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THE PROLOGUE "Two households, both alike in dignity, In fair Verona, where we lay our scene, From ancient grudge break to new mutiny, Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean. From forth the fatal loins of these two foes A pair of star-cross'd lovers take their life; Whole misadventured piteous overthrows Do with their death bury their parents' strife. The fearful passage of their death-mark'd love, And the continuance of their parents' rage, Which, but their children's end, nought could remove, Is now the two hours' traffic of our stage; The which if you with patient ears attend, What here shall miss, our toil shall strive to mend." �

This is a basic summary of the plot. It does not tell the story fully, nor is it an attempt to do so. It is no substitute, not even a poor one, for reading the play. The magic of Shakespeare resides in his words, his characters, and their actions. You must read the play to experience this. The prologue (or introduction) to the play pretty much tells you what will happen. Note, it is a fine example of a Shakespearean sonnet. Now for the basic summary:

Set in Verona, Italy, during the Renaissance, where two rival families, the Montagues and Capulets, rule. Their hatred has lasted for generations, leading often to violence and outrage in the streets. At the beginning of the play there is a brawl in the town square. Prince Escalus warns of a severe punishment for anyone who begins fighting again.

During a ball thrown by the Capulets, love-sick Romeo Montague falls in love with the daughter of his enemies. Romeo and his friends, Benvolio and Mercutio, have gate-crashed the party. As soon as Romeo sees Juliet, he is "over" his "love" for Rosaline. Romeo and Juliet decide to get married, in secrecy. Friar Lawrence agrees to this secret wedding in the hope that it will bring an end to the feud between the families.

All goes well until the banishment from Verona of Romeo, for killing Juliet's cousin, Tybalt. Romeo attacks Tybalt in revenge for the murder of his friend, Mercutio. Romeo flees to Mantua.

While Romeo hides, Lord Capulet sets Juliet up for marriage to Paris. (Of course, he has no idea that she is already married.) Juliet contemplates suicide to avoid the shame. Romeo's friend, Friar Lawrence offers her a plan: a "poison" that will create the illusion of her death. After forty-two hours, when the drug has worn off, she will awake in the Capulet tomb with Romeo by her side and flee to Mantua with him.

All goes tragically wrong: Romeo travels to Juliet's tomb (believing she�s really dead) and commits suicide. Waking up, shortly after his death, Juliet kills herself. The truth is revealed; the families end the feud, realising it has led to the deaths of their children.

"A glooming peace this morning with it brings. The sun for sorrow will not show his head. Go hence to have more talk of these sad things. Some shall be pardoned, and some punished, For never was a story of more woe That this of Juliet and her Romeo." Act V, sc. iii

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