Romeo and Juliet

Written by William Shakespeare

Romeo and Juliet, the children of two feuding families, meet and fall in love at a masquerade ball. With the knowledge that their parents would never consent to their marriage, they wed in secret.

When feudal fighting escalates and results in the deaths of both Romeo’s best friend and Juliet’s cousin, Romeo is banished from Verona, forcing him to leave Juliet behind. Oblivious to Juliet’s married state, her parents advise her she is to wed Paris, which she refuses to do. Out of desperation and with the help of Friar Laurence, Juliet plots to fake her own death so that she can escape the arranged marriage and flee to be with Romeo.

Romeo, unaware of the ruse, hears of Juliet’s death and returns to Verona to visit her tomb where he, believing her to be truly dead, commits suicide. Juliet then awakens in Romeo’s final moments and in grief, follows him into death.