Plot Summary

ROMEO AND JULIET

Act I

T he play opens in the streets of Verona, Italy, with the servants of two feuding families, the Capulets
and Montagues, fighting. The servants are soon joined by Tybalt, a Capulet, who is eager to join the
brawl, and Benvolio, a Montague, who tries to make peace. Prince Escalus threatens the death penalty
to those who are responsible for any further fighting. As the crowd dissipates, Romeo, the Montague
heir, confides in Benvolio his despair that a woman he loves, Rosaline, does not return his affection.
Benvolio advises him to find someone else. Meanwhile, Capulet agrees to let Paris court his daughter
Juliet, and the party that evening would be the perfect place to start. Romeo and Benvolio read the
invitation list for the Capulet party, and they plan to go to compare other women to Rosaline. Back at
the Capulet home, Juliet’s mother Lady Capulet and her Nurse discuss the possibility of Juliet marrying
Paris. While she is not thrilled with the idea of marrying at 13, Juliet promises she will give Paris a
chance. Later that evening on the way to the party, Romeo’s friends, Mercutio and Benvolio, attempt to
cheer him up, but it is not until he sees Juliet that Romeo forgets about Rosaline. The two meet, kiss, and
fall in love, even though they are aware that their families are mortal enemies. Tybalt recognizes Romeo
and vows revenge.

Act II
Romeo sneaks back to the Capulet orchard to see Juliet despite the dan-
ger. The two proclaim their love for one another and plan to get married
the following day. The next morning, Romeo meets with Friar Laurence
who agrees to marry them in hopes that the marriage will end the feud
between the families. Romeo catches up with his friends and hears of
Tybalt’s challenge to him. Romeo also meets with the Nurse to plan his
wedding to Juliet later that day. Juliet gets permission from her parents to
go to church that afternoon, where she and Romeo are married.

Act III
Act III opens with Tybalt, Juliet’s cousin, meeting Benvolio and Mercutio in
the town square as he searches for Romeo. Tybalt provokes Mercutio to 1870 oil painting by Ford Madox Brown
depicting Romeo and Juliet's famous
fight, and Romeo joins them right after his marriage. Tybalt kills Mercutio, balcony scene
and Romeo avenges Mercutio’s death by killing Tybalt. Romeo flees.
Prince Escalus, after hearing the whole story, punishes Romeo by banishing him from Verona. The Nurse
brings the news to Juliet, who struggles between family loyalty and love for her husband. Romeo hears
of his banishment from Friar Laurence, who persuades Romeo to spend the night with Juliet before
escaping to Mantua. The Capulets, in an attempt to cheer up the grieving Juliet, decide that she should
marry Paris on Thursday. When Juliet tells her parents she does not want to marry Paris, her father flies
into a rage and threatens to disown her if she does not. Juliet turns to the Nurse for help, who suggests
she marry Paris.

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 THE PLAY AND THE PLAYWRIGHT

Plot Summary
CONTINUED

Act IV
Juliet, in desperation, goes to Friar Laurence for help. He comes up with a plan for her to drink a po-
tion that will make her appear to be dead so that when she awakens in the family tomb, Romeo will
be waiting for her, and they will be able to escape to Mantua together. As part of Friar Laurence’s
plan, Juliet returns to her home and apologizes to her father for her disobedience. She drinks the po-
tion later that evening. The next morning, the Nurse finds her lifeless in her bedroom, and the family
changes wedding arrangements to funeral preparations.

Act V
Throughout Act IV, Romeo is hiding in Mantua, awaiting news from Verona. Balthasar, his servant,
brings him news that Juliet is dead. Romeo visits an apothecary to buy poison for the purpose of kill-
ing himself, so he can be with Juliet once again. Back in Verona, Friar Laurence finds out that his mes-
sage regarding Juliet’s fake death had not been delivered. He hurries to the Capulet family tomb to
be there when Juliet wakes up. Romeo beats Friar Laurence to the tomb. He opens the tomb to see
Juliet one more time, drinks the poison, and dies next to his love. Friar Laurence arrives as Juliet
wakes up and tries to convince her to leave with him. She refuses. After he leaves, she sees the life-
less Romeo, kisses him, and kills herself with a dagger. The Prince, Capulets, and Montagues arrive
and learn of the events of the evening. The Capulets and Montagues, both distraught over the
deaths of their children, vow to end the feud.

Romeo at Juliet's Deathbed, Henry Fuseli, 1809

By Tanya Sponholz
PRESCOTT HIGH SCHOOL

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 Character Chart
ROMEO AND JULIET

Below is a chart that indicates each character’s relationship to Juliet or Romeo.

Capulet Lady Montague

Lady
(Father) Capulet (Father)
Montague
(Mother) (Mother)

Tybalt Rosaline Benvolio

(Cousin) (Crush) (Cousin)

Juliet Romeo

Friar
Nurse John Balthasar
(Nanny) (Servant)

Mercutio
Sampson and
Gregory Friar Abraham
(Servants) Laurence (Servant)
Paris
(Suitor)

Prince
Escalus

Key

Family Capulet
Friends Montague
Love Interests Neutral
Servants

By Maggie Quam
HMONG COLLEGE PREP ACADEMY

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