Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare

Although they know that their love is forbidden, Juliet appears in her window and talks to Romeo in the night. The pair declare their love for one another and intend to marry the next day. With the help of Juliet’s Nurse, the lovers arrange to marry when Juliet goes for confession at the cell of Friar Laurence. There, they are secretly married.

After the marriage, Juliet’s cousin Tybalt sends a challenge to Rome. He refuses to fight, which angers his friend Mercutio who then fights with Tybalt. Mercutio is accidentally killed as Romeo intervenes to stop the fight. In anger, Romeo pursues Tybalt, kills him, and is banished by the Prince.

Juliet is anxious when Romeo is late to meet her and learns about the fight, Tybalt’s death, and Romeo’s banishment. Friar Laurence arranges for Romeo to spend the night with Juliet before leaving. Meanwhile, the Capulets are grieving for Tybalt, so Lord Capulet moves Juliet’s and Paris wedding to the next day. Lord and Lady are angry with Juliet because she doesn’t want to marry Paris, but they still don’t know about her secret marriage with Romeo.

Friar Laurence helps Juliet by providing a sleeping draught that will make her seem dead. When the wedding party arrives to meet Juliet the next day, they believe she is dead. The Friar sends a messenger to warn Romeo of Juliet’s plan and bids him to come to the Capulet family monument to rescue his sleeping wife.

The message to Romeo doesn’t arrive in time because the plague is in town - so the messenger can not leave Verona. Hearing from his servant that Juliet is dead, Romeo buys poison from an Apothecary. He returns to Verona and goes to the tomb, where he surprises and kills the mourning Paris. Romeo takes his poison and dies, while Juliet is waking up from the coma. She learns what has happened from Friar Laurence, but she refuses to leave the tomb and stabs herself. The Friar returns with the Prince and both families. The death of their children leads the families to make peace.