Romeo and Juliet

Romeo and Juliet is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare and first printed in a 1597 quarto; a substantially different second quarto appeared in 1599 and is the main basis for many modern editions. It was among Shakespeare's most popular plays during his lifetime and today is one of his most frequently performed plays.

Romeo and Juliet tells the story of two young Italian lovers whose impossible love leads to a fatal end. It explores young love, family conflict, haste, and fate.

Romeo and Juliet are members of feuding families. Although they know of the feud, they marry in secret. Romeo must flee after he kills Juliet’s cousin Tybalt in revenge for Tybalt’s killing of Mercutio.

Juliet’s parents try to force her to marry Count Paris, but she refuses because she is already married to Romeo. Friar Laurence devises a plan for her to take a potion that will make her appear dead, but Romeo returns and, believing her dead, takes poison and dies. When Juliet wakes to find Romeo dead, she stabs herself and dies.

The play confronts fate and free will, leaving the audience to decide who is responsible for the deaths of the young lovers.

"Two households, both alike in dignity,
In fair Verona, where we lay our scene,
From ancient grudge break to new mutiny,
Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean."