Romeo and Juliet

Romeo & Juliet

Romeo and Juliet, although lacking the psychological depth and complexity when aligned with William Shakespeare's other notable works, such as King Lear, Hamlet, The Merchant of Venice, is nonetheless a brooding account of an incalculable tragedy, reinforced by the love and hate polarity that permeates throughout the story as well as Shakespeare's continual invocation of light and darkness. This brief discussion offers a summary of the play highlighting the most significant aspects of the storyline.

The story immediately introduces the main tension of the play. Indeed, within the first lines uttered, the reader finds servants of the Montague's and Capulet's quarrelling and fighting in the streets of Verona. In the meantime, Romeo, who is the son of a Montague, discovers that a ball is being offered by Lord Capulet (otherwise known as Paris). Romeo plans to attend even though he was not invited and will not be welcomed if discovered. Mercutio and Benvolio, Romeo's friends, decide to go with him and, disguised in masks, they sneak in and attend the ball. It is here when Romeo meets Juliet, who is a Capulet, and he immediately falls in love with her; even when the party is over he stands at her window and each vows their declarations of love for one another. Smitten by love, Romeo enlists the help of his friend, Friar Laurence, who agrees to wed the two in the hope that their union will end the long standing division between the Montague's and the Capulet's.

After their marriage, Lord Capulet, who is hopelessly unaware about Juliet's position, has promised her hand to marriage. Juliet is informed about this proceeding and grief stricken and, to all intents and purposes, sickened by the situation, she quickly hurries to Friar Laurence in an effort to seek some help. Friar Laurence offers Juliet a vial of sleeping potion which will make her appear, to friends and other key individual, to be dead. Romeo, informed of these proceedings, was to meet her in the vault where she lie and awaken her. It was up to Friar Laurence to send Romeo this important message about Juliet and her plan to escape the marriage to Lord Capulet. Juliet, assured that everything will run smoothly, takes the potion and goes to sleep.

Romeo, however, never got the message that Friar Laurence sent out for him, and when Romeo hears that Juliet is Ð''dead' he rushes to