What is Romeo and Juliet?
{{italictitle}} {{for|the movie by Baz Luhrmann|Romeo + Juliet}} [[File:Romeoandjuliet1597.jpg|thumb]] [[File:Romeo Juliet.jpg|thumb|Poster]] '''''Romeo and Juliet''''' is a play written by [[William Shakespeare]]. It is set in [[Verona]], [[Italy]] (which at that time was part of the [[Venetian Republic]]) and is about the love between two young people from noble families that are enemies. ''Romeo and Juliet'' has always been one of Shakespeare's most popular plays. It has been adapted to [[opera]], [[ballet]], [[television]] productions, and [[movie]]s. ==Characters== {{main|Characters in Romeo and Juliet}}[[File:John William Waterhouse - Juliet (1898).jpg|thumb|upright|''Juliet'' by [[J.W.Waterhouse]], 1898]] * [[Romeo (Shakespeare)|Romeo Montague]] * [[Juliet (Shakespeare)|Juliet Capulet]] * [[Nurse (Shakespeare)|Nurse]] * [[Mercutio]] * [[Friar Laurence]] * [[Tybalt]] * [[Prince Escalus]] * [[Lord and Lady Capulet]] * [[Lord and Lady Montague]] * [[Benvolio]] ==Story== The noble families of the Montagues and the Capulets live in the city of Verona, Italy. Both families are [[enemy|enemies]], and even their servants get into fights with each other. Prince Escalus, the ruler of the city, tells the families to stop fighting or they will be punished. Montague has only one child, a teenage boy called Romeo. Capulet also has only one child, a beautiful 14-year-old daughter called Juliet. One evening, Romeo sneaks into a party at the Capulet's house. He meets Juliet and they fall in love with each other. Later on, Romeo overhears Juliet standing on her balcony admitting her love for him. He reveals himself and they agree to be married. Friar Laurence agrees to marry them in secret the next day. Juliet's cousin Tybalt confronts Romeo, angry that he sneaked into the party. Romeo's friend Mercutio steps in and fights Tybalt. Tybalt kills Mercutio, so Romeo takes revenge and kills Tybalt. The Prince orders Romeo to leave the city, and warns he will be executed if he returns. Romeo secretly spends the night