Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare

Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare

Four hundred years ago, William Shakespeare wrote The Tragedy of Romeo

and Juliet, a popular play that continues to capture the imagination

and emotions of people around the world. The drama portrays the

passionate, violent and often desperate lives of the youth of Verona.

The story is about two families who have been fighting for years, the

Capulets Juliet’s family and the Montugues Romeo’s family. The play

opens with a fight scene between the servants of both families. This

fight is broken up when the Prince Escalus who is the ruler of Verona

tells them if there is any more fighting between the families, the

culprits will be put to death. Romeo is not at the fight as he is at

home depressed because he has been rejected by Rosaline whom he thinks

he loves.

Romeo’s friends Mercutio and Benvolio try to cheer Romeo up by gate

crashing a party that has been thrown by the Capulets. When they

arrive at the party Romeo spots Juliet and they fall in love at first

sight not knowing who each other are. Later that night they meet in

secret and Juliet talks to Romeo from her balcony and they realise how

much they are in love with each other and they decide to get married.

Romeo then goes off to talk to Friar Lawrence to arrange the wedding.

Juliet’s cousin Tybalt is very angry when he hears about Romeo gate

crashing the party and vows to take revenge. When Tybalt challenges

Romeo to a duel he refuses, but Mercutio fights instead and as he dies

he curses both families. Romeo is extremely upset about Tybalt

killing Mercutio and in a fit of rage fights and kills Tybalt. When

Price Escalus hears about this he is furious and banishes Romeo from

Verona and tells him if he returns he will be sentenced to death.

Juliet is very upset by this and also by the death of her cousin, she

forgives Romeo for killing Tybalt and they spend the night together.