Romeo and Juliet | Love Story | @EnglishFairyTales

Summary

In Verona, the Montagues and Capulets are locked in a bitter feud. Prince Escalus warns that another public brawl will bring harsh punishment, while Friar Lawrence hopes the families—and the whole town—might someday put their hatred aside.

Romeo Montague is initially heartbroken over Rosaline, who has chosen to marry someone else. His cousin Benvolio urges him to move on, though Romeo insists that forgetting someone isn’t so easy. Benvolio calls it a beautiful morning, and Romeo replies, “Is it still morning?”—prompting the quip that mornings are usually as long as mornings are.

The Capulets hold a grand ball, and Romeo and his friends sneak in wearing masks. There, Romeo meets Juliet Capulet, who is being courted by Count Paris. Romeo and Juliet are instantly smitten. Romeo calls himself a pilgrim and Juliet his “holy shrine,” and their flirtatious exchange ends in a kiss. The mood changes when they discover they belong to rival families. Juliet laments that her “only love” has sprung from her “only hate,” while Romeo declares that he has finally found true love.

That night, Romeo returns to Juliet’s balcony. She wonders what’s in a name—after all, a rose would smell just as sweet by any other name—and the two confess their love. Romeo sneaks away only after they agree to marry the next day. Friar Lawrence, wary of the danger but moved by Romeo’s determination, secretly marries them, hoping their union might help end the feud.

Tragedy soon overtakes the newlyweds. Tybalt challenges Romeo, but Romeo refuses to fight because he now considers Tybalt family. Mercutio steps in and is killed. Overcome with grief and anger, Romeo fights Tybalt and kills him. Rather than sentencing Romeo to prison, the Prince banishes him from Verona, forcing him to leave his new wife behind.

Juliet’s parents arrange for her to marry Paris, threatening to disown her if she refuses. Desperate to stay true to Romeo, Juliet turns to Friar Lawrence. He gives her a potion that will make her appear dead for a day and plans to send Romeo a letter explaining the ruse. Juliet drinks it, and her family finds her apparently lifeless on the morning of the wedding.

The plan fails when Friar John falls ill and never delivers the letter. Romeo instead hears that Juliet is dead. He returns to Verona and reaches the Capulet tomb, where he drinks poison beside her. Juliet wakes shortly afterward and finds Romeo dead. With no poison left, she takes her own life with his dagger.

Their deaths finally bring the feuding families and Verona to a stunned, sorrowful peace. The story closes by declaring that few love stories have ever been as tragic as Romeo and Juliet’s.

Personalities Featured

• Romeo Montague — Passionate and impulsive, first pining for Rosaline before falling for Juliet.
• Juliet Capulet — Devoted to Romeo and determined to choose her own love.
• Benvolio — Romeo’s cousin and a voice of reason.
• Mercutio — Romeo’s friend, killed in the fight with Tybalt.
• Tybalt — Juliet’s hot-tempered cousin and Romeo’s rival.
• Friar Lawrence — Secretly marries the couple and devises the potion plan.
• Count Paris — Juliet’s intended husband, chosen by her parents.
• Prince Escalus — Ruler of Verona, who tries to suppress the feud.
• The Capulet Nurse — Juliet’s confidante.
• Lord and Lady Capulet — Juliet’s parents, who arrange her marriage.