Summary of Romeo and Juliet

Once upon a time in Verona, Italy, there were two families, the Capulets and the Montagues, that hated each other. The families fought with each other because of the smallest thing. At last, the Prince could not stand the feuding, so he forbade the families to fight. Romeo, the son of old Montague, was the one that was anxious to make peace because he was in love with old Capulet’s niece, Rosaline. When he heard there was to be a feast in the Capulet’s house, he wanted to attend, too, wearing a mask, so he could see Rosaline without his enemies seeing him. His friends, Benvolio and Mercutio, donned masks, too, to escort Romeo.

When they arrived at Capulet’s house, the dance began. When Romeo looked around the room to catch sight of Rosaline, he saw a girl so beautiful that he forgot about Rosaline, and fell in love with the new damsel. He murmured about looking for a chance to talk with the girl when Capulet’s nephew, Tybalt, overheard him and, recognizing his voice, he decided to take revenge later. He then asked for a dance, and kissed the girl. When the girl’s nurse asked the young damsel to talk with her mother, Romeo learned that she was Juliet, the daughter of Capulet. He was stunned by the shocking news. He was the only son of Montague, and he fell in love with his hated family’s daughter! So he went away confused.

Juliet saw the handsome young man leaved and asked her nurse to find out his name. When the nurse came back to tell her that it was Romeo, Juliet could not believe it. She helplessly fell in love with Romeo, of the family her father hated!

As Romeo walked back to his house he stopped, as he passed the Capulet’s orchard. Hoping to see Juliet, Romeo decided to climb up the orchard wall. Suddenly he saw her talking out loud about how disappointed she was that Romeo’s father was Montague, and how she loved him. Romeo was so please he told Juliet that he’ll give up his family name, and they planned to get married.

The next day, Romeo and Juliet slipped away to Friar Laurence’s room for their marriage. The priest was surprised at their request, but he was glad, because thought that this love would bring an end to the long years of hate between their families. So Romeo and Juliet were married in secret.

When Romeo returned, he saw Tybalt arguing with Mercutio and Benvolio. Romeo asked to Tybalt to not fight because he had a new reason to love his opponent. Mercutio, not understanding Romeo’s strange behavior, challenged Tybalt and fought until Mercutio was killed. Then Romeo became so upset he challenged Tybalt, struck him dead, and fled. Upon knowing the fight, the prince came and Benvolio told him what happened. Instead of the usual death sentence of Romeo, the prince decided to banish him from Verona, because the both families shared some guilt.

Juliet’s nurse, knowing of the secret marriage, told Juliet that Romeo killed Tybalt and had been banished from Verona. The nurse suggested that she go to Friar Laurence’s place, where Romeo was hiding, so they could have one last night together. On the next day, before the rest of the household woke up, Romeo left and Juliet returned to her chamber. Just then, Juliet’s parents came in, and brought news to cheer her up after the death of Tybalt. Her parents had arranged for Juliet to marry Count Paris. She immediately refused. Her father insisted that she marry the Count, so she went to Friar Laurence's for advice. The priest told her to drink a kind of sleeping drug, so she would appear dead, and the priest inform Romeo of the truth. So the next day, instead of preparing a wedding, the Capulets had to prepare for a funeral. Benvolio heard about Juliet’s death, and quickly told Romeo about it. Romeo, who didn’t know about the drug, went to Juliet’s tomb and drank some poison to kill himself. Soon after he died, Juliet woke up. She realized what Romeo thought, so she killed herself with a dagger, because she did not want to live without her true love. When the families found out the truth of Romeo and Juliet’s love and death, they were stunned. Capulet and Montague reconciled; Capulet promised to make a statue of Romeo, while Montague promised to make a statue of Juliet, to remind everyone of the terrible price they paid for the long years of feuding.