked Lord Capulet for permission to marry Juliet, but Capulet insists that Paris should
be patient, since Juliet is only thirteen. However, Capulet does grant Paris permission to woo
Juliet and thereby win her approval. Capulet suggests to Paris that he should try to impress
Juliet at a masked ball that the Capulets are hosting that evening. Capulet then hands his
servant Peter a list of names and orders the man to invite everyone on the list to the party.
Out on the streets, Peter runs into Romeo and Benvolio, who are talking about Rosaline. Peter
cannot read, so he asks them to help him interpret the list. Romeo and Benvolio comply, and
upon reading the list, they discover that Rosaline will be at the Capulets' party. They decide to
attend - even though it is a Capulet party, they will be able to disguise their identities by
wearing masks.
Act One, Scene Three
At the Capulet home, Lady Capulet asks the Nurse to call for Juliet. While they await the
girls arrival, the Nurse laments the fact that Juliet will be fourteen in under two weeks. When
Juliet arrives, the Nurse tells a rambling, embarrassing story about how her late husband had
once made an inappropriate sexual joke about Juliet when she was an infant. The Nurse keeps
telling her endless tale until Juliet orders her to stop.
Lady Capulet tells Juliet about Pariss intention to marry her. The mother describes Paris as
beautiful, comparing him to a fine book that only lacks a cover. Juliet does not promise
anything to her mother, but she does agree to study Paris that night.
Act One, Scene Four
Romeo, Benvolio, and their friend Mercutio walk through the streets to the Capulets' party.
Romeo remains depressed over Rosaline, so Mercutio tries to cheer him up with a story about
Queen Mab, a fictitious elf who infiltrates men's dreams. Romeo hushes his friend, admitting
his concern about the attending a party at the home of his rivals.
Act One, Scene Five
At the party, Romeo mopes in the corner, away from the dancing. From this vantage point, he
notices Juliet, and falls in love with her immediately.

Tybalt overhears Romeo asking a servingman about Juliet, and recognizes the masked man's
voice. However, before Tybalt can create a scene, Lord Capulet reminds him of the princes
prohibition of public fighting, and orders the boy to stand down.
Romeo approaches Juliet and touches her hand. They speak together in a sonnet, and Romeo
eventually earns Juliet's permission for a kiss. However, before they can talk further, the
Nurse calls Juliet to see her mother. After Juliet leaves, Romeo asks the Nurse her name, and
is shocked to learn that his new object of desire is a Capulet.
As the party winds down, Juliet asks her Nurse about Romeo. When she learns about
Romeos identity, she is heartbroken to find out that she has fallen in love with a "loathed
enemy" (1.5.138).
Act Two, Introduction
The Chorus explains that Romeo has traded his old desire for a new affection, and that Juliet
has also fallen in love. Though their secret romance puts Romeo and Juliet at risk, their
passion drives them to meet, regardless of the danger.
Act Two, Scene One
Out in the street, Romeo escapes from Mercutio and Benvolio. Mercutio calls to him, using
lots of obscene wordplay. Benvolio finally gets tired of searching for Romeo, and they leave.
Meanwhile, Romeo has succeeded in leaping over the Capulets' garden wall and is hiding
beneath Juliet's balcony. He wants to determine whether her attraction is equal to his own.
She soon appears and delivers her famous soliloquy, asking "Oh Romeo, Romeo, wherefore
art thou Romeo?" (2.1.75). She wishes that Romeos name were different, so that they would
not be enemies. Romeo overhears her speech, which confirms his own feelings. He interrupts
Juliet to confess his own love.
Juliet warns Romeo to speak truthfully, since she has fallen in love with him and does not
want to be hurt. Romeo swears his feelings are genuine, and Juliet laments the fact that she
cannot fall in love with him again. The Nurse calls to Juliet, who disappears momentarily.
She comes back out and insists that if Romeo truly loves her, he should propose marriage and
plan a meeting place for them. The Nurse calls Juliet a second time, and she exits. Romeo is
about to leave when his love emerges yet a third time, and calls him back for some final
words of parting.
Act Two, Scene Two
At the chapel, Friar Laurence is collecting herbs. Romeo arrives and confesses his new love
for Juliet. He asks the Friar to marry them. Though the Friar is surprised that Romeo has

forgotten Rosaline so quickly, he is nonetheless delighted, because Romeo and Juliet's union
presents an opportunity to quell the raging feud between the Montagues and Capulets.
Act Two, Scene Three
Out in the street the next day, Benvolio tells Mercutio that Romeo has not yet returned home.
He also reveals that Tybalt has sent Romeo a threatening message. When Romeo joins them,
Mercutio mocks him, but Romeo matches his wit. Impressed, Mercutio notes,"Now art thou
sociable, now art thou Romeo" (2.3.77).
Juliets Nurse and Peter arrive and ask to speak with Romeo. Mercutio makes sexual jokes
about the Nurse, but eventually exits with Benvolio. The Nurse explains that Juliet will meet
Romeo and marry him. Romeo proposes they meet that afternoon at Friar Laurences chapel.
Act Two, Scene Four
Back in the Capulet orchard, Juliet eagerly awaits news from the Nurse. When the Nurse
eventually arrives, she comically refuses to give Juliet any information about Romeo until she
has received a back rub. Finally, the Nurse tells Juliet about the plan for her to meet Romeo at
Friar Laurences chapel.
Act Two, Scene Five
At the chapel, Romeo and Friar Laurence await Juliets arrival. The Friar cautions Romeo to
"love moderately" (2.5.9). Juliet soon appears, and Friar Laurence brings them into the
church to be married.
Act Three, Scene One
Outside on the Verona street, Benvolio and Mercutio wait around for Romeo to meet them.
Tybalt and Petruccio see them first, and start a quarrel. Tybalt makes it clear that he is looking
for Romeo, whom he wants to punish for sneaking into the Capulets' masked party the
previous day.
When Romeo arrives, overjoyed with his recent marriage, he is deferential to Tybalt, insisting
he harbors no hatred for the Capulet house. Tybalt is unsure how to deal with Romeo.
However, Mercutio challenges Tybalt to a duel, so he draws his sword and attacks Mercutio.
Romeo attempts to intervene, holding Mercutio back. While Romeo is restraining him, Tybalt
stabs Mercutio and then exits quickly.
Mercutio is mortally wounded, and chastises the Montagues and Capulets for encouraging
such violence before allowing Benvolio to lead him offstage. Benvolio soon returns with
news that Mercutio has died. Romeo vows revenge on Tybalt, who soon reappears. Romeo

and Tybalt duel, and Romeo kills Tybalt. He then flees quickly after Benvolio warns him that
the Prince will come soon.
The Prince, followed by the Montague and Capulet families, arrives on the scene. Benvolio
tells him the entire story, but the Prince refuses to hold Romeo blameless. Instead, he
banishes Romeo from Verona, insisting the boy will die if he does not obey.

Act Three, Scene Two

Act Three, Scene Four

At the Capulet household, the elder Capulets and Paris prepare for bed; they have been up all
night mourning Tybalts death. They discuss Juliet's extreme despair which they believe to be
the result of losing her cousin, Tybalt.
Partly because he believes it will assuage her sadness, Lord Capulet decides right then that
Juliet will marry Paris, and that the wedding will take place later that week. He comments, "I
think she will be ruled / In all respects by me" (3.4.13-14). He orders Lady Capulet to inform
Juliet about the matter, and then leaves for bed.

As she waits in her room for Romeo to arrive, Juliet delivers one of the plays most elegant
soliloquies about her beloved. The Nurse enters, distraught and speaking unclearly; Juliet can
only discern that someone has died and that someone has been banished. As she did in the
previous scene, the Nurse refuses to tell Juliet what she knows. Instead, she allows Juliet to
believe that it is Romeo who has been killed.

Act Three, Scene Five

When the Nurse finally reveals the truth, Juliet immediately chides Romeo over his pretense
of peace and contradictory violence. She then recants the accusation, and asks the Nurse,
"Shall I speak ill of him that is my husband?" (3.2.97). Overcome, Juliet laments Romeos
banishment, and claims that she would rather have both her parents killed then see Romeo
suffer such indignity.

Lady Capulet tells Juliet about the plans for her marriage, believing it will cheer her daughter
up. However, Juliet refuses, insisting she would rather marry Romeo Montague than marry
Paris. (Obviously, her mother thinks this simply a rhetorical statement, since Romeo is
Tybalts murderer.)

The Nurse promises to find Romeo whom she knows is hiding with Friar Laurence - and
bring him to Juliet's bed that night. Juliet gives the Nurse a ring for Romeo to wear when he
comes to see her.
Act Three, Scene Three
In the chapel, where Romeo is hiding, Friar Laurence informs the boy about his punishment,
adding that he should be happy that the Prince commuted the death sentence. Romeo
considers banishment a fate worse than death, since it will separate him from his beloved
Juliet. When the Friar tries to console him, Romeo says, "Wert thou as young as I, Juliet thy
love.../ Then mightst thou speak" (3.3.65-68).
The Nurse arrives to find Romeo collapsed on the ground, weeping. She orders him to stand,
but he is so upset that he prepares to stab himself. She snatches away his dagger, and Friar
Laurence begs Romeo to look at the bright side - at least he and Juliet are both still alive. The
Friar then convinces Romeo to visit Juliet that night, and to escape to Mantua in the morning.

The next morning, Romeo and Juliet lie in her bed, pretending the night has not actually
passed. The Nurse arrives with news that Juliets mother is approaching, so Romeo descends
from the balcony and says goodbye.

Then, Lord Capulet enters, and grows furious at her refusal. He calls Juliet "young baggage,"
and demands she prepare for marriage on the upcoming Thursday (3.5.160).
Lady Capulet refuses to intercede for Juliet, and even the Nurse betrays her, insisting that
Paris is a fine gentleman worthy of her hand. Juliet orders the Nurse to leave, and prepares to
visit Friar Laurence for advice. As the Nurse leaves, Juliet calls her, "Ancient damnation!"
(3.5.235).
Act Four, Scene One
At the chapel, Paris speaks to Friar Laurence about his impending wedding to Juliet. Aware of
the complications that will arise from this new match, the Friar is full of misgivings.
Juliet, in search of Romeo, arrives at the chapel and finds Paris there. She is forced to speak
with him, and he behaves arrogantly now that their wedding is set. However, Juliet rebuffs
him with her vague answers, and then finally asks Friar Laurence if she might speak to him
alone. When the Friar assents, Paris is forced to leave.
Friar Laurence proposes a complicated plan to help Juliet reunite with Romeo. The Friar will
give Juliet a special potion that will effectively kill her for 48 hours; she will exhibit no signs
of life. Following their family tradition, her parents will place her body in the Capulet vault.
Meanwhile, Friar Laurence will send a letter to Romeo, instructing him of the plan so that the

boy can meet Juliet in the tomb and then lead her away from Verona. Juliet approves of the
plan.

Friar Laurence realizes that this new wrinkle derails his plan, so he immediately orders a
crowbar so that he can rescue Juliet from the Capulet tomb.

Act Four, Scene Two

Happy to know that she will be reunited with Romeo, Juliet returns home and apologizes to
her father for her disobedience. He pardons her, and instructs her to prepare her clothes for
the wedding, which is now going to happen the next day. Lord Capulet then sets out to find
Paris to deliver the good news about Juliet's change of heart.
Act Four, Scene Three
Juliet convinces Lady Capulet and the Nurse to let her sleep alone that night. Juliet keeps a
knife nearby in case the potion should fail. She then drinks the Friar's potion and falls to her
bed, motionless.
Act Four, Scene Four
When the Nurse arrives to fetch Juliet the next morning, she finds the young girl's lifeless
body. Lady Capulet soon follows, and is understandably devastated over her daughter's
apparent suicide. When Lord Capulet finds out his daughter is dead, he orders the the
wedding music to shift into funeral dirges. The grieving family prepares to move Juliet's body
to the Capulet tomb as soon as possible.
Act Five, Scene One
Romeo wanders the streets of Mantua, mulling over a dream he had the night before where
Juliet was dead. Then, Balthasar arrives from Verona with the news of Juliet's apparent
suicide.
Romeo immediately orders Balthasar to prepare a horse so he can rush to Verona and see
Juliet's body. Meanwhile, he writes a letter for Balthasar to give to Lord Montague,
explaining the situation. Finally, before he leaves Mantua, Romeo buys some poison from a
poor Apothecary.

Act Five, Scene Two

Back in Verona, Friar John, who was supposed to deliver the letter to Romeo telling him
about the plan, apologizes to Friar Laurence for his inability to complete the task. Apparently,
during his journey, some people believed that Friar John carried the pestilence (the plague)
and locked him in a house.

Act Five, Scene Three

Mournful Paris and his Page stand guard at Juliets tomb so that no one will rob the vault.
Romeo and Balthasar arrive, and Paris tries to restrain Romeo, who is focused on breaking
into the tomb. Paris recognizes Romeo as the man who killed Tybalt, and believes that he has
come to desecrate Juliet's corpse. Their argument escalates into a sword fight, and Romeo
kills Paris. Paris' Page rushes away to fetch the City Watchmen.
Romeo opens the tomb and finds Juliet's body. Understandably devastated, he sits next to his
beloved and drinks the Apothecarys poison, kisses Juliet, and then dies. Meanwhile, Friar
Laurence arrives at the Capulet tomb to find Pariss body outside the door.
As planned, the potion wears off and Juliet awakens in the tomb, finding Romeo's dead body
beside her. When she sees the poison, she realizes what has happened. She kisses Romeo in
hopes that the poison will kill her as well, but it doesn't work. From outside the tomb, Friar
Laurence begs Juliet to exit the vault and flee, but she chooses to kill herself with Romeos
dagger.
Soon thereafter, Prince Escalus arrives, accompanied by the City Watchmen and the
patriarchs of the feuding families. Lord Montague announces that Lady Montague has died
from a broken heart as a result of Romeo's banishment. Friar Laurence then explains what has
happened to Romeo and Juliet, and Balthasar gives the Prince the letter from Romeo, which
confirms the Friar's tale.

To make amends for Juliet's death, Lord Montague promises to erect a golden statue
of her for all of Verona to admire. Not to be outdone, Capulet promises to do the same
for Romeo. The Prince ends the play by celebrating the end of the feud, but lamenting
the deaths of the young lovers, claiming, "For never was a story of more woe / Than
this of Juliet and her Romeo" (5.3.308-9).