|
|
Romeo and Juliet
By William Shakespeare
The Montagues and the Capulets are feuding, and it has devolved into a street brawl. The Prince of Verona (the town they all live in) intervenes and declares further violence will be punishable by death. Count Paris of Verona attempts to marry Juliet Capulet, but is declined by Lord Capulet because Juliet is only thirteen.
Benvolio Montague talks with Romeo Montague about his recent depression, learning that it started with an unrequited love for Rosaline, one of Lord Capulet's nieces. Benvolio helps Romeo sneak into a Capulet ball, where he meets Juliet and falls madly in love with her. After the ball, Romeo sneaks into the Capulet courtyard and hears Juliet speak of her love for him despite their families' feud. He speaks to her, and they agree to marry.
Friar Laurence, who wants to reconcile the feuding families, secretly marries the two the next day. Juliet's cousin Tybalt challenges Romeo to a duel, but Romeo refuses to fight someone he now considers a kinsman. Mercutio, Romeo's friend, accepts the duel on Romeo's behalf and is killed. Romeo then takes vengeance by slaying Tybalt. The Prince of Verona exiles Romeo for his act, promising to kill him if he returns.
Lord Capulet and Lady Capulet beg Juliet to marry Count Paris, but she begs for the marriage to be delayed. That night, Romeo spends the night with Juliet, and they have sex.
Juliet returns to Friar Laurence for help, and he makes her a drug that will make her appear dead for a couple of days, promising to send a messenger to Romeo so he can know of their plan and rejoin her when she awakens. The messenger never makes it, and as the Capulet clan mourns, Romeo hears of it from his manservant Balthasar.
Grief-stricken, Romeo buys poison and sneaks into the Capulet crypt to see Juliet's corpse for himself. He encounters Count Paris, who has come to mourn Juliet for himself. Paris confronts Romeo and they duel, with Romeo killing Paris. Believing Juliet dead, Romeo drinks the poison and dies. Minutes later, Juliet wakes, sees Romeo dead, and stabs herself with his dagger.
The Prince of Verona and the Lords and Ladies of both familes visit the crypt and find the three dead. Friar Laurence admits the whole tale, and the familes finally end their feud, united by their mutual grief. The Prince of Verona eulogizes the three, proclaiming all equally punished.
|
