William Shakespeare, "Romeo and Juliet": summary

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

The events described in the tragedy "Romeo and Juliet" continue for only five days. The summary can be stated very succinctly: a young man met a girl, they fell in love with each other, but their happiness is hindered by a family feud. However, Shakespeare's work is quite voluminous. This article summarizes the love story of Romeo and Juliet in great detail.

Mess in the square

Pans are fighting - the serfs' forelocks are cracking. This is how you can characterize the first scene of the tragedy "Romeo and Juliet". Let's start the summary with a brawl that takes place between the servants of the Montagues and the Capulets. The reader does not yet know anything about what caused this enmity, long-standing and probably irreconcilable. Both young and old participate in it.

Appears Benvolio - a friend of the protagonist. He shouts: "Weapons away and instantly in places!" But after a few minutes, the scandal flares up withnew strength. Now adherents of both houses are already appearing, they are joining the fighting. Then the townspeople appear with halberds and clubs. The inhabitants of Verona are tired of this enmity and are trying to calm the servants of the Montagues and the Capulets by force.

The fierce battle in the city square stops only after the appearance of the prince. However, even this respected gentleman has to read a long speech in order to calm the fighting. He calls them "killers of silence", "traitors who defile iron with brotherly blood." Under pain of death, he orders an end to the massacre.

Everyone disperses. That leaves the Montagues and Benvolio. We will supplement the summary of "Romeo and Juliet" with quotes from the work translated by Boris Pasternak. Benvolio tells the Montagues what happened.

The prince appeared, saw the mess, and the guards stole the bully.

These words end Benvolio's account of the fight that took place.

Rosalina

Where is the main face of the Romeo and Juliet plot? In a very brief summary, it is not always mentioned that the son of Montecchi, before meeting Juliet, was in love with her cousin. Benvolio tells his friend's parents about what happened in the square. Lady Montecchi asks the young man where her son is. He replies that Romeo has lately been prone to solitude. Romeo has little interest in the family feud with the Capulets.

Finally, the protagonist of the tragedy "Romeo and Juliet" appears. In the summary of the work, it is not necessary to talk about what happened before the first meeting of the offspring of the warring families. But still, what is the sadness of Romeo? As already mentioned, he is in love with a relative of Juliet. Romeo is detached, thoughtful, absorbed in his own thoughts. The image of impregnable Rosaline reigns in his thoughts.

The Montagues leave their friends alone. In a conversation with a friend, Romeo shares his experiences. He laughs at his friend's suffering and recommends paying attention to other girls.

Capulets

What is the main character of Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet" doing at this time? The summary of the second act will answer this question.

A relative of the prince appears in the Capulet's house, the same one who separated the fighting in the square - Count Paris. It was not by chance that he decided to visit the venerable family. Paris wants to marry Capulet's daughter. An interesting dialogue takes place between these characters. As you know, even from the very brief content of Romeo and Juliet, the heroine is not even fourteen years old. Capulet initially refuses the Count.

Just wait two more years, and we will announce our daughter as a bride.

From the conversation between Paris and Capulet, the reader becomes aware that the latter had other children. However, only Juliet survived. Therefore, the old man is very careful about his daughter, and does not want to marry her ahead of time. But in the end he agrees.

Masquerade Ball

There is a big celebration at the Capulet house. Of course, none of the Capulet family was invited to the ball. However, Romeo, Mercutio and Benvolio manage to infiltrate the "enemy camp". They are dressed in fancy dress.

Mercutio and Benvolio joke all the time. Their friend is sad, as always. But it's not just about the hopeless love from which he suffers in recent days - Romeo foresees the impending disaster. In the crowd, the main characters suddenly meet with their eyes. This is the plot of the tragedy "Romeo and Juliet" by William Shakespeare. From the summary, those who have not read the classic work will find out that the characters fall in love with each other at first sight.

Romeo realizes that he has never loved anyone before. Rosalina and other objects of his attention were "false goddesses." Romeo, like other heroes of Shakespeare's work, often speaks his thoughts aloud. It is because of this habit that he is exposed at the Capulet ball. Juliet's brother recognizes him by his voice. Tyb alt grabs his sword - he is ready for a duel. But relatives stop him, noticing that Capulet's son has a calm and kind disposition and there is nothing wrong with the fact that he decided to visit them as a guest.

I am the embodiment of a hateful force

Romeo approaches Juliet dressed as a monk. The first dialogue takes place between them. A few minutes later, the main character learns that the girl with whom he is already in love is the daughter of Capulet. At this time, Juliet is talking to the nurse, and she utters murderous words: "His name is Romeo, he is Montecchi." The heroes realize that their love is doomed. Juliet calls herself the embodiment of a hateful force, because she is the daughter of the sworn enemy of Montague, and therefore Romeo.

At Juliet's balcony

This is the most famous scenefrom Shakespeare's work, except for the final one. It is known even to those who have only read a summary of the play "Romeo and Juliet" or watched one of the screen adaptations. Mercutio and Benvolio leave the ball. Romeo, meanwhile, enters the Capulet garden, goes to the balcony of his beloved and hears her voice. Juliet talks sadly about the feeling that struck her that evening. Capulet's son can't stand it and turns to his beloved. From that moment on, they are no longer afraid of anything. They are completely subservient to love.

Brother Lorenzo

This man becomes Romeo's attorney. Juliet is helped by a nurse. Romeo asks his brother Lorenzo to marry them. He agrees in the hope that the union of the young Capulets and Montagues will end the long-standing enmity. But, as you know, there is no sadder story in the world than the story of Romeo and Juliet.

Summary of the Shakespearean tragedy will not convey the beauty of the syllable that Russian-speaking readers can feel thanks to talented translations. Hearing that Romeo is in love with Capulet's daughter, Lorenzo says:

Your second sweetheart is the denouement of your civil strife.

About how blood boils in the veins

But the people of Verona are passionate people, especially on hot days, as Shakespeare said. We will continue the summary of Romeo and Juliet with a sad story about characters who are quick-tempered like gunpowder and are looking for an opportunity to demonstrate their courage. At leisure, when there is no reason to inflict bloodshed, Shakespeare's heroes argue aboutwhich of them loves more quarrels. We are talking about Benvolio and Mercutio. Suddenly, Juliet's brother appears. Benvolio and Mercutio understand that a skirmish cannot be avoided. Young people begin to exchange barbs. The verbal skirmish ends with the appearance of Romeo.

"Here's the right person for me!" shouts Tyb alt. And then he calls his sister's lover a scoundrel. However, Romeo, to the surprise of his friends, does not grab his sword instantly. He calmly tries to refute the opinion of his opponent. Romeo has already married Juliet, which means that Tyb alt is his relative. Mercutio is furious. He tries to defend the honor of Montague and grabs his sword. The duel between the son of Capulet and Mercutio ends with the death of the latter. Before dying, Romeo's friend curses the warring families.

Duel between Romeo and Tyb alt

The main character is shocked. He realizes that he betrayed a friend. Romeo became softer thanks to Juliet. However, he was still able to avenge his friend. He overtakes Tyb alt, the fight begins - furious, fierce. Romeo wins this duel. Tyb alt dies.

Benvolio urges his friend to run away. After all, the death of Juliet's brother in a duel will be regarded by the authorities of Verona as a murder. The main character is threatened with execution. He is depressed by what happened and leaves the square, which is immediately filled with indignant residents. The prince sentences Romeo to exile. If he does not leave Verona, he will be executed.

Juliet

The Capulet's daughter is shaken by her brother's death. However, Romeo justifies, because now she is his wife. Brother Lorenzopersuades him to leave the city and not return until the prince grants him forgiveness. Romeo is sad. Leaving Verona is worse for him than death. However, he understands that there is truth in Lorenzo's words. If he doesn't leave immediately, he will die. Romeo goes to Juliet and they spend several hours together. It is hard for a girl to part with her lover, yet she persuades him to leave.

Romeo leaves Juliet's room and then Lady Capulet appears. She sees her daughter in tears, but she is sure that the reason for them is the death of Tyb alt. For some reason, the death of their son does not change the plans of the Capulets: they still plan to marry their daughter to Paris. Juliet vainly persuades her mother and father to postpone the wedding. They are relentless.

Imaginary death

Juliet is desperate. She cannot and does not want to become the wife of Paris. For help, she turns to her brother Lorenzo. He offers the girl a plan that would frighten anyone. But not Juliet, who is ready to make any sacrifice for the sake of her love. Lorenzo's brother gives the Capulet's daughter a bottle of elixir. After drinking it, the girl will fall into a dream that will last forty-two hours. Lorenzo warns: the implementation of the plan is dangerous. But Juliet is not afraid of anything. She takes the bottle and leaves, inspired by the hope of meeting Romeo.

Juliet returns home, where she diligently plays the role of an obedient daughter. Preparations are underway for the wedding. The Capulets are happy: the daughter no longer expresses disagreement. But suddenly the girl is seized with fear. What if Lorenzo cheated? What ifthe elixir will not work as the monk promised? Still, she drinks the elixir in one gulp and falls into a lethargic sleep.

In the morning, the Capulet house resounds with a terrible cry: Juliet is dead. The failed groom is depressed by the terrible news. The musicians invited by the Capulets embarrassedly disperse. Then Lorenzo appears and reminds that the deceased should be taken to the cemetery, to the family crypt.

In Mantua

Romeo, meanwhile, is hiding in another city. While Juliet is taking the elixir, he has a strange dream: as if he had died. This dream will be prophetic. Romeo is looking forward to letters from Lorenzo. Being in Mantua, he has no idea about what is happening in his hometown. He never received any news from Lorenzo. A servant comes to him and informs him that Juliet is dead.

Capulet Tomb

Let's conclude the brief summary of the chapters of "Romeo and Juliet" with a description of the scene, which, perhaps, is known to everyone. It takes place in the Capulet tomb. Here lies the supposedly dead Juliet. Paris throws flowers at the failed bride, but suddenly he hears a rustle. He hides and sees Romeo. He gives the servant a letter addressed to his father and sends it. He himself opens the tomb, enters and sees the lifeless body of his beloved.

Paris appears before Romeo, threatening arrest and execution. The duel begins. Romeo is mad with grief, he fights with swords fiercely. Paris is dying. Romeo is left alone with Juliet. He is amazed: the beloved looks like a living one. Romeo drinks poison.

Lorenzo appears. He was only a few minutes late. At this moment, Juliet wakes up and sees the dead Romeo. She thinks only about how to die as soon as possible. The trouble is that the son of Montecchi drank all the poison. Juliet finds a dagger and plunges it into her chest.

The rest of the actors appear. Lorenzo tells the Montagues and Capulets the sad story of their children. Years of feud came to an end at the cost of the lives of Romeo and Juliet.

A summary of the acts will be more concise. Shakespeare's work consists of five parts. A summary of "Romeo and Juliet" by action can be summarized according to the following plan:

1. Meeting at the ball.
2. Wedding.
3. Death of Tyb alt.
4. Exile.
5. The death of Romeo and Juliet.

History of Creation

The plot of Shakespeare's tragedy is by no means original. The story of the imaginary death of a girl, which led to the death of her lover, and then her death, was found in ancient literature. In the first century BC, Ovid told a tragic story in the poem Metamorphoses. The heroes of the ancient Roman writer were called Pyramus and Thisbe. The parents of the lovers were against their union.

Pyramus and Thisbe met secretly, and one day the girl, having come on a date, saw a tiger. Frightened, she rushed to run, but dropped her handkerchief, which the predator tore to shreds. Pyramus subsequently found this handkerchief and decided that his beloved was dead. Not trying to figure out what happened, he immediately stabbed himself with a sword on the spot. Thisbe returned. She saw the lifeless body of Pyramus and followed the example of her lover- committed suicide with a sword. Shakespeare used this story in another of his works, namely in the comedy A Midsummer Night's Dream. It is worth saying that the Montagues and the Capulets meet for the first time in the work of Dante Alighieri.

The plot of Luigi Da Porto's poem is also very similar to the plot of Shakespeare's tragedy. True, the main character is almost eighteen, and in the final scene, Romeo dies after waking up his beloved and manages to say a few words. Shakespeare's Juliet stabs herself with a dagger. The heroine of the Italian writer dies, like Isolde, from great mental pain. That is, she simply lies down next to her lover and gives up her last breath.

The work of Luigi Da Porto has been reworked more than once. Then, in the middle of the 16th century, the plot of this novel came to England, where it found new life thanks to Arthur Brooke. This writer created a poem, the name of which is fully consistent with the name of Shakespeare's tragedy. It was Brook's poem that inspired the playwright to create a play that has become a world classic. However, in Brooke's poem, the action takes place in winter. Shakespeare's in the summer. Events in Arthur Brooke's poem unfold over nine months. Shakespeare's characters meet, fall in love and die within five days.

Shakespeare worked on the tragedy for four years. Romeo and Juliet is an example of the tragic genre. First, the main character dies at the end. Secondly, in the souls of the offspring of the warring families there is no place for a tragic conflict. Romeo and Juliet have no doubts, they are sure thatdo the right thing, following their feelings. It is worth remembering one more of the details characteristic of this genre - the action takes place against a light background. Although the ending is tragic, the work is filled with jokes, humor, and easy dialogue.

The tragedy has been filmed many times. In the nineties, the picture with the participation of Leonardo DiCaprio gained popularity. This is a rather unusual film adaptation: the text is almost completely preserved, but the events take place in our time. However, the best, according to most critics, remains the 1968 film, shot by Franco Zeffirelli.