The Tragical History of Juliet and Romeo

“The Tragical history of Juliet and Romeo” is a fresh look at an old story beloved by millions.

This tale of youthful passion and star-crossed love often gets lost in the Shakespearean pomp. Shakespeare wrote for the enjoyment of everyone, not simply students of dramatic literature.

Juliet, a romantic, falls passionately in love with a boy she meets at a dance. Romeo, also a romantic, falls equally in love, only to discover their families are mortal enemies.

Later that night she steps out onto her balcony to express her desires in private. Romeo, who has climbed the orchard wall, overhears, and declares his love matches hers. She agrees to succumb to her desires only if they are married. The next day she sneaks out to meet Romeo at the chapel where they are married by the friar before God.

That afternoon, while she yearns for night to come to her bedroom, Romeo is provoked by the death of his best friend, into a street fight with her cousin and kills him, setting her household in turmoil and Romeo’s banishment from the walled city.

Banished from the gated city, and Juliet promised to another, the lovers become desperate to be together or die apart.

Although banished, he sneaks into her room that night to consummate their marriage before he leaves for Mantua.

It is a glorious night of splendour spoiled that morning when her father declares she must marry Paris or be disowned.

Determined to kill herself rather than be married again she seeks the friar who married them for help. “If in your wisdom you can give no help, then you must agree that this knife will resolve it quickly.” Instead they hatch a plan for her to fake death. She goes home, apologizes and agrees to the wedding. Her father is so overjoyed he moves up the wedding to tomorrow, unexpectedly altering the timeline of their plan.

Trusting that the friar will get word to Romeo about the change, she takes the drug and is found as dead in the morning.