Romeo And Juliet Scene Summaries

Romeo And Juliet Scene Summaries

Act I, Prologue: The prologue to Act I is written in the form of a

sonnet and provides a clear, concise summary of the play. Romeo and

Juliet will fall in love but their fate is death. The feuding of their

families is at fault.

Act I, Scene 1: The scene opens in the streets of Verona. Gregory and

Sampson, servants of the house of Capulet, are discussing their

enemies, the Montagues, when two of the Montague servants, Abram and

Balthasar, enter. Benvolio, of the house of Montague, enters and is

attempting to break up the fight when Tybalt enters. Tybalt mistakenly

assumes that Benvolio has drawn his sword on the Capulet servants and

challenges him to a duel. The Capulets and Montagues are drawn into

the streets by the noise. The Prince is also drawn to the scene. He is

angry, as the feuding families have previously disturbed the peace in

the streets. He threatens death to anyone who creates a problem again.

Lady Montague wife then asks about the whereabouts of their son,

Romeo. Benvolio reports that he has seen Romeo walking around alone

and unwilling to socialize with anyone. Just then, Romeo enters and

Benvolio determines to find out what is wrong. He discovers that Romeo

is in love with a girl who will not respond to his advances.

Act I, Scene 2: Capulet discusses the Prince's proclamation with

Paris, saying that he doubts that old men such as himself and Montague

will have trouble refraining from fighting . Paris agrees quickly and

turns the subject to the young daughter of Capulet, Juliet. Paris

hopes to marry Juliet though Capulet feels that she is too young. He

is reluctant to give up hi...

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...Romeo marvels at how

lifelike Juliet appears to be and the way she seems to light up the

tomb. He drinks the poison and dies. Friar Lawrence arrives at the

churchyard and encounters Balthasar. Juliet awakens and asks for

Romeo.. Juliet refuses to leave the tomb so he hurries off without

her. She snatches his dagger and stabs herself to death. Paris' page

and the watchman arrive and discover the bodies.

The Montague arrives with the news that Lady Montague died of grief

over Romeo's banishment. Balthasar presents the letter Romeo had given

him for Montague. The Prince reads it and discovers the Friar to be

truthful. He scolds the feuding families for having brought this

tragedy upon themselves. Capulet and Montague vow reconciliation.

Romeo and Juliet's deaths have reunited Verona and brought peace to

its streets.