Romeo and Juliet Summary

Act 1 Scene 1

Act 1 Scene 1 of Romeo and Juliet is set in Verona. It begins with Gregory and Sampson (Capulet) entering the stage messing around with each other, having banter. Then Abraham and Balthasar (Montagues) enter where both sides begin to argue and results in a fight, “ Do you bite your thumb at us sir?“. Benvolio (Montague) enters and breaks up the fight holding his sword. Tybalt (Capulet) enters and believes Benvolio wants a fight and this is where the big brawl begins causing citizens to participate. Old Capulet and Old Montague want to get involved but they are held back by their wives, “Thou shalt not stir one foot to seek a foe“. Prince Escalus arrives stopping everyone. He gives out a warning saying anybody who starts up another fight will be punished by death or banishment. He clears the street and only the Montague couple and Benvolio remain. Old Montague asks what had happened which Benvolio explained. They then ask where Romeo is, to when Benvolio replied by saying he saw him in the morning walking into the woods, upset. The Montagues agree and talk about what Romeos problem must be having to make him sad, “With tears augmenting the fresh morning’s dew, Adding to clouds more clouds with his deep sighs“. When Romeo approaches everyone leaves apart from Benvolio who then interrogates Romeo. Romeo shares that his love life is troubling him. He talks about a beautiful woman that he loves but she doesn’t love him back,” Out of her favor, where I am in love“. Benvolio asks who she is however Romeo keeps that a secret. Benvolio attempts to cheer Romeo up by saying there are better women for him out there, but Romeo denies him. Benvolio then makes it a challenge to find Romeo a perfect woman and that is where the scene ends, “I’ll pay that doctrine or else die in debt“.

Scene 2

Scene 2 is set within the Capulets home. Young Paris (son of Prince Escalus) arrives at the Capulet’s home to talk to Old Capulet. He asks Capulet if he could marry Juliet (Capulet’s daughter). Capulet agrees but asks if Prince can just wait a couple of years as she is too young, ‘ My child is yet a stranger in the world. She hath not seen the change of fourteen years. Let two more summers wither in their pride ere we may think her ripe to be a bride’ He then invites Paris to a feast/party so he could get Juliet to like him. Capulet gives a servant a list of people he should invite. The servant, however cannot read, ‘ and can never find what names the writing person hath here writ’. So he goes out looking for someone who can. He finds Romeo and Benvolio, not knowing who they are. Romero helps but then sees the girl he loves on the list, Rosaline. The servant invites the two to the feast as a way of sayig thank you, ‘ and if you be not of the house of Montagues, I pray come and crush a cup of wine’. Romeo tells Benvolio about Rosaline. Benvolio gets an idea, where the two will go to the party and Benvolio will show Romeo that there is more beautiful women out there besides Rosaline, ‘ Go thither, and with unattainted eye compare her face with some that I shall show’ Romeo agrees but only so he can see Rosaline.

Scene 3

Act 1 Scene 3 is inside the Capulet’s home. Lady Capulet (Old Capulet’s wife) calls for the Nurse (Juliet’s nanny). She asks where Juliet is, ‘Nurse, where’s my daughter? Call her forth to me’ The Nurse calls her. Juliet comes in and Lady Capulet is just about to speak but is interrupted by the Nurse, who begins to tell an embarrassing story about Juliet when she was a baby, ‘Tis since the earthquake now eleven years, and she was weaned—I never shall forget it—Of all the days of the year, upon that day,’. The speech shows how weird and mad the nurse is. Juliet eventually stops her and Lady Capulets talks about Juliet getting married, ‘ Tell me, daughter Juliet, how stands your disposition to be married?’. She also tells Juliet to interact with Paris at the feast tonight, but Juliet says she will only look at him and if she likes him then she will talk with him. If she doesn’t like him then she wont do anything and move on, rejecting him, ‘I’ll look to like if looking liking move. But no more deep will I endart mine eye than your consent gives strength to make it fly’. The servant from scene 2 comes in and says that the guests have come and calls them. They all then leave.

Scene 4

Scene 4 begins with Romeo, Benvolio and Mercutio (Romeo’s friend) in costumes talking. Romeo still upset decides this plan isn’t a very good idea and says he wont draw any attention to himself there, ‘ Give me a torch. I am not for this ambling. Being but heavy, I will bear the light,’. Mercutio starts making banter out of Romeos emotions. Romeo, not humoured, begins to talk about a dream that starts Mercutio off, ‘I dreamt a dream tonight,’. Mercutio starts talking about the dream fairy, Queen Mab and he gets quite tensed over it and shows off anger, ‘Queen Mab hath been with you,’. Romeo calms Mercutio off and begins talking about his dream. Romeo says how he dreamt that this dance will lead or build up to his future death, ‘ With this night’s revels, and expire the term Of a despisèd life closed in my breast By some vile forfeit of untimely death. But he that hath the steerage of my course, Direct my sail,’. But he overcomes this fear by saying he will go where ever his fate leads him. With that Benvolio, annoyed by now, states that they are wasting too much time and they all leave to the party, ‘Supper is done, and we shall come too late’.

Scene 5

The beginning of this scene shows the servants of Capulet running around trying to do jobs to keep the part well. After that busy part of the scene, Capulet says his speech where he tries to encourage people to dance and he talks about his younger years, ‘Will now deny to dance?’. He also chats to his cousin about their youth. During the party Romeo spots Juliet and here he shocks or confuses the audience by saying he’s never seen true beauty up until now and has never properly falling in love before seeing Juliet, ‘ Did my heart love till now? Forswear it, sight! For I ne’er saw true beauty till this night,’. So he completely dismisses Rosaline. Tybalt had heard Romeos voice and become very vexed. He calls for his sword but Capulet stops him and says if you cause a fuss at his party he will punish Tybalt. However, Tybalt says he cannot accept Romeo in the party, but Capulet threatens more and Tybalt swears he will kill Romeo one day, ‘ I will withdraw, but this intrusion shall now seeming sweet, convert to bitterest gall,’. Back to Romeo, he makes his way to Juliet and manages to woo her and they both end up kissing twice, ‘Then move not, while my prayer’s effect I take.Thus from my lips, by thine, my sin is purged,’. Juliet gets pulled away by the Nurse as she is called by her mother. Romeo quickly asks the nurse who is Juliet’s mother and the Nurse replies by saying Lady Capulet, ‘ Her mother is the lady of the house, and a good lady, and a wise and virtuous,’. Romeo is devastated, but Benvolio comes in and pulls Romeo away. Juliet, trying to keep her interest in Romeo secret, begins asking the Nurse who several of these boys are until she asks who Romeo was. The Nurse says to Juliet that was Romeo, son of your enemy, ‘ His name is Romeo, and a Montague, The only son of your great enemy,’. Juliet distraught says how can her first love be a Montague. She is absolutely crushed. ‘ My only love sprung from my only hate! Too early seen unknown, and known too late! Prodigious birth of love it is to me, that I must love a loathèd enemy,’. Someone then calls Juliet and they exit, finishing the scene.

Act 2 Scene 1

This scene starts of Act 2 and it begins with Romeo talking to himself about Juliet, alone. ‘Can I go forward when my heart is here? Turn back, dull earth, and find they centre out,’. Romeo then goes and hides behind the Capulet’s house. This is when Benvolio and Mercutio come in. Benvolio calls Romeo, but Mercutio says he’s sleeping. Benvolio denies it and says he saw Romeo jump over this wall. They then begin to taunt Romeo about his love for Rosaline. Saying things about Rosaline hoping he will come out of hiding, ‘Rosaline’s bright eyes, by her high forehead and her scarlet lips,’. They call Romeo again but he doesn’t come. They continue taunting him and eventually leave and that’s when the scene ends.

Scene 2

Scene two is set at the Capulets house. Outside the Capulet house, Romeo wonders around. He chats to himself about Juliet. Romeo is alert at the same time so when someone opened a balcony door, he hid beneath it. Surprisingly it was Juliet.  Juliet begins talking about Romeo, ‘O Romeo, Romeo! Wherefore art thou Romeo?‘. Meanwhile Romeo remains hidden, listening to Juliet, ‘It is the east, and Juliet is the sun‘. Eventually Romeo uncovers himself and surprises Juliet, ‘What man art thou that, thus bescreened in night, so stumblest on my counsel?‘. They both talk about their love for each other but Juliet slows it down by saying they are going to quickly. She describes it to thunder. Romeo says he’s unsatisfied where Juliet replies by asking what was he expecting, ‘O, wilt thou leave me so unsatisfied?‘. Romeo wants her to tell him if she really does loves him. She says more than that and she brings up the idea of marriage, ‘ If that thy bent of love be honorable, Thy purpose marriage‘. Romeo sees this as a proposal and they plan to get married the next day! Although they didn’t want to leave each other, Romeo leaves the Capulet home, very satisfied, and Juliet goes back inside, to answer the several calls from the Nurse.’Parting is such sweet sorrow That I shall say good night till it be morrow.’

Scene 3

Inside the church, Friar Lawrence walks in, from his garden, talking to himself. He talks about flowers and plants. When Romeo enters, the Friar is still talking to himself. He is just talking about a flower but Shakespeare made that a hidden metaphor about the two Households. How they are ‘Kings’ but are killing each other.’Two such opposèd kings encamp them still, In man as well as herbs—grace and rude will.’  Romeo then greets the Friar. The Friar asks why is he so happy. Romeo says how he has gotten over Rosaline and has found a new love, Juliet. ‘Then plainly know my heart’s dear love is set On the fair daughter of rich Capulet.’ The Friar is astonished and asks how? He asks how Romeo suddenly moved on and he clearly sees this as a mistake. Romeo tells the Friar, Rosaline doesn’t matter any more and he begs Friar Lawrence to marry Romeo and Juliet. The Friar then realises this new love could stop their parents rivalry and agrees, ‘For this alliance may so happy prove To turn your households’ rancor to pure love‘.

Scene 4

Scene 4 begins with Mercutio and Benvolio talking about a challenge that Romeo had received from Tybalt, ‘Tybalt, the kinsman to old Capulet, Hath sent a letter to his father’s house.‘. They carry on saying that Romeo wasn’t at home yesterday and begin creating banter around Romeo, saying he was probably with a prostitute since Rosaline rejects him. Romeo enters very happy and the other two continue with the banter, ‘Good morrow to you both‘. They also say that they are happy and like it that Romeo is happy. They all engage with banter, until Juliet’s Nurse arrives with Peter, ‘Here’s goodly gear‘. They start cussing her, calling her fat. The Nurse asks to talk to Romeo privately and she says Juliet will marry him but how will it happen. Romeo explains to her that Juliet should come to the church for confession and the Friar will marry them. Before leaving the Nurse makes sure Romeo is the perfect guy for Juliet and he is not just pranking her, ‘if you should deal double with her, truly it were an ill thing to be offered to any gentlewoman, and very weak dealing’. Romeo defends himself and the Nurse believes him. The Nurse then leaves and the scene ends.

Scene 5

Juliet is restless and impatient, ‘Oh, she is lame‘. She imagines different ways or why the Nurse isn’t back yet. Eventually the Nurse returns and Juliet runs to her, asking what Romeo said, ‘O honey Nurse, what news? Hast thou met with him?‘. The Nurse just stalls annoying Juliet, ‘ I am aweary. Give me leave awhile‘. Juliet begins to get very frustrated and so the Nurse spills the beans, ‘ Then hie you hence to Friar Lawrence’s cell. There stays a husband to make you a wife‘. Juliet is relieved and thanks the Nurse before leaving for the church.

Scene 6

Romeo and Juliet are in the church. It is just them and Friar Lawrence. The Friar marries them and the act finishes there,’ Ah, Juliet, if the measure of thy joy Be heaped like mine, and that thy skill be more To blazon it, then sweeten with thy breath This neighbor air, and let rich music’s tongue Unfold the imagined happiness that both Receive in either by this dear encounter.‘

Act 3 Scene 1

The scene begins with Benvolio and Mercutio just talking to each other. Benvolio wants to go home and relax as its a hot day. He doesn’t want to bump into anyone and have to fight, especially the Capulets. ‘ I pray thee, good Mercutio, let’s retire. The day is hot; the Capulets, abroad‘ Mercutio begins talking about his anger and says he would fight with anyone over the most little of things when he’s angry. Benvolio just questions it. Soon Tybalt and a few other Capulets enter the scene and approaches them. Tybalt begins asking for Romeo in a way that angers Mercutio. Mercutio begins saying threats to Tybalt and Benvolio tells them to go away. Romeo now comes in. Tybalt sees Romeo and calls him a villain, ‘No better term than this: thou art a villain‘. Romeo lets the insult pass and tries to make peace with Tybalt, as they are now cousins. Mercutio gets vexed over the fact that Romeo wont insult Tybalt or fight him, so he challenges Tybalt. Tybalt accepts and they begin fighting. Romeo throws himself between them to stop them, however Tybalt strikes Mercutio under Romeos arm. Tybalt then runs away and Mercutio is left there. He starts blaming Romeo for killing him and yells at him. Mercutio even curses both families, ‘A plague o’ both your houses‘. Benvolio takes Mercutio out of the scene and returns later shouting Mercutio is dead. Tybalt comes back, which annoys Romeo a lot. Romeo then says one of them will die now and will go to heaven with Mercutio, ‘That late thou gavest me, for Mercutio’s soul Is but a little way above our heads, Staying for thine to keep him company. Either thou or I, or both, must go with him.‘. He pulls out his sword and the two engage in a battle where Tybalt dies. Benvolio quickly tells Romeo to run before the Prince or anyone else comes, ‘ Romeo, away, be gone! The citizens are up, and Tybalt slain‘. Romeo, shocked by what he did runs away. Prince Esculus and Lady Capulet comes and Benvolio explains everything. Lady Capulet is very upset over Tybalt’s death and calls Benvolio a liar and claims there was 20 Montagues that murdered Tybalt. The Prince decides to punish Romeo by banishing him from Verona, ‘And for that offence Immediately we do exile him hence‘.

Scene 2

Scene 2 is at the Capulet’s house and Juliet hasn’t heard about the news and is talking to herself about Romeo. The Nurse rushes in and shouts Romeo is gone. Juliet is shocked and wants to know what she is saying. The Nurse continues saying Romeo is gone and dead. Juliet is destroyed and then the Nurse says that Tybalt is dead. This causes confusion and Juliet shouts at the Nurse and asks who is dead. The Nurse says that Romeo had killed Tybalt and now is banished. Juliet is gob smacked. She cant believe her favourite cousin is dead and her husband in banished. She cries. She doesn’t know what is worse, but comes to the decision that Romeo banished is worse because she knows he is alive but not with her. Juliet asks the Nurse to go and find Romeo and give him a ring and tell him that she still loves him. The Nurse leaves and the scene ends.

Scene 3

Romeo enters Friar Lawrence’s cell and asks what is the punishment that the Prince has given him. the Friar goes to find out and returns saying it’s banishment. Romeo can’t believe it. Romeo is distraught and terrified by the thought of being banished. He says he rather have death! Romeo mourns over this decision and is even more upset about the fact that he will wont be able to see or touch Juliet but other things could. The Nurse then enters and asks the Friar where Romeo is, she doesn’t see him as Romeo hid. The Friar tells Romeo to come out and he does. Without hesitation he asks about Juliet and if she hates him. The Nurse shocks him saying she doesn’t but she is grieving over Tybalt and Romeo. The Nurse continues telling Romeo he has to come and see Juliet before he leaves, to which Romeo agrees instantly. They all then exit the scene after the Nurse hands Romeo the ring.

Scene 4

Paris is back at the Capulet’s home and is talking to both parents of Juliet. They are discussing arrangements of Juliet’s marriage to Paris. They have no clue about Romeo yet which will definitely cause massive problems to Juliet. After talking about Tybalt’s death and Juliet tears, they agree that the marriage will take place on Thursday.

Scene 5

It is now morning and Romeo has to leave for Mantua, however Juliet wants Romeo to stay longer and says that he heard the night-bird and not the morning bird. Romeo then catches her bluff by going along and says he will stay with her instead and let them kill him. Juliet immediately says no and tells him to go. They are both then interrupted by the Nurse, who warns them that Lady Capulets is coming. Romeo hastily leaves and kisses Juliet. Lady Capulet then just came in and says to Juliet she has good news. She explains the arranged marriage but Juliet, obviously married to Romeo, says no. She makes excuses which angers her mother. Capulet comes in and is astounded my Juliet’s refusal. He begins yelling at her and says terrible things. He then threatens her saying if she does not marry Paris she will no longer be their child. He then leaves and Juliet begs Lady Capulet to explain to Capulet but she says to Juliet to not talk to her. The Nurse comforts Juliet saying maybe marrying is a better idea. Juliet says yes and tells Nurse she will make her confessions to the Friar and marry Paris. She then, to herself, says she can never marry Paris.

Act 4 Scene 1

Paris is at the Friars cell talking to him about marriage. Juliet then enters and Paris begins talking to her. He thinks that Juliet is madly in love with him but she isn’t. Juliet then asks if she and the Friar can talk alone. Juliet then pleads the Friar to help her and says she cannot marry Paris as she is married to Romeo. Juliet begs him and then threatens that she will kill herself, ‘ I long to die If what thou speak’st speak not of remedy‘. The Friar stops her and comes up with a plan. The Friar hands Juliet a vile with a potion. He then tells her that she should sleep alone tonight and the nurse should sleep somewhere else. Juliet then has to drink the potion which will make her sleep for 42 hours, and it would seem that she is dead. The potion makes her breathing shallow and her face pale, so the Capulets will presume she is dead,’No warmth, no breath shall testify thou livest.The roses in thy lips and cheeks shall fade To paly ashes, thy eyes’ windows fall Like death when he shuts up the day of life.‘. Then they will put her in the Capulet’s monument. Meanwhile the Friar will send someone to Mantua to get Romeo. Romeo will come to the monument and get Juliet and they will both flee to Mantua. Juliet agrees to this plan and they both exit.

Scene 2

Capulet is ordering the servants around the house, to prepare for the wedding. Juliet enters and asks for her fathers forgiveness and says she will marry Paris and will always obey Capulet, ‘Pardon, I beseech you! Henceforward I am ever ruled by you.‘. Capulet is delighted with this and forgives her. He then tells her to go and get ready.

Scene 3

Juliet is home and manages to get the Nurse to sleep elsewhere. She is then alone and is about to drink the potion but stops. She begins creating fantasies of what could go wrong. ‘What if this mixture do not work at all?‘ Then she thinks that the Friar is just trying to kill her. Then it moves over to Tybalt and she is afraid that Tybalt’s ghost will kill her, but eventually takes the potion and instantly falls asleep.

Scene 4

Capulet, Lady Capulet, the Nurse and all the servants are getting ready for the wedding. Capulet is ordering everyone around and then orders the Nurse to wake Juliet up  and prepare her for her wedding. ‘Go waken Juliet. Go and trim her up.’

Scene 5

The Nurse enters Juliet’s room and finds her dead. She shouts for the others and begins to cry, ‘Help, help! My lady’s dead!‘. Lady Capulet and Capulet enter and are devastated. They all begin to mourn over Juliet. The Friar, Paris and the musicians enter. Capulet tells them and they are shocked, (Friar Lawrence obviously knows what is going on). ‘Hath death lain with thy wife‘. Capulet talks about Juliet and says how she has died and so has his joy, ‘And with my child my joys are buried‘. After they prepare for her funeral.

Scene 1

Romeo is talking to himself, about his dream where he was dead but Juliet kissed him and revived him, ‘I dreamt my lady came and found me dead‘. Romeo is then interrupted by Balthasar, to which Romeo greets him with excitement. He asks if he had any letters for him from the Friar. Balthasar says no, so Romeo asks about Juliet. Balthasar brings bad news. He tells Romeo that she is dead and is in the Capulet’s monument, ‘Her body sleeps in Capels’ monument‘. Romeo is heartbroken and shocked. He instantly decides to return back to Verona. He then rushes to an Apothecary and asks the man for a poison. He offers the man a lot of gold for it and the man accepts, ‘Let me have a dram of poison‘. Romeo has the poison and rushes to Verona.

Scene 2

Friar John, a friend of Friar Lawrence, calls for Friar Lawrence. Lawrence greets him and asks what was Romeo’s response to the plan, ‘What says Romeo?’. Friar John explains to Lawrence he couldn’t deliver the letter to Romeo as he couldn’t get into Mantua due to a plague, ‘ where the infectious pestilence did reign’. Friar Lawrence is alarmed by this and tells John to get him a crow bar so he can break into Juliet’s tombs and save her, ‘Poor living corse, clos’d in a dead man’s tomb!’

Scene 3

Romeo enters Juliet’s tomb and meets Paris there. Paris and Romeo engage in a battle, where Paris is killed. ‘Wilt thou provoke me? Then have at thee, boy!‘ Romeo then looks onto Juliet and mourns. He talks about her beauty, then looks at Tybalt’s grave and apologises for killing him. Romeo takes the potion and dies beside Juliet, ‘Thy drugs are quick. Thus with a kiss I die.‘. Juliet wakes up as Friar Lawrence enters. He was too late but tells her to come quickly. Instead Juliet stays and kills herself, ‘There rust and let me die.‘. The Prince and both families arrive and the Friar explains everything. Capulet and Montague are ashamed and agree to end this war, ‘O brother Montague, give me thy hand.‘. The play then ends.