Chapters
While Romeo and Juliet appear to have a "happy ending" in Taylor Swift's iconic song, Love Story, the original play by William Shakespeare has a very different one.
In this article, we will examine the plot surrounding the key characters throughout the five acts of Romeo and Juliet, a play included in the GCSE English Literature syllabus.
Act 1: A Tragic Foreshadow and A Fateful Encounter
The play begins with a prologue — a huge foreshadowing of unfortunate events that will befall two rival families in Verona, Italy. Amid budding tensions, a passionate romance is birthed, ultimately escalating to bloodshed and the tragic death of two young lovers.
A key literary technique used by Shakespeare to inform the audience of the ending in the beginning to keep the audience immersed in the plot of the play.
"A pair of star-cross'd lovers take their life", this text reveals that the couple will not have a happy ending.
The audience would then want to know how and why this tragedy would happen as the acts progress.
The first act showcases a fight between two prominent rival Italian families — the Montagues and the Capulets on the street of Verona. The fight was so intense that it had to be stopped by the Prince of Verona, Prince Escalus.
Meanwhile, Lord Capulet invites Paris, a man who wants to marry his young daughter, Juliet Capulet to his family feast to win her over.
On the other hand, Romeo Montague (son of Lord Montague) is revealed to suffer from an unrequited love with Rosaline Capulet, the niece of Lord Capulet. He secretly went to the Capulet family feast, hoping to meet her. His attendance was noticed by Tybalt Capulet, Juliet's cousin. Insulted by Romeo's presence, he was close to attacking Romeo but was stopped by Lord Capulet.
As fate would have it, Romeo met Juliet instead where they both experienced love at first sight and discovered each other's identities.
Act 2: A Passionate Confession and Secret Wedding
The audience now sees a lovestruck Romeo who longs to be near his new love, Juliet. He decides to stay at the Capulet orchard after the feast. Romeo's cousin, Benvolio and good friend, Mercutio thought that he was still in love with Rosaline and decided to leave him.
Romeo continues to indulge in his adoration for Juliet's beauty and declares his passionate love for her even as Juliet steps out of her balcony, not knowing he is down there.
ROMEO: But soft, what light through yonder window breaks? It is the east, and Juliet is the sun. - Act 2, Scene 2
Upon realising Romeo's presence at her family orchard, Juliet was terrified that he would be killed by her family. Romeo assured Juliet that his love for her is greater than anything. Though their conversation was cut short when Juliet's Nurse asked her to return inside, both of them expressed mutual intention for marriage.
Romeo went to Friar Lawrence, a Franciscan to ask him to marry him and Juliet. Initially puzzled by Romeo's quick change of heart, the Friar eventually agrees to Romeo's request in hopes that this union will bring an end to the rivalry between the Montagues and Capulets.
With the help of Juliet's Nurse and the Friar, Romeo and Juliet get married secretly by the end of Act 2.
A member of the Roman Catholic Church who devotes themselves to faith and community, and also offers spiritual guidance.
Act 3: A Tragic Duel and A Forced Marriage
Act 3 is the climax of the whole play — the turning point that made this play a tragedy.
Another fight was set to play between the Montagues and Capulets. Benvolio and Mercutio are approached by Tybalt who challenges Romeo to a duel, after harbouring a grudge during the Capulet family feast.
Romeo decides not to retaliate as he is now married to Juliet. Triggered by Romeo's sudden change, Mercutio challenges Tybalt to a fight but is killed by Tybalt instead. Before his last breath, Mercutio cursed both families for his immature death — another foreshadowing of the play's tragic ending.
MERCUTIO: A plague o' both your houses! I am sped. - Act 3, Scene 1
Filled with rage over his best friend's death, Romeo kills Tybalt. As a result, he was banished by the Prince. Trusting the Nurse and Friar for a solution, Romeo and Juliet spent the night together, not knowing that it would be their last. The next morning, Romeo left for Mantua, a nearby city near Verona.
At the end of Act 3, Lord Capulet decides to marry Juliet with Paris despite her objections.
Act 4: A Risky Potion and A "Successful" Deception
Frustrated by her father's persistence to force her into an arranged marriage with Paris, Juliet went to see Friar Lawrence. Knowing how much Juliet loves Romeo, the Friar devises a risky plan to help Juliet.
The first part of the plan requires Juliet to consume a potion that would let her fall into deep sleep for 42 hours — giving the impression that she is dead.
The second part of the plan is to inform Romeo by letter so that they can meet at the tomb and elope together by the time she awakes.
Though troubled by the hazardous possibilities of the potion, Juliet eventually agrees to the plan and lies to her family that she will marry Paris the following day.
The potion worked and when the Nurse found Juliet unconscious, she was carried to the tomb and her family mourned her "death".
Act 5: A Message Unsent and An Eternal Regret
Instead of hearing the truth from Friar Lawrence's letter, Romeo was told of Juliet's death and was in despair. He decides to kill himself to reunite with her.
Upon knowing that his message was not delivered, the Friar decides to visit Juliet's grave not knowing that Romeo has acquired an illegal poison and has also departed to Juliet's tomb.
Romeo meets Paris at Juliet's tomb. Both men fight and Paris is killed. Upon seeing Juliet, he takes the poison and dies.
When Juliet finally woke up, she was shocked to see Romeo's body.
Heartbroken, she committed suicide with a dagger.
The Montagues and the Capulets arrive at the grave, with the Friar explaining the whole situation. With the Prince's intervention, both families decide to reconcile and make peace.
We hope this article has given you a comprehensive overview of the plot of Romeo and Juliet. Knowing the key events of each act will help you answer questions more effectively on your GCSE English Literature paper.
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