Romeo and Juliet Characters and Plot

• Prince Escalus is angry due to three prior fights between the Montague and Capulet families
• Romeo is 17 years old
• Juliet is 13 years old
• The reason behind the Montague and Capulet feud is unknown
• Romeo is depressed due to Rosaline's rejection, as she desires to become a nun.
• Romeo has attempted wooing Rosaline through sweet talk, prolonged eye contact, and gifting jewelry

Capulet Party

• Lord Capulet organizes a party and tasks a servant with delivering the guest list
• The servant is illiterate so Romeo assists him in reading the list
• Benvolio persuades Romeo to attend to meet other women

Nurse and Juliet

• Susan was the Nurse’s daughter and died when Juliet was born, hence the Nurse breastfeeds Juliet
• Paris seeks to marry Juliet
• The Nurse views Paris as respectable and a suitable future husband
• Lady Capulet says, "If the husband is the story, the wife is the cover of the book"

Dreams

• Mercutio describes Queen Mab as a fairy who brings dreams to people
• Romeo considers dreams significant
• Mercutio dismisses dreams as meaningless
• Romeo tells Mercutio about a dream foretelling his death
• Tybalt notices Romeo and wants to fight him
• Lord Capulet forbids Tybalt from fighting Romeo to avoid disrupting the party and because Romeo has a good reputation

Romeo and Juliet

• Romeo and Juliet kiss three times during their first interaction
• Romeo discovers Juliet’s identity before she finds out his
• Juliet advises Romeo not to swear by the moon due to its constant change
• Juliet initiates the topic of marriage

Decisions and Actions

• According to Friar, Romeo’s love for Juliet may not be authentic
• Friar decides to marry Romeo and Juliet in hopes of resolving the Montague-Capulet conflict
• Juliet instructs the Nurse to deliver a message to Romeo at 9 AM, and the Nurse returns at noon
• Tybalt sends a challenge to Romeo for a duel
• Mercutio dies in a duel with Tybalt, with Benvolio as a witness
• Mercutio says "A plague on both your houses" three times
• Romeo kills Tybalt
• Lady Capulet disbelieves Benvolio’s account of Tybalt’s death due to his friendship with Romeo
• Prince Escalus does not execute Romeo, as he was avenging Mercutio's death
• Juliet sends Romeo a ring as a token of her love
• Romeo envies flies because they can be near Juliet, while he cannot
• Lord Capulet advances Juliet’s wedding to divert attention from recent events and to uplift Juliet's spirits
• The Friar's potion to simulate Juliet’s death lasts 42 hours

Juliet's Fears

• The potion failing, resulting in her marrying Paris
• The potion being actual poison
• Being trapped in the tomb without rescue, possibly suffocating
• Seeing Tybalt’s ghost

Aftermath and Death

• The Friar repeatedly calls Juliet a flower after her supposed death
• Romeo purchases poison from the Apothecary
• The Apothecary was hesitant due to the potential death penalty, but was persuaded by money
• Friar John was unable to deliver a letter to Romeo due to an outbreak of disease
• Paris believes Romeo intends to desecrate Juliet’s body
• Paris’s dying wish is to be laid next to Juliet
• Romeo declares his love for Juliet, consumes poison, and dies
• Juliet kisses Romeo in an attempt to die from the poison
• Juliet kills herself with Romeo’s dagger

Resolution

• Romeo’s mother dies of sorrow due to Romeo’s banishment
• The letter stands as proof of the events that unfolded; the Friar’s confession and the letter confirm the story
• Biting your thumb is an offensive gesture, demonstrated by Sampson and Gregory

Characters and Relationships

• Prince Escalus is related to both Mercutio and Paris
• Poems appear both at the beginning of Act 1 and Act 2

Famous Quotes

• “These violent delights have violent ends” (Friar)
• “Oh Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo” (Juliet)
• “For this alliance may so happy prove to turn your households’ rancor to pure love” (Friar)
• “Here’s a drink, I drink to thee” (Juliet)
• “O true apothecary! Thy drugs are quick” (Romeo)
• “About the moon” (Romeo during balcony scene)
• “I have seen Queen Mab” (Mercutio)
• “My only love sprung from my only hate” (Juliet)
• “A scratch, a scratch; marry, ’tis enough” (Mercutio)
• “You kiss by the book” (Juliet)
• “A plague o’ both your houses!” (Mercutio)
• “Thus with a kiss I die” (Romeo)
• “O happy dagger!” (Juliet)
• “For never was a story of more woe than this of Juliet and her Romeo” (Prince)

Character Review

• Lady Montague: In her late 20s, elegant, caring mother, and dies of sadness due to Romeo’s exile
• Lord Montague: Rich, powerful, loves Romeo, and a good parent
• Benvolio: Loyal, honest, part of the Montague family, and a good person
• Romeo: Aged 17, flirty, impulsive, handsome, passionate, and stubborn
• Mercutio: Friend of the Montagues, related to the Prince, Romeo's best friend, loyal, and always defends Romeo
• Lord and Lady Capulet: Loving parents to Juliet. Despite potentially misguided methods, such as forcing Juliet to marry, their intentions are good
• Juliet: 13 years old, changes her mind quickly
• Peter: The Nurse’s servant and provides comic relief
• Prince Escalus: Warns the families that further fighting will result in a death penalty
• Friar Lawrence: Meddlesome but with good intentions, his actions are questionable. Caring and knowledgeable about medicine and plants
• Apothecary: Poor and sells poison to Romeo, risking death if discovered, but motivated by poverty
• Paris: Handsome and well-intentioned, but unaware of the situation
• Nurse: Forgetful, maternal, kind-of loyal, and friends with and serves Juliet
• Sampson and Gregory: Capulet servants who instigate the initial fight between the families

Places

• Mantua: Romeo’s place of exile
• Verona: The play's setting