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His Major Plays
Romeo and Juliet
 Romeo and Juliet was written by William Shakespeare at
his juncture in his literary career, probably in 1594 or in 1595. In the
20th century, the critics tend to give more attention to the four greatest
tragedies of William Shakespeare. Compared to Shakespeare’s mature works,
Romeo and Juliet has no psychological depth and the structural
complexity of Shakespeare’s later tragedies. Today the modern scholars have
changed their opinions to give a new evaluation of judging Romeo and
Juliet as a work of art.
Romeo, the son of Montague, meets his cousin Benvolio.
Benvolio finds that Romeo loves a woman named Rosaline who doesn’t love
Romeo.
Juliet’s father, Capulet holds a big party inviting many
people including Paris a kinship of the Prince. Paris tends to marry Juliet
who is not even 14 and Capulet hopes that during the dinner Paris can win
Juliet’s heart. Capulet sends his servant to invite the people and the
servant meets Romeo and Benvolio who agree to attend the banquet.
During the party, Romeo and Juliet fall in love at the first
sight of each other. They kiss without knowing each other’s name. But one
kinsman of the Capulet, Tybalt finds Romeo is there. He is angry because
that a “Montague” is the enemy of the Capulets. Both of the lovers are sad
when they know one anther’s name. After the party, Romeo goes back to the
house of Capulet, and finds out in her room Juliet mentions his name. They
exchange vows of love.
Romeo goes to confessor Friar Laurence, and asks him to marry
him and Juliet. Friar Laurence sees that the marriage of Romeo and Juliet
may end the hatred between the two families. The following day, Romeo and
Juliet are married in secret. Tybalt is very angry with Romeo and asks a
duel between him and Romeo. Romeo, incited by Mercutio, fights Tybalt and
kills him. Then the Prince declares that Romeo can never return to Verona.
Before he goes away, Friar Laurence arranges him to spend the wedding with
Juliet.
Juliet is told by her nurse that Romeo has killed her
kinsman. But she still loves Romeo. She waits for Romeo to come in her room
and she and he perfect their marriage by spending the night.
Refusing to marry herself to Paris, Juliet asks her nurse how to deal with
it. The nurse tells him that Paris is a better match, and maybe Romeo is
dead or whatsoever. Juliet is disgusted with the nurse’s words.
Friar Laurence has a plan that the young lovers may get
together. He gives Juliet a special poison that makes her appear dead. When
the Capulet family buries her, he and Romeo can save her. He sends Friar
John to tell Romeo everything. But his message never reaches Romeo and Romeo
only knows that Juliet is dead. He doesn’t want to live without Juliet so
that he goes to the tomb of Juliet. There he meets Paris and they fight.
Paris is killed and Romeo kills himself too. Juliet wakes and Friar tells
her everything. She is too upset and kisses Romeo’s poisoned lips and stabs
herself with Romeo’s sword, and dies. The following act vividly represents
the tragic scene:
Act V
Scene iii: A churchyard
[Juliet wakes
and stirs.]
Juliet: O comfortable friar! where is my lord?—I do remember well where I
should be, And there I am:—where is my Romeo?
[Noise
within.]
Friar: I hear
some noise.—Lady, come from that nest
Of death,
contagion, and unnatural sleep:
A greater
power than we can contradict
Hath thwarted
our intents:—come, come away!
Thy husband
in thy bosom there lies dead;
And Paris
too:—come, I'll dispose of thee
Among a
sisterhood of holy nuns:
Stay not to
question, for the watch is coming.
Come, go,
good Juliet [noise within] ,—I dare no longer stay.
Juliet: Go, get thee hence, for I will not away.—
[Exit Friar
Lawrence.]
What's here?
a cup, clos'd in my true love's hand?
Poison, I
see, hath been his timeless end:—
O churl!
drink all, and left no friendly drop
To help me
after?—I will kiss thy lips;
Haply some
poison yet doth hang on them,
To make me
die with a restorative.
[Kisses him.]
Thy lips are
warm!
1 Watch.
[Within.]
Lead, boy:—which way?
Juliet.: Yea, noise?—Then I'll be brief.—O happy dagger!
[Snatching
Romeo's dagger.]
This is thy sheath
[stabs herself] ; there rest, and let me die.
[Falls on
Romeo's body and dies.]
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