Romeo and Juliet Summary


Romeo and Juliet



Romeo and Juliet Synopsis

Summary of the Play


Romeo returns from his wedding and finds that his friend Mercutio is engaged in combat with Tybalt, a member of the Capulet family. Tybalt kills Mercutio. Romeo, enraged over his friend’s death, then slays Tybalt. Romeo immediately realizes that he has murdered his wife’s cousin and flees to Friar Laurence for help. He also learns that the Prince has banned him from the city under penalty of death if he is found within its borders. Friar Laurence arranges for Romeo to spend one last night with Juliet before he flees to Mantua.



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Romeo and Juliet Summary (Critical Survey of Literature for Students)

In Verona, Italy, there live two famous families, the Montagues and the Capulets. These two houses are deadly enemies, and their enmity does not stop at harsh words, but extend to bloody duels. Romeo, son of old Montague, thinks himself in love with haughty Rosaline, a beautiful girl who does not return his affection. Hearing that Rosaline is to attend a great feast at the house of Capulet, Romeo and his trusted friend, Mercutio, don masks and enter the great hall of their enemy as guests. Romeo is no sooner in the ballroom than he notices the exquisite Juliet, Capulet’s daughter, and instantly forgets his disdainful Rosaline. Romeo never saw Juliet before, and in asking her name he arouses the suspicion of Tybalt, a fiery member of the Capulet clan. Tybalt draws his sword and faces Romeo. Old Capulet, coming upon the two men, parts them, and with the gentility that comes with age requests that they have no bloodshed at the feast. Tybalt, however, is angered that a Montague should take part in Capulet festivities and afterward nurses a grudge against Romeo.

Romeo goes to Juliet, speaks in urgent courtliness to her, and asks if he might kiss her hand. She gives her permission, much impressed by this unknown gentleman whose affection for her is so evident. Romeo then begs to kiss her lips, and when she has no breath to object, he presses her to him. They are interrupted by Juliet’s nurse, who sends the young girl off to her mother. When she goes, Romeo learns from the nurse that Juliet is a Capulet. He is stunned, for he is certain that this fact will mean his death. He can never give her up. Juliet, who fell instantly in love with Romeo, discovers that he is a Montague, the son of a hated house.

That night Romeo, too much in love to go home to sleep, steals to Juliet’s house and stands in the orchard beneath a balcony that leads to her room. To his surprise, he sees Juliet leaning over the railing above him. Thinking herself alone, she begins to talk of Romeo and wishes aloud that he were not a Montague. Hearing her words, Romeo can contain himself no longer, but speaks to her. She is frightened at first, and when she sees who it is she is confused and ashamed that he overheard her confession. It is too late to pretend reluctance. Juliet freely admits her passion, and the two exchange vows of love. Juliet tells Romeo that she will marry him and will send him word by nine o’clock the next morning to arrange for their wedding.

Romeo then goes off to the monastery cell of Friar Lawrence to enlist his help in the ceremony. The good friar is much impressed with Romeo’s devotion. Thinking that the union of a Montague and a Capulet will dissolve the enmity between the two houses, he promises to marry Romeo and Juliet.

Early the next morning, while he is in company with his two friends, Benvolio and Mercutio, Romeo receives Juliet’s message, brought by her nurse. He tells the old woman of his arrangement with Friar Lawrence and bids her carry the word back to Juliet. The nurse gives her mistress the message. When Juliet appears at the friar’s cell at the appointed time, she and Romeo are married. Time is short, however, and Juliet has to hurry home. Before she leaves, Romeo promises that he will meet her in the orchard underneath the balcony after dark that night.

That same day, Romeo’s friends, Mercutio and Benvolio, are loitering in the streets when Tybalt comes by with some other members of the Capulet house. Tybalt, still holding his grudge against Romeo, accuses Mercutio of keeping company with the hateful and villainous young Montague. Mercutio, proud of his friendship with Romeo, cannot take insult lightly, for he is as hot-tempered when provoked as Tybalt. The two are beginning their heated quarrel when Romeo, who just returned from his wedding, appears. He is appalled at the situation because he knows that Juliet is fond of Tybalt, and he wishes no injury to his wife’s people. He tries in vain to settle the argument peaceably. Mercutio is infuriated by Romeo’s soft words, and when Tybalt calls Romeo a villain, Mercutio draws his sword and rushes to his friend’s defense. Tybalt, the better swordsman, gives Mercutio a mortal wound. Romeo can try to settle the fight no longer. Enraged at the death of his friend, he rushes at Tybalt with drawn sword and kills him quickly. The fight soon brings crowds of people to the spot. For his part in the fray, Romeo is banished from Verona.

Hiding out from the police, he goes, grief-stricken, to Friar Lawrence’s cell. The friar advises him to go to his wife that night, and then at dawn to flee to Mantua until the friar sees fit to publish the news of the wedding. Romeo consents to follow this advice. As darkness falls, he goes to meet Juliet. When dawn appears, heartsick Romeo leaves for Mantua.

Meanwhile, Juliet’s father decides that it is time for his daughter to marry. Having not the slightest idea of her love for Romeo, the old man demands that she accept her handsome and wealthy suitor, Paris. Juliet is horrified at her father’s proposal but dares not tell him of her marriage because of Romeo’s part in Tybalt’s death. She fears that her husband will be instantly sought out and killed if her family learned of the marriage.

At first she tries to put off her father with excuses. Failing to persuade him, she goes in dread to Friar Lawrence to ask the good monk what she could do. Telling her to be brave, the friar gives her a small flask of liquid which he tells her to swallow the night before her wedding to Paris. This liquid will make her appear to be dead for a certain length of time; her seemingly lifeless body will then be placed in an open tomb for a day or two, and during that time the friar would send for Romeo, who would rescue his bride when she awakens from the powerful effects of the draught. Then, together, the two will be able to flee Verona. Juliet almost loses courage over this desperate venture, but she promises to obey the friar. On the way home she meets Paris and modestly promises to be his bride.

The great house of the Capulets no sooner prepares for a lavish wedding than it becomes the scene of a mournful funeral. Juliet swallows the strong liquid and seems lifeless. Her anguished family sadly places her body in the tomb.

Meanwhile Friar Lawrence writes to Romeo in Mantua, telling him of the plan by which the lovers can make their escape together. These letters, however, fail to reach Romeo before word of Juliet’s death arrives. He determines to go to Verona and take his last farewell of her as she lies in her tomb, and there, with the help of poison procured from an apothecary, to die by her side.

Reaching the tomb at night, Romeo is surprised to find a young man there. It is Paris, who comes to weep over his lost bride. Thinking Romeo a grave robber, he draws his sword. Romeo, mistaking Paris for a hated Capulet, warns him that he is desperate and armed. Paris, in loyalty to Juliet, falls upon Romeo, but Romeo kills him. By the light of a lantern, Romeo recognizes Paris and, taking pity on one who also loved Juliet, draws him into the tomb so that Paris, too, can be near her. Then Romeo goes to the bier of his beautiful bride. Taking leave of her with a kiss, he drinks the poison he brought with him and soon dies by her side.

It is near the time for Juliet to awaken from her deathlike sleep. The friar, hearing that Romeo never received his letters, goes himself to deliver Juliet from the tomb. When he arrives, he finds Romeo dead. Juliet, waking, asks for her husband. Then, seeing him lying near her with an empty cup in his hands, she guesses what he did. She tries to kiss some of the poison from his lips that she, too, might die, but failing in this, she unsheathes his dagger and without hesitation plunges it into her breast.

By this time a guard comes up. Seeing the dead lovers and the body of Paris, he rushes off in horror to spread the news. When the Capulets and Montagues arrives at the tomb, the friar tells them of the unhappy fate that befell Romeo and Juliet, whose only sin was to love. His account of their tender and beautiful romance shames the two families, and over the bodies of their dead children they swear to end the feud of many years.

Romeo and Juliet Act and Scene Summary and Analysis

Act I, Scenes 1 and 2: Summary and Analysis

New Characters:

Sampson: a servant in the Capulet household

Gregory: a servant in the Capulet household

Benvolio: a peace-loving friend to Romeo and the Montague family

Tybalt: a fiery-tempered member of the Capulet family

Lord Capulet: the head of the Capulet household

Lady Capulet: the wife of Lord Capulet and mother of Juliet

Lord Montague: the head of the Montague household

Lady Montague: the wife of Lord Montague and the mother of Romeo

Prince Escalus: the Prince of Verona whose job is to keep the peace

Romeo: the tragic hero of the play who falls in love with the enemy’s daughter,...

(The entire section is 1961 words.)

Act I, Scenes 3-5: Summary and Analysis

New Characters:
Nurse: Juliet’s nurse who has taken care of her since her infancy

Susan: the Nurse’s daughter who was born on the same day as Juliet but died. She is not in the scene but is alluded to by the Nurse

Mercutio: a friend to Romeo who loves words

In Scene 3 Lady Capulet informs Juliet that it is time for her to think of marriage. At first Lady Capulet sends the Nurse away, but then calls her back, remembering that she knows all their secrets anyway. The Nurse and Lady Capulet discuss Juliet’s age; and the Nurse recalls exactly the hour of Juliet’s birth because she was born on Lammas Eve, the same day as Susan, her daughter who died.


(The entire section is 1772 words.)

Act II, Scenes 1 and 2: Summary and Analysis

Act II begins with another Prologue in the form of a sonnet which provides the audience with a preview of what is to come. It states that the shallow love that Romeo had for Rosaline has been replaced with love for Juliet. “Alike bewitched by the charm of looks” expresses that both Romeo and Juliet are mutually attracted to one another. His feelings are returned and “passion lends them power.”

Scene 1 takes place outside the walls of Lord Capulet’s house. Romeo feels that he cannot leave because his heart remains where Juliet lives, and he climbs over the wall into the orchard. Romeo’s friends, who do not know of Romeo’s new love, call for him and try to entreat him to come...

(The entire section is 883 words.)

Act II, Scenes 3 and 4: Summary and Analysis

New Characters:
Friar Laurence: a Franciscan friar who is a priest and a specialist in herbs and medicines. He hopes that the marriage will end the feud between the two families.

Peter: the Nurse’s servant

As Scene 3 begins, the reader finds Friar Laurence carrying a wicker basket and selecting herbs, flowers, and plants to use in making medicine. It is daybreak on Monday, the second day in the lives of the lovers. Friar Laurence tells how plants contain both poisonous and healing powers. If a plant’s use is abused, the result is harmful. “Virtue itself turns vice, being misapplied, / And vice sometime by action dignified.” He applies this same lesson to man, who...

(The entire section is 1094 words.)

Act II, Scenes 5 and 6: Summary and Analysis

Scene 5 takes place within the Capulet orchard where Juliet is anxiously waiting for the Nurse to return with news from Romeo. The Nurse left at nine o’clock and it is now twelve. Juliet wishes that the Nurse were as in love as she is so that she would be faster in her return, for the waiting is torture for Juliet. The Nurse finally arrives, and Juliet says, “O Lord, why lookest thou sad? / Though news be sad, yet tell them merrily; / If good, thou shamest the music of sweet news / By playing it to me with so sour a face.” The Nurse replies that her bones ache and asks that Juliet leave her alone for awhile. Juliet says, “I would thou hadst my bones, and I thy news.” The Nurse banters with Juliet,...

(The entire section is 1027 words.)

Act III, Scenes 1 and 2: Summary and Analysis

Scene 1 takes place on the streets of Verona. It is Monday afternoon on day two, about an hour after the wedding between Romeo and Juliet. Benvolio and Mercutio are walking down one of the streets when Benvolio suggests that they retire. The day is extremely hot, and if they meet with the Capulets, tempers will flare and there is bound to be a fight. Mercutio is ready for a fight and hopes to have one. The Capulets enter led by Tybalt, who inquires about Romeo. Tybalt had challenged Romeo to a duel to get revenge for his uninvited appearance at the Capulet ball. At this time, Romeo, who is returning from Friar Laurence’s chapel, approaches the group of men.

Tybalt insults Romeo by calling him a...

(The entire section is 1644 words.)

Act III, Scenes 3 and 4: Summary and Analysis

Scene 3 takes place on Monday night inside Friar Laurence’s cell. When Romeo fled the streets of Verona after the killings, he went there to hide. As the Friar approaches, the distraught Romeo asks what the Prince has decreed as his punishment.

The Friar says, “Not body’s death, but body’s banishment.” To this, Romeo cries that banishment is worse than death because “There is no world without Verona walls.” Friar Laurence attempts to make Romeo realize that he could have been sentenced to death, that the decree of banishment means that at least he will live. Romeo claims that not being able to see and touch Juliet is the same punishment as death. Romeo will not be consoled and throws...

(The entire section is 1108 words.)

Act III, Scene 5: Summary and Analysis

Scene 5 takes place very early Tuesday morning on day three. Romeo and Juliet have been together for the night and are discussing whether they hear the nightingale or the lark. The nightingale sings at night, and the lark sings in early morning. The child in Juliet insists that it is the nightingale, while Romeo insists that it is the lark, and he must hurry from the city. Juliet persuades him that it is the nightingale, and Romeo decides that he will stay longer, risking capture and even death. At this point, the more mature and fearful Juliet says that it is indeed the lark, and he must flee. They bid farewell, and Juliet has a vision that the next time that they see one another, he will be dead in a tomb....

(The entire section is 1045 words.)

Act IV, Scenes 1-3: Summary and Analysis

As scene 1 opens, Paris is found at Friar Laurence’s cell consulting with him about his wedding plans. The friar, who knows why this marriage can never take place, says that it is rushing to have the marriage on Thursday. Paris tells Friar Laurence that they have decided to go ahead and marry because Juliet has been weeping uncontrollably, and her father is worried about her. Lord Capulet, not knowing that she weeps for Romeo, believes that the marriage will help her get over Tybalt’s death more quickly. Juliet arrives and Paris greets her as his wife. She responds coolly but cordially. After Paris tells her that he will come for her early Thursday morning, he departs. Juliet entreats the Friar to “come...

(The entire section is 1233 words.)

Act IV, Scenes 4 and 5: Summary and Analysis

Scene 4 takes place in a hall of the Capulet’s house. Lord and Lady Capulet, the Nurse, and numerous servants are busily preparing for the wedding. The Capulets and their servants are making jokes, not realizing that Juliet is in a deathlike trance in her room. She has risked her life in order to avoid what her family is celebrating. The curfew bell has just chimed three o’clock on Wednesday morning. Lord Capulet hears the music made by Paris and his company as they come for Juliet, and sends the Nurse to awaken and prepare her for the wedding.

Scene 5 is within Juliet’s chamber. The Nurse comes into her room calling for her to get up because Paris is arriving. She calls her a “slugabed,”...

(The entire section is 916 words.)

Act V, Scenes 1 and 2: Summary and Analysis

New Characters:
Balthasar: a servant to Romeo

Apothecary: a druggist in Mantua who is extremely poor

Friar John: a Franciscan friar who is a friend to Friar Laurence

Romeo is waiting for Balthasar to arrive with news from Verona. He is in Mantua and it is Thursday. He has had a dream that Juliet finds him dead, and she brings him back to life as an emperor with her kisses. Balthasar arrives telling Romeo that he saw Juliet buried in the Capulet tomb. Romeo says, “Then I defy you, stars!” and makes a hasty plan. He orders Balthasar to hire some fast horses and bring him ink and paper. Romeo inquires if there is a letter from the friar, and when the servant...

(The entire section is 867 words.)

Act V, Scene 3: Summary and Analysis

New Characters:
Page: a servant to Paris

Scene 3 takes place in the churchyard where the Capulet monument is located. Paris and the Page are outside the tomb of Juliet. Paris instructs the page to put out the torch and stand guard while he enters the tomb. The Page is to whistle if anyone approaches. As Paris begins to enter the tomb the Page whistles, indicating that someone is near. Paris watches as Romeo and Balthasar approach. Romeo instructs Balthasar to give a letter to his father the next morning and not to intervene with his purpose. Romeo tells Balthasar that the reason he is at the tomb is to look upon Juliet’s face and to remove a ring from her finger. Balthasar is then...

(The entire section is 1647 words.)