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the town of Verona lived two families, the Capulets
and the Montagues, engaged in a bitter feud. Among
the Montagues was Romeo, a hot-blooded lad with
an eye for the ladies.
One day, Romeo was recounting for his friends
his love for Rosaline, a haughty beauty from
a well-to-do family. Romeo's friends chided
him for his "love of love" but agreed to a plan
to attend the feast of the Capulets', a costume
party where Rosaline was expected to make an
appearance. The disguises would provide Romeo
and his friends a bit of sport and the opportunity
to gaze undetected upon the fair Rosaline. Once
there, however, Romeo's eyes fell upon Juliet,
and he thought of Rosaline no more.
Asking around to learn the identity of Juliet,
Romeo's voice is recognized by Tybalt, a member
of the Capulet clan. Tybalt calls for his sword,
but the elder Capulet intervenes, insisting
that no blood be shed in his home. So Romeo
is tolerated long enough to find an opportunity
to speak to Juliet alone, still unaware of her
identity.
He begs for an opportunity to kiss her hand.
She relents. He presses his case, desiring her
lips. She has no breath to stop him. Interrupted
by the girl's nurse, Romeo learns the name of
his heart's desire: Juliet Capulet.
The vision of Juliet now invades his every thought.
Unable to sleep, Romeo returns late that night
to the bedroom window of his love, hiding in
the bushes below. There, he is surprised to
find Juliet on the balcony, professing her love
for him and wishing that he were not a Montague.
O
Romeo, Romeo! Wherefore art thou Romeo?
Deny thy father and refuse thy name. . .
What's a Montague? It is nor hand, nor foot,
Nor arm, nor face, nor any other part
Belonging to a man. O, be some other name!
What's in a name? That which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet. .
Romeo appears from the bushes, ready to deny
his name and profess his love. The two agree
to meet at nine o-clock the next morning to
be married.
Early the next morning, Romeo appears at the
cell of Friar Lawrence begging the friar to
marry him to Juliet. Friar Lawrence does not
take Romeo seriously at first, but he is soon
impressed with Romeo's sincerity. The Friar
agrees to perform the ceremony, praying that
the union might someday put an end to the feud
between the two households. Still, he advises
Romeo keep the marriage a secret for a time.
Romeo and Juliet are married.
On the way home, Romeo chances upon his friend
Mercutio arguing with Tybalt in the public square.
Spying Romeo, Tybalt tries to taunt him into
a fight. Romeo has no desire to harm the kinsman
of his new wife. Mercutio is stunned and embarrassed
by Romeo's soft words and draws his sword. Romeo
tries to restrain his friend, but Tybalt thrusts
his sword underneath Romeo's arm, stabbing Mercutio.
Tybalt then flees with his friends. The wound
is worse than at first suspected. "Ask for me
tomorrow," says Mercutio, "and you shall find
me a grave man." He dies.
Tybalt returns still cursing the unexpectedly
reluctant Romeo. But Romeo is reluctant no longer,
drawing his sword and slaying Tybalt. The moment
Tybalt falls, Romeo realizes he has made a terrible
mistake: "O, I am fortune's fool!"
Desperate, Romeo rushes to Friar Lawrence who
advises him to travel to Mantua until things
cool down. He promises to inform Juliet.
Juliet receives the news of Tybalt's death and
Romeo's exile. She dares not mention her marriage
to her father now. Then, she receives more bad
news. Her father has decided it is time for
her to marry. He has selected a suitor: Paris,
a kinsman of Mercutio.
Juliet, too, rushes to Friar Lawrence for counsel.
The good Friar launches an elaborate plot. Juliet
should agree to marry Paris. She will then take
a sleeping potion, which will simulate death
for three days. Her body will be placed in a
tomb while she is mourned, and the Friar will
send word to Romeo. Romeo will arrive in time
to rescue her. The celebration over her return
to life will provide an opportunity to explain
about the marriage and the circumstances surrounding
Tybalt's death.
The plot proceeds according to plan, and the
wedding preparations for Paris and Juliet give
way to solemn funeral arrangements. But the
Friar's letter to Romeo fails to reach him before
he hears of Juliet's death. Romeo obtains a
poison from an apothecary and travels to Verona.
Under the cover of darkness, he breaks into
Juliet's tomb. They are alone for only a moment.
Paris, who also had come to mourn Juliet, interrupts,
and believing Romeo to be a grave robber, draws
his sword. The two men fight, and Paris is killed.
Dying, Paris asks that his body be placed next
to Juliet's. Only now recognizing Paris, the
guilt stricken Romeo obliges.
Then Romeo kisses the lips of his Juliet one
last time.
Eyes,
look your last.
Arms, take your last embrace.
And, lips, O you the doors of breath,
Seal with a righteous kiss
A dateless bargain to engrossing death
Romeo thanks the apothecary for his skill and
drinks the poison.
The effects of the sleeping potion wear off,
and Juliet awakens calling for Romeo. Finding
him next to her, dead, with a cup in his hand,
she guesses what has transpired. She tries to
kiss the poison from his lips, but failing that,
unsheathes his dagger and plunges it into her
breast.
Friar Lawrence learns that Romeo has not received
his letter and rushes to Juliet's tomb to rescue
her. He discovers the tomb already open and
finds the sad contents within. Soon the Friar
is joined by the Night Watchman, who had been
alerted to the disturbance. Then the families
gather around the star-crossed lovers. The Friar's
mournful account of their death shames the two
families into ending their feud forever.
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