The two leading families of Verona, the Capulets and the Montagues, are feuding. Romeo, a Montague, falls in love with Juliet, a Capulet, at a ball which he attends in disguise. That night, he waits under her window and hears her speak of her love for him. He declares his love for her. They marry in secret the next day, helped by Friar Laurence.
Tybalt, a Capulet, quarrels with and kills Romeo's friend Mercutio. Romeo, arriving on the scene, kills Tybalt. He is banished, and after spending the night with Juliet, goes to Mantua. Meanwhile, Juliet's father wants her to marry Paris. The friar tells Juliet to agree to this, but arranges for her to take a potion which will make her seem dead for two days. He plans to warn Romeo, who will rescue her from her tomb, but the message goes astray. Romeo, hearing that Juliet is dead, comes to the tomb, and kills Paris who is there too. Then he kisses Juliet, takes poison and dies. Juliet awakens and, seeing what has happened, stabs herself. On discovery of the tragedy, the two families are finally persuaded to end their quarrel.
—Summary taken from The World of Shakespeare.
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