"ROMEO AND JULIET"
Summary
In Verona a feud has broken out between the
families of the Montegues and the Capulets. Romeo, the Montegues' heir, is in love with Rosaline, who has vowed to
remain chaste for the rest of her life. He and his friend Benvolio stumble
across a servant of the Capulet's in the street. The servant, Peter, is trying
to read a list of names of people invited to a masked party at the Capulet
house that evening. Romeo helps him read the list and receives an invitation to
the party. Romeo arrives at the party in costume and falls in love with Juliet
at first sight. However, he is recognized by Tybalt, Juliet's cousin, who wants
to kill him on the spot. Capulet intervenes and tells Tybalt that he will not
disturb the party for any amount of money. Romeo approaches Juliet and tells
her that he loves her. Then, they kiss. Juliet's Nurse tells Romeo who Juliet
really is, and he is upset when he finds out he loves the daughter of Capulet.
Juliet too finds out who Romeo is, and laments the fact that she is in love
with her enemy. Soon thereafter Romeo climbs the garden wall leading to
Juliet's garden. Juliet emerges on her balcony and speaks her private thoughts
out loud, imagining herself alone. She wishes Romeo could shed his name and
marry her. At this, Romeo appears and tells her that he loves her. She warns
him to be true in his love to her, and he swears he truly loves her. Juliet
then is called inside, but manages to return twice to call Romeo back to her.
They agree that Juliet will send her Nurse to meet him at nine o'clock the next
day, because Romeo will set a place for them to be married. The Nurse tells
Juliet to meet Romeo at the chapel where Friar Laurence lives and works. Juliet
goes to find Romeo, and together they are married by the Friar. Benvolio and
Mercutio, good friends of the Montegues, are waiting on the street when Tybalt,
who wants to challenge Romeo to duel, arrives. When Romeo arrives, Tybalt
challenges him, but Romeo refuses, so Mercutio draws his sword on Tybalt. Romeo
tries to block the two men, but Tybalt cuts Mercutio and runs away. Mercutio
has died. Romeo fights with Tybalt and kills him. The Nurse goes to tell Juliet
the sad news about what has happened to Tybalt and Romeo. She sends the Nurse
to find Romeo and give him her ring. Romeo comes that night and sleeps with
Juliet. The next morning he is forced to leave at dusk when Juliet's mother
arrives. Romeo goes to Mantua where he waits for someone to send news about
Juliet. During the night Capulet decides that Juliet should marry a young man
named Paris. He and Lady Capulet go to tell Juliet that she should marry Paris,
but when she refuses to obey Capulet becomes infuriated and orders her to
comply with his orders. When they leave, Juliet throws out of the room, saying,
'ancient damnation'.Juliet then goes to Friar Laurence, who gives her
a potion that will make her seem dead for at least two days. She takes the
potion and drinks it that night. The next morning her Nurse finds her
'dead' in bed. The whole house decries her suicide, and Friar
Laurence makes them hurry to put her into the family vault. Romeo's servant
arrives in Mantua and tells his master that Juliet is dead. Romeo hurries back
to Verona. Friar Laurence discovers too late from Friar John that his message
to Romeo has failed to be delivered. He rushes to get to Juliet's grave before
Romeo does. Romeo arrives at the Capulet vault and finds it guarded by Paris.
Paris challenges Romeo to a duel, and is killed. When he sees Juliet dead
within the tomb, Romeo drinks some poison and dies kissing her. Friar Laurence
arrives just as Juliet wakes up. He tries to get her to come out, but when she
sees Romeo dead, she takes his dagger and kills herself with it. The rest of
the town starts to arrive, including Capulet and Montegue. Friar Laurence tells
them the whole story. The two family agree to become friends by erecting golden
statues of the other's child.
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