William Shakespeare Romeo and Juliet

In this tragedy William Shakespeare experiments with comic materials – the hyperbole of ormantic love, brawling servants, fussy old fathers, garrulous and bawdy nursers – but transform them into tragedy.
It is a beautiful lyrical story about the tragic love and death of two young lovers Romeo and Juliet, the only children of two power houses of Verona – the Capulets and the Montagues, which hate each other.

STORY:
One day members of the Capulet and the Montague families start to fight in the centre of the city. The officers, old Capulet and his wife and old Montague with his wife all came to took part in the fight. Prince Escalus, the hightest representative of political jusitce in Verona, arrived.He commanded them not to make any more trouble. Then he told them to leave that place.
Lady Montague asked where her son Romeo was adn said how pleased she was he had not been involved in the fight. Benvolio, Montague´s nephew, said that he had seen Romeo very early that morning walking all alone in a wood. Montague said that he was very worried about his son. Benvolio said he would try to find out what the matter was with Romeo.

After a few questions Benvolio discovered that Romeo was in love with a girl called Rosaline but she did not love him. He tried to comfort Romeo.
Meanwhile, Count Paris was talking to old Capulet, Juliet´s father, about the possibility of his marriage to Juliet. Capulet replied that she was only fourteen years old and too young for marriage and he also wanted her to choose by herself. Capulet said that he give a feast at this time every year and there will be dancing and Paris can meet Juliet there. Capulet called a servant and gave him the lsit of dinner guests, ordering him to ask all the lsited people to dine with him that evening. But the servant could not read so, seeing Benvolio and Romeo nearby he approached them and asked them to read the list for him. Romeo began ro red the names aloud to him. As he readed Rosaline´s name too he decided to go to the feast just to see her.

Lady Capulet and Juliet were at home with Juliet´s old Nurse. She said she hopes to live enough to see Juliet marry. Juliet´s mother asked what she thought about being married. Juliet replied that she had not given much thought to the idea of marriage. Lady Capulet said that Count Paris asked for Juliet´s hand.

Juliet did not answer but Lady Capulet and the Nurse asserted that Count Paris was a very good choice, being one ot the best men in Verona.

That evening Romeo and his friend Benvolio went to the feast at Capulet´s house. The were wearing masks so as not to be recognized, but Tybalt heard him speaking and would have attempted to kill him if Capulet had not prevented it.
Meanwhile, Romeo had fallen instantly in love with young, sweet Juliet. He spoke to her and revealed his love for her. Juliet had also fallen in love with him. They kissed. The Nurse arrived and interrupted tham, telling Juliet that Lady Capulet wanted her. From hte Nurse, Romeo discovered who his new young sweeatheart really was. Juliet also found out from the Nurse the name of the boy and that they was the children of enemys.

That night Romeo went to Juliet´s house. He stood beneath her balcony and saw her leaning out gazing up at the stars. Juliet did not know that Romeo was beneath her balcony and began to speaking. Hearing her lovely words about him Romeo could not hide his joy andl ove and stepped forward. Juliet was overjoyed to see him but equally terrified that he might be discovered by her family. Juliet´s Nurse called to her from within her room and Juliet left him there for short time.
When she returned to the balcony, she told him that if he really wanted her to marry him he should send her a message on the following day, telling her where and when to meet him. He said he would send the messenger at nine o´clock. Then they said goodnight.

Romeo went at once or visit Friar Lawrence – a Franciscan monk, who was a learned herbalist.
He teased Romeo, asking him why he was up so early. Friar Lawrence was astinished and a little worried to learn that Romeo had forgotten Rosaline and was in love with Juliet – a Capulet.
When Romeo asked him to merry them that very day, he was even more surprised and alarmed. Romeo continued to beg the Friar to help him and although he had grave doubts, he eventually agreed to unite them, saying that their marriage might even bring the two rival families together.

Romeo, now happy that the Friar had agreed to hepl them, was with Benvolio and another firend, Mercutio.
Juliet´s Nurxe, who had agreed to help her young mistress, came to them in the street and was given the following instucitons to take home to Juliet.
Juliet was waiting anxiously in her garden for the Nurse´s return. The Nurse told her to join Romeo in the Friar´s cell, where they would be married.

Juliet went ot the Friar´s cell and that same afternoon the marriage was celebrated secretly.

Later that afternoon, after Juliet had returned to her father´s house, a quarrel involving Benvolio and Mercutio for the Montagues and Tybalt to the Capulets broke out in the streets of Verona.
Romeo tried to stop the fight, but Tybalt´s sword passed under Romeo´s arm, wounding Mercutio. Tybalt ran awayy and Mercutio died from his wound. Romeo, sad and angry at the death of his friend, promised revenge. When Tybalt came back they fought and Tybalt was killed. Remembering the Prince´s rule that further disturbers of the peace would be put to death, Benvolio persuated romeo ot run away. All the people entered with the Prince, who banished Romeo, saying that if he returned, he would be executed.

In the Capulet´s garden, not knowing of the fight, Juliet was waiting fo the night which would bring her Romeo. The Nurse came to her crying. She told Juliet that Tybalt had been killed by Romeo who was now forbiddento remain in the country on pain of death. Juliet was extremely upsest by the double tragedy which had sturck both her friend and her husband. Sthe begged hte Nurse to find Romeo.
While the Nurse was going to the Friar´s cell, the Friar was trying to comfort the sesperate Romeo. When the Nurse told Romeo about Juliet´s grief he tried to stab himself but the Friar stopped him and rebuked him.
The friar told the Nurse ro return to Juliet and ato tell her that Romeo would soon be with her. At nightfall, Romeo climbed to Juliet´s room and they spent their wedding night together. At first morning light they parted sadly.

Juliet´s mother and father discussed Juliet´s marriage to Count Paris the following Thursday. When Lady Capulet went to Juliet´s room to tell her, she replied that she would rather marry Romeo whom she knew they hated. Her father was very angry and told her that if she refused to marrry Count Paris she would have to leave his house and she would no longer be his daughter, Juliet appealed to her mother but Lady Capulet agreed with her husband and would not help her.
Juliet dicided to turn to Friar Lawrence for help. When she arrived at hte Firar´s cell she found Count Paris there. The Friar tried to persuade him ot pospone the wedding a while, but the Count said that he and old Capulet wanted to hasne hte ceremony to tkae Juliet´s mind off th death of Tybalt.
Juliet left the Friar and told him htath if he could no thelp her she would rather die. The Friar had and idea and gave her a poison. He told her to sleep alone on Wednesday night, taking hte dirnk when she went to bed. She would feel a cold dead sensation and would remain apparently dead for forty-two hours. After that she would awaken normally. The family would place her in the family tomb.

The Friar said he would write to Romeo about their plans. Juliet agreed and the Friar said he would send Friar John to Romeo at once.
On Thursday morning the Nurse went to Juliet´s room and treid to rouse her but she could not be awakened. She shouted and Lady Capulet entered the room and saw her dead daughter. Soon everone knew of the death and desperation reigned. The Friar tried to comfort the family and the body of the young girl was taken to the tomb of the Capulets.

Romeo learned from his servant Balthasar that his Juliet was dead. He was full of grief and went to and apothecary´s to ask him for a deadly poison to take to end his life.
Friar John returned to Friar Lawrence having been unable to deliver the letter to Romeo for an infectious illness for which he had been put in quarantine. Friar Lawrence realized that he would have to enter the tomb so that he would be there to reassure Juliet when she woke up.
Meanwhile, Count Paris was visiting Juliet´s tomb to put some flowers on her grave. Romeo took a light and tools to break into the tomb from his servant Balthasar and gave him a letter for his father. Paris heard Romeo breaking inot the tomb and thought he had come to desecrate the Capulet´s tomb for revenge. Paris forced romeo to fight him. Paris´servant, hearing the noise, ran to call the officers who were on watch. Paris was killed. romeo now recognized Parisand placed him in the tomb. Romeo embraced his young wife, drank the poison and lay beside Juliet.
Friar Lawrence feared the worst. As he entered he saw the dead bodies of Romeo and Paris. Just then Juliet awoke. He attempted to persuade her to leave the place with him but she refused, telling him to leave her. Once alone she kissed Romeo hoping that some poison still remained on his lips. In the end she took his dagger and plunged it into her heart.
Everyone gathered at the tomb, both families, friends and watchmen. The Friar who had been brought back by the watchmen told the whole unhappy story. On the end the Capulets and the Montagues gave each other the hands.


So the tragic story of a family feud was ended by the deaths of two innocent,
young lovers.

Zdroje:

Easy Readers Activity Books - Romeo an Juliet, W. Shakespeare -