THE TRAGEDY OF ROMEO AND JULIET

William Shakespeare

PLOT

A tragedy of star crossed lovers who due to feuding families are doomed to die instead of flourishing in their love.

SETTING

Verona, Italy during the 14th or 15th century

HOUSE OF MONTAGUE

Montague is the patriarch of the house of Montague.

Montague's wife is the matriarch of the house of Montague.

Romeo is the son of Montague, and the play's male protagonist.

Benvolio is Romeo's cousin and best friend.

Abram and Balthasar are servants of the Montague household.

HOUSE OF CAPULET

Capulet is the patriarch of the house of Capulet.

Capulet's wife is the matriarch of the house of Capulet.

Juliet is the 13-year-old daughter of Capulet, and the play's female protagonist.

Tybalt is a cousin of Juliet, and the nephew of Capulet's wife.

The Nurse is Juliet's personal attendant and confidante.

Peter, Sampson and Gregory are servants of the Capulet household.

RULING HOUSE OF VERONA

Prince Escalus is the ruling Prince of Verona

Count Paris is a kinsman of Escalus who wishes to marry Juliet.

Mercutio is another kinsman of Escalus, and a friend of Romeo.

OTHER CHARACTERS

Friar Laurence is a Franciscan friar, and is Romeo's confidant.

A Chorus reads a prologue to each of the first two acts.

Friar John is sent to deliver Friar Laurence's letter to Romeo.

An Apothecary who reluctantly sells Romeo poison.

SUMMARIZATION OF EVENTS PT.1

Romeo attends the Capulet ball in hopes of meeting Rosaline.

Romeo instead meets Juliet where he falls in love with her.

Romeo sneaks the Montague’s orchard where he hears Juliet vowing her love to him despite the hatred of their families.

Romeo shows himself and they agree to get married.

SUMMARIZATION OF EVENTS PT. 2

Romeo and Juliet get married next day from meeting.

Tybalt challenges Romeo to duel which he declines so Mercutio accepts the challenge.

Mercutio is fatally wounded when Romeo tries to break up the fight.

Romeo kill Tybalt and is exiled with the threat of exections if he returns to Verona.

SUMMARIZATION OF EVENTS PT 3

Capulet agrees to marry Juliet to Count Paris and threatens to disown her if she refuses

Juliet goes to Friar Laurence for help and he gives her a drug to make her go into a dead like coma for 24hr

Friar Laurence promises to send a message to Romeo to let him know of their plan.

Juliet takes the drug the night before her wedding to Paris.

THE TRAGIC PART OF THE STORYRomeo doesn’t get the message and is informed by his servant that Juliet offed herself.

So Romeo buys some poison drinks to drink at the Capulet crypt.

He encounter Paris who he kills.

Then drinks the poison only to be found by the waking Juliet.

Juliet stabs herself with Romeo’s dagger.

The lovers are found dead by their families and the Prince mending their hatred.

FORESHADOWING EPIC DOOM

Through the chorus first speech declaring Romeo and Juliet are doomed to die and “star-crossed”

Juliet “my grave is like to be my wedding bed”

The lovers’ thoughts of suicide, as when Romeo threatens to kill himself after killing Tybalt.

Friar Lawrence’s warnings to behave moderately if Romeo and Juliet wish to avoid tragedy: “These violent delights have violent ends . . . Therefore love moderately”

FORESHADOWING PT 2

The lovers’ mutual impression that the other looks pale and deathlike after their wedding night

Juliet’s faked death by Friar Lawrence’s potion. Romeo’s dream-vision of Juliet kissing his lips while he is dead

OTHER THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT THE PLAY

Written in present tense

Point of view that is third person following Romeo and Juliet occasionally used point of view from the servants of both families to illuminate action of their masters.

Theme• The forcefulness of love; love as a cause of violence;

the individual versus society; the inevitability of fate

THE END!