Romeo and Juliet. Shakespeare’s play about the doomed romance of two teenagers from feuding families is the most famous love story ever written. First performed around 1596, Romeo and Juliet has been adapted as a ballet, an opera, the musical West Side Story, and a dozen films. Major Works Data Sheet Advanced Placement Literature and Composition Title: Romeo & Juliet Author: William Shakespeare Date of Publication:1597 Genre: Tragic Drama Biographical Information about the Author: William Shakespeare was born on April 23, 1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon, United Kingdom.
Character summaries from Shakespeare's timeless love story
Romeo and Juliet Main Characters
The passionate, the witty, the proud, the loyal: learn what makes the characters fromRomeo and Juliet so beloved.
Romeo
Romeo is the teenage son of the Montague family, who are busy feuding with the Capulets. In the beginning, Romeo is brooding over his unrequited love for Rosaline. When he sees Juliet at a party, Romeo instantly falls in love with her instead. They impulsively decide to marry the next day. Romeo initially refuses to fight Juliet’s cousin Tybalt; but when Tybalt kills Mercutio, Romeo avenges his friend’s death and kills him. He is banished as a result. Later, believing Juliet to be dead, he kills the mourning Paris, drinks poison and dies.
O true apothecary, / Thy drugs are quick. Thus with a kiss I die
— Romeo; Act 5 Scene 3Juliet
Juliet Capulet, on the cusp of 14 years old, falls in love with Romeo, the son ofher family’s enemy. She subsequently proposes marriage. With the help of Nurse, her guardian, they are secretly married. However, in the wake of Tybalt’s death (and ignorant of her marriage to Romeo) LordCapulet arranges for Juliet to marry Count Paris the next day. Cut off from all support except for that ofFriar Laurence, she takes a sleeping draught to fake her own death, hoping toreunite with Romeo. When she wakes to find him dead beside her, she stabsherself.
Parting is such sweet sorrow / That I shall say good night till it be morrow
— Juliet; Act 2 Scene 1Friar Laurence
Friar Laurence is a Franciscan friar and a mentor to Romeo and Juliet. Hesecretly marries them, hoping to broker peace between the two families. The Friar later arranges for a banished Romeo to spend the night with Juliet before he leaves. He prepares a potion forJuliet in order to fake her death, avoid marriage to Paris, and reunite withRomeo, but his warning message to Romeo never reaches him. When Juliet finds Romeo dead, the Friar fruitlessly triesto convince her to leave the tomb. He is initially suspected of her murder but soon freed.
These violent delights have violent ends
— Friar Laurence; Act 4 Scene 5The Nurse
The widowed Nurse is a loyal companion to Juliet, having cared for her since she was a baby. Herlong-winded stories, raunchy comments, and distaste for men generally serve ascomic relief throughout the play. She helps to arrangeJuliet and Romeo’s secret marriage and often acts as an intermediary betweenthem. The Nurse tries to stand up for Juliet when her family cuts her off; however she later advises Juliet to marry Count Paris—which is ultimately the cause of the falling outbetween the two. She deeply grieves over Juliet’s death.
She's dead, deceased, she's dead; alack the day!
— Nurse; Act 4 Scene 5Mercutio
Mercutio is a relative of the Prince of Verona and a closefriend to Romeo. His volatile nature, quick wit, and saucy wordplay serve as comic relief throughout the play. At the beginning of the play, he attends the Capulets’ party with Romeo and Benvolio. When Tybaltchallenges Romeo and the latter refusesto fight back, Mercutio immediately attacks Tybalt. Finally, when Romeo tries to intervene, Mercutio is wounded and dies after cursing both families for their futile feuding. Hisdeath is a catalyst for the tragedies that follow.
A plague o’ both your houses
— Mercutio; Act 3 Scene 1Tybalt
Tybalt is the nephew of Lady Capulet and Juliet’s cousin.The Nurse also considers him her best friend. Hot-headed and proud, Tybalt is always a troublemaker. Mercutio mockingly calls him 'the prince of cats'! Discovering the Montague boys atthe Capulets’ party, he is eager to fight but is restrained by Lord Capulet. Helater formally challenges Romeo, but Romeo refuses to fight. Mercutio fightsTybalt instead and ismortally wounded. Tybalt escapes the scene pursued by a vengeful Romeo and is slayed by his hand. His deathis the cause of Romeo’s banishment.
This, by his voice, should be a Montague.— Fetch me my rapier, boy
— Tybalt; Act 1 Scene 5Romeo and Juliet Minor Characters
Escalus, Prince of Verona
Paris
Page
Montagues
Montague
Lady Montague
Benvolio
Abram
Balthasar
Capulets
Capulet
Lady Capulet
Follower
Cousin Capulet
Peter
Sampson
Gregory
Servant
Servingmen
Other
Friar John
The Apothecary
Fiddler and Musician's
The Watch
Citizens
The Chorus
Character summaries from Shakespeare's timeless love story
Romeo and Juliet Main Characters
The passionate, the witty, the proud, the loyal: learn what makes the characters fromRomeo and Juliet so beloved.
Romeo
Romeo is the teenage son of the Montague family, who are busy feuding with the Capulets. In the beginning, Romeo is brooding over his unrequited love for Rosaline. When he sees Juliet at a party, Romeo instantly falls in love with her instead. They impulsively decide to marry the next day. Romeo initially refuses to fight Juliet’s cousin Tybalt; but when Tybalt kills Mercutio, Romeo avenges his friend’s death and kills him. He is banished as a result. Later, believing Juliet to be dead, he kills the mourning Paris, drinks poison and dies.
O true apothecary, / Thy drugs are quick. Thus with a kiss I die
— Romeo; Act 5 Scene 3Juliet
Juliet Capulet, on the cusp of 14 years old, falls in love with Romeo, the son ofher family’s enemy. She subsequently proposes marriage. With the help of Nurse, her guardian, they are secretly married. However, in the wake of Tybalt’s death (and ignorant of her marriage to Romeo) LordCapulet arranges for Juliet to marry Count Paris the next day. Cut off from all support except for that ofFriar Laurence, she takes a sleeping draught to fake her own death, hoping toreunite with Romeo. When she wakes to find him dead beside her, she stabsherself.
Parting is such sweet sorrow / That I shall say good night till it be morrow
— Juliet; Act 2 Scene 1Friar Laurence
Friar Laurence is a Franciscan friar and a mentor to Romeo and Juliet. Hesecretly marries them, hoping to broker peace between the two families. The Friar later arranges for a banished Romeo to spend the night with Juliet before he leaves. He prepares a potion forJuliet in order to fake her death, avoid marriage to Paris, and reunite withRomeo, but his warning message to Romeo never reaches him. When Juliet finds Romeo dead, the Friar fruitlessly triesto convince her to leave the tomb. He is initially suspected of her murder but soon freed.
These violent delights have violent ends
— Friar Laurence; Act 4 Scene 5
The Nurse
The widowed Nurse is a loyal companion to Juliet, having cared for her since she was a baby. Herlong-winded stories, raunchy comments, and distaste for men generally serve ascomic relief throughout the play. She helps to arrangeJuliet and Romeo’s secret marriage and often acts as an intermediary betweenthem. The Nurse tries to stand up for Juliet when her family cuts her off; however she later advises Juliet to marry Count Paris—which is ultimately the cause of the falling outbetween the two. She deeply grieves over Juliet’s death.
She's dead, deceased, she's dead; alack the day!
— Nurse; Act 4 Scene 5Mercutio
Major Works Data Sheet Romeo And Juliet Analysis
Major Works Data Sheet Romeo And Juliet Play
Mercutio is a relative of the Prince of Verona and a closefriend to Romeo. His volatile nature, quick wit, and saucy wordplay serve as comic relief throughout the play. At the beginning of the play, he attends the Capulets’ party with Romeo and Benvolio. When Tybaltchallenges Romeo and the latter refusesto fight back, Mercutio immediately attacks Tybalt. Finally, when Romeo tries to intervene, Mercutio is wounded and dies after cursing both families for their futile feuding. Hisdeath is a catalyst for the tragedies that follow.
A plague o’ both your houses
— Mercutio; Act 3 Scene 1Tybalt
Major Works Data Sheet Romeo And Juliet Summary
Tybalt is the nephew of Lady Capulet and Juliet’s cousin.The Nurse also considers him her best friend. Hot-headed and proud, Tybalt is always a troublemaker. Mercutio mockingly calls him 'the prince of cats'! Discovering the Montague boys atthe Capulets’ party, he is eager to fight but is restrained by Lord Capulet. Helater formally challenges Romeo, but Romeo refuses to fight. Mercutio fightsTybalt instead and ismortally wounded. Tybalt escapes the scene pursued by a vengeful Romeo and is slayed by his hand. His deathis the cause of Romeo’s banishment.
This, by his voice, should be a Montague.— Fetch me my rapier, boy
— Tybalt; Act 1 Scene 5Romeo and Juliet Minor Characters
Escalus, Prince of Verona
Paris
Page
Montagues
Major Works Data Sheet Romeo And Juliet
Montague
Lady Montague
Benvolio
Abram
Balthasar
Capulets
Capulet
Lady Capulet
Follower
Cousin Capulet
Peter
Sampson
Gregory
Servant
Servingmen
Major Works Data Sheet Romeo And Juliet Book
Other
Major Works Data Sheet Romeo And Juliet Movie
Friar John
The Apothecary
Fiddler and Musician's
The Watch
Citizens
The Chorus