In Verona, Italy, two noble families, the Montagues and the Capulets, are bitter enemies. Romeo, a Montague, crashes a Capulet party in disguise, where he meets and instantly falls in love with Juliet, the daughter of Lord Capulet. Despite their families' hatred, they secretly marry the next day with the help of Friar Laurence, hoping their union will end the feud.

However, trouble quickly brews. Tybalt, Juliet's hot-tempered cousin, challenges Romeo to a duel. Romeo refuses, but his friend Mercutio accepts and is killed. Enraged, Romeo kills Tybalt and is banished from Verona. Meanwhile, Juliet's parents, unaware of her secret marriage, arrange her to wed Paris, a nobleman.

To escape the forced marriage, Juliet takes a sleeping potion that makes her appear dead. Friar Laurence plans to reunite the lovers once she awakens. However, the message explaining the plan never reaches Romeo. Believing Juliet is truly dead, Romeo buys poison, goes to Juliet's tomb, and kills himself. Moments later, Juliet awakens, finds Romeo dead, and stabs herself.

Their deaths finally move the Montagues and Capulets to end their feud, uniting the families in sorrow over the tragic fate of their beloved children.

Romeo Montague – The son of Lord and Lady Montague, Romeo is passionate and impulsive. He falls deeply in love with Juliet and secretly marries her.

Juliet Capulet – The daughter of Lord and Lady Capulet, Juliet is intelligent and courageous. She defies her family’s wishes by marrying Romeo.

Friar Laurence – A well-meaning priest who helps Romeo and Juliet marry in secret. He devises the plan to reunite them, but it tragically fails.

Mercutio – Romeo’s witty and energetic best friend. His death at the hands of Tybalt sparks Romeo’s revenge and the story’s downward spiral.

Tybalt Capulet – Juliet’s fiery cousin who despises the Montagues. His aggression ultimately leads to the deaths of both himself and Mercutio.

Benvolio Montague – Romeo’s cousin and friend, who tries to keep peace but often finds himself swept into conflict.

Lord Montague – Romeo’s father, concerned for his son's melancholy and later mourning his death.

Lady Montague – Romeo’s mother, who dies of grief after Romeo's banishment.

Lord Capulet – Juliet’s domineering father, who insists she marry Paris.

Lady Capulet – Juliet’s mother, who supports the marriage to Paris and pressures Juliet to obey.

Paris – A nobleman favored by Juliet’s parents to marry her. He genuinely cares for Juliet but is killed by Romeo at her tomb.

The Nurse – Juliet’s loyal nurse and confidante, who helps arrange her secret marriage but later advises her to marry Paris.

Prince Escalus – The ruler of Verona who tries to maintain order. He exiles Romeo after Tybalt’s death.

Sampson and Gregory – Servants of the Capulets who provoke a street brawl in the opening scene.

Abram – A servant of the Montagues involved in the opening fight.

Balthasar – Romeo’s loyal servant who brings him the (incorrect) news of Juliet’s death.

Friar John – The messenger who fails to deliver Friar Laurence’s letter to Romeo.

Apothecary – A poor pharmacist who sells Romeo poison when he returns to Verona.

"What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet."

Juliet, Act 2, Scene 2, Juliet reflects that names are meaningless and that Romeo's family name should not define their love.

 

"O Romeo, Romeo! wherefore art thou Romeo?"

Juliet, Act 2, Scene 2, Juliet laments that Romeo is a Montague, the enemy of her family, questioning why he must be who he is.

 

"Thus with a kiss I die."

Romeo, Act 5, Scene 3, Romeo says this as he kisses Juliet one last time before taking poison, believing her to be dead.

 

"Good night, good night! Parting is such sweet sorrow."

Juliet, Act 2, Scene 2, Juliet says goodbye to Romeo after their secret meeting, expressing the bittersweet pain of leaving someone you love.

 

"These violent delights have violent ends."

Friar Laurence, Act 2, Scene 6, Friar Laurence warns Romeo that intense passions can lead to sudden and destructive outcomes.

 

"A plague o' both your houses!"

Mercutio, Act 3, Scene 1, As he lies dying, Mercutio curses both the Montagues and Capulets for their feud, blaming them for his death.

 

"For never was a story of more woe than this of Juliet and her Romeo."

Prince Escalus, Act 5, Scene 3, The Prince speaks the final line of the play, summarizing the tragedy of the lovers.

 

Act 1

The play opens with a street fight between servants of the Montague and Capulet families, showing the depth of their feud. Romeo is lovesick over Rosaline. Benvolio encourages him to forget her. Meanwhile, Paris seeks Juliet’s hand in marriage. At the Capulet’s grand party, Romeo and Juliet meet and fall instantly in love, unaware they belong to rival families.

Act 2

Romeo sneaks into the Capulet orchard and overhears Juliet professing her love for him (the famous balcony scene). They confess their feelings and agree to marry. With the help of Friar Laurence and Juliet’s Nurse, they marry secretly, hoping their union will end the family feud.

Act 3

Tybalt challenges Romeo to a duel, but Romeo refuses. Mercutio fights Tybalt instead and is killed. Romeo avenges Mercutio by killing Tybalt and is banished from Verona. Meanwhile, Juliet is devastated. Her parents, unaware of her secret marriage, arrange her marriage to Paris.

Act 4

Juliet seeks Friar Laurence’s help to avoid marrying Paris. He gives her a potion to fake her death. Juliet takes it, and her family, believing she is dead, prepares her for burial.

Act 5

Romeo, mistakenly believing Juliet is truly dead, buys poison and returns to Verona. He kills Paris at Juliet’s tomb, then takes the poison and dies beside her. Juliet awakens, sees Romeo dead, and kills herself. Their deaths finally reconcile the feuding families.