Summarizing Romeo and Juliet


            The play Romeo and Juliet starts off with a sonnet, telling the reader what is going to happen in the play. We are told where the story takes place, Romeo and Juliet die, the Montagues and Capulets have a grudge against each other, and there will be a huge fight. However the readers are not informed when or how these events happen.
            In Act One of the play, there is a huge fight between the Capulets and the Montagues, which was started by Sampson Capulet. They are said not to fight again, or there will be consequences. Then we meet Romeo, who is upset over Rosaline, a girl who he supposably is in love with. His cousin Benvolio tries to cheer him up, but fails, and the scene ends with Romeo saying he will never love again. In scene two the Capulets decide to throw a big party. Juliet is told that she is to try and get along with Paris, because she is suppose to marry him. Instead she meets Romeo, who wasn't even suppose to be at the party, but his cousin Mercutio had connections with the Capulets and Romeo got in. Romeo and Juliet meet, they "fall in love", and at the end of the party they learn that their families hate each other. Romeo sneaks over the Juliet's balcony and they talk and he asks her to marry him, and of course she says yes.
            Only the friar, and Juliet's nanny know about the wedding besides Romeo and Juliet. After they get married Romeo goes to see Mercutio and Benvolio, but Tybalt; who saw Romeo at the Capulet's party, decides to come along a pick a fight with Romeo. Romeo refuses to fight him because they are family now, but Tybalt doesn't know that, and starts to beat up Romeo. Mercutio steps in and Tybalt and him fight. When Romeo tries to stop the fight, Tybalt stabs Mercutio and Mercutio dies. Romeo then fights Tybalt to the death to avenge Mercutio and kills him, but in doing so he becomes a criminal and runs off. The Capulets don't believe Benvolio is telling them the truth about Romeo and Tybalt, and Romeo is banished from Verona. When Juliet learns this she is more upset about Romeo's banishment, than her cousin's death. We leave off with Romeo sneaking out a Juliet's room, and runs off to Mantua, and Juliet learns that she is going to marry Paris on thursday. When she says she won't, her father throws a giant fit and says Juliet will either marry Paris, or he will disown her.