Romeo and Juliet

Title: Romeo and Juliet

Author: William Shakespeare
Premiere: c. 1595, English
Setting: Renaissance Verona, Italy
Main Characters:

• Romeo (a young Montague nobleman)

• Juliet (a Capulet, daughter of the rival house)

• Mercutio (Romeo’s witty and volatile friend)

• Tybalt (Juliet’s hot-headed cousin)

• Friar Laurence (a priest and advisor)

• The Nurse (Juliet’s confidante)

Plot Summary:
Romeo and Juliet meet at a Capulet ball and instantly fall in love, unaware that they belong to feuding families. With the help of Friar Laurence and Juliet’s Nurse, they marry in secret, hoping to end the family conflict. But violence escalates: Mercutio is killed by Tybalt, and Romeo kills Tybalt in revenge, leading to his banishment. Juliet is devastated. To escape an arranged marriage to Paris, she fakes her death with a sleeping potion. The plan goes awry when Romeo, unaware of the ruse, returns to find her seemingly dead. He takes poison beside her. Juliet awakens, sees Romeo dead, and kills herself with his dagger. The lovers’ deaths finally force the Capulets and Montagues to reconcile.

Key Themes & Significance:
Romeo and Juliet is a tragic tale of passionate love, impulsive decisions, and the generational hatred that dooms the innocent. Its lyrical poetry and archetypal story of doomed lovers have influenced countless adaptations. Despite its romantic reputation, the play is a sharp critique of violence, pride, and societal failure.