Romeo and Juliet is the most famous love story in English literature. It is a tragedy written by William Shakespeareabout two young lovers whose deaths reconcile their enemy families: the Montagues and the Capulets. They have to hide their love because they know that their parents will not allow them to be together. There are many obstacles on their way, like Juliet's cousin, Tybalt, and Romeo's friend Mercutio. The play was among Shakespeare's most popular works during his lifetime and, along with Hamlet, is one of his most frequently performed.
Summary of the play
Romeo is sad because he is in love with Rosaline who refuses to return his affection. In order to see her, he goes masked to a party given by Lord Capulet, the enemy of his family, the Montagues. There he meets Juliet, Capulet’s daughter. The two young people fall in love at first sight.
After the party Romeo enters the Capulets’ garden and, seeing Juliet at her balcony, admires her beauty. Juliet, not knowing Romeo is below, confesses that she loves him despite the fact that he is a Montague. Romeo speaks to her, they exchange vows of love and plan to be married. The following day, they are happily married by Friar Laurence who consents to celebrate the marriage in the hope that it will bring their families to a reconciliation. Later Romeo is involved in a fight in which Tybalt, Juliet’s cousin, kills Mercutio, Romeo’s best friend. To revenge him, Romeo kills Tybalt and is banished from the town by the Prince of Verona.
After they have spent their wedding night together, Romeo has to leave Juliet and go to Mantua because he will killed if he is found in Verona. Lady Capulet announces to Juliet that the noble Paris wants to marry her and that her father is arranging the wedding for the next day. Juliet refuses to marrv him saying that it is too soon after Tybalt’s death. Her father is furious and Juliet decides to go to Friar Laurence for help.
Friar Laurence suggests to pretend to agree to the marriage. Then, in order to avoid the wedding, in the evening she should take a potion which will make her fall into a sleep similar to death. Meanwhile the Friar will inform Romeo and both of them will be present in the Capulets’ vault when she wakes up. Seeing no other way out, Juliet agrees. She follows the Friar’s instructions, although she is frightened at drinking the potion. Everybody believes she has died of grief caused by Tybalt’s death.
The messenger sent to Romeo by Friar Laurence to inform him of his secret plan is held up by health officers because of a suspected outbreak of plague. So, Romeo, who is in Mantua, learns about Juliet’s death from his servant without knowing the truth. He buys a poison and returns to Verona to kill himself near Juliet’s body. When he arrives at the Capulets’ vault, he kisses Juliet for the last time and drinks the poison.
Friar Laurence arrives too late to stop him but in time to see Juliet waking up. Hearing a noise outside, he vainly tries to take Juliet away and then leaves her. Juliet sees Romeo dead and stabs herself with his knife. The Montagues and the Capulets are called to the vault. Friar Laurence explains what has happened and the two families get reconciled over the two bodies of their children.
The Balcony Scene (Act 2, Scene 2)
JULIET
O Romeo, Romeo! wherefore art thou Romeo? Deny thy father and refuse thy name; Or, if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love, And I'll no longer be a Capulet.
ROMEO
[Aside] Shall I hear more, or shall I speak at this?
JULIET
'Tis but thy name that is my enemy; Thou art thyself, though not a Montague. What's 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; So Romeo would, were he not Romeo call'd, Retain that dear perfection which he owes Without that title. Romeo, doff thy name, And for that name which is no part of thee Take all myself.
ROMEO
I take thee at thy word: Call me but love, and I'll be new baptized; Henceforth I never will be Romeo.
JULIET
What man art thou that thus bescreen'd in night So stumblest on my counsel?
ROMEO
By a name I know not how to tell thee who I am: My name, dear saint, is hateful to myself, Because it is an enemy to thee; Had I it written, I would tear the word.
JULIET
My ears have not yet drunk a hundred words Of that tongue's utterance, yet I know the sound: Art thou not Romeo and a Montague?
ROMEO
Neither, fair saint, if either thee dislike.
JULIET
How camest thou hither, tell me, and wherefore? The orchard walls are high and hard to climb, And the place death, considering who thou art, If any of my kinsmen find thee here.
ROMEO
With love's light wings did I o'er-perch these walls; For stony limits cannot hold love out, And what love can do that dares love attempt; Therefore thy kinsmen are no let to me.
JULIET
If they do see thee, they will murder thee.
ROMEO
Alack, there lies more peril in thine eye Than twenty of their swords: look thou but sweet, And I am proof against their enmity.
JULIET
I would not for the world they saw thee here.
ROMEO
I have night's cloak to hide me from their sight; And but thou love me, let them find me here: My life were better ended by their hate, Than death prorogued, wanting of thy love.
Download here a lesson plan based around the famous balcony scene. It looks at the themes and language that Shakespeare uses to describe love. It gives students reading, speaking and writing practice. Level: B2+ Time: 90 minutes
William Shakespeare, English poet and playwright, was born in Stratford-upon-Avon (1564-1616). His father was a merchant and eminent citizen, so Shakespeare could attend the local Grammar School. At 18 he married Anne Hathaway and had three children. Ten years later he was already famous in London as an actor and dramatist. When the theatres were closed down because of the plague, Shakespeare turned to poetry and produced two long poems and a number of sonnets. In 1595 he was one of the owners of the company of actors called the Chamberlain's Men, and in 1599 he became co-partner of the Globe Theatre. Now rich and important, he obtained a coat of arms for his family and bought New Place, a large house in Stratford, for himself. Here he retired in 1610 and died in 1616. Shakespeare lived in an age, the Elizabethan age, in which all the arts flowered under the influence of the Renaissance. London, as the capital of the kingdom, was the centre of the cultural revival: the poets celebrated the Queen, the players acted in front of the Court, the playwrights and the companies of actors needed the protection of important lords to perform their plays. Many public theatres were opened on the banks of the Thames, and the Globe was the most famous. Shakespeare produced about 36 plays.
