Romeo and Juliet Synopsis

Romeo and Juliet Synopsis: Introduction

Shakespeare was one of the most important playwriters, actor, and a poet of the 16th century. He influenced many artists who came after him. His plays are still performed in the modern century as they include topics that are valid today. More specifically, his plays are often credited with having a profound influence on language, literature, theatre, and other elements of the culture, and modern storytelling's characteristics are influenced by him (“Shakespeare's Influence” para. 1). Also, he invented tragicomedy, which combined tragedy and comedy into a single play. Romeo and Juliet carry signs of comedy at the beginning of the play. However, it is a tragedy because lovers cannot unite, and they choose to die than living without each other. Firstly, this paper focuses on the synopsis of the play, its characters and their relationships, and Shakespeare's impacts on his time. Secondly, it focuses on the reasons why Shakespeare wrote it, and why the play is chosen, and the play’s effect on an audience. After all, Romeo and Juliet is one of the eternal plays which have been performed over the centuries, and it will be performed in the future as it concentrates on the most poetic love story in human history.

Part I: Synopsis

Montague and Capulet families have long years of anger toward each other, and they are enemies. Capulet's family members cannot stand to see Montague's family member. Also, the Montague family acts calmer when they see Capulets around. However, Tybalt Capulet becomes angry when he sees them, and one can address that he has more rage that leads him to death because he constantly challenges Romeo. Even their servants are hostile to each other, and they fight in the first scene of Act I. Then, Prince sees their fight and forbid both families to fight each other in public again. Romeo wants to obey his rule, but Tybalt provokes him all the time. Meanwhile, Romeo falls in love with Juliet, and they get married secretly. Therefore, he wants to get along with Tybalt. However, the night of their marriage, Tybalt insults him again, and his dear friend Mercutio attacks Tybalt.

Tybalt kills Mercutio, who is a relative of the Prince, and then Romeo kills him to revenge his dear friend. Thus, Prince exile Romeo from the city. Meanwhile, Juliet’s family force her to marry Lord Paris. However, she prefers to die than marry him. Therefore, she begs Priest Lawrence to help her. He gives her medicine which slows down her pulse so that her family thinks she is dead. Also, he writes a letter to Romeo about their plan, but it never reaches him on time. Romeo's servant hears that her death and gives the news to him. He goes out and buys poison, and he decides to kill himself at his wife's grave. When he arrives there, he meets with Paris, and they start to fight. He kills Paris first then he drinks the poison. Juliet wakes up, and see him, then she kisses his lips, and takes his dagger and stabs in her chest. Eventually, Priest Lawrence tells what is happened, and their families make peace with each other.

Characters and Their Relationship

The characters of the play are Romeo, Juliet, Nanny, Lady Montague, Lord Montague, Lady Capulet, Lord Capulet, Escalus (Prince), Lord Paris, Mercutio, Benvolio, Tybalt, Priest Lawrence, Balthasar (Romeo’s servant), Abraham (Montague family’s servant), Sampson and Gregory (Capulet family’s servants), Chorus, and Chemist.

Mercutio is a relative of Prince Escalus, and he is a close friend of Romeo. Benvolio is his cousin, and these three people have a great friendship. For instance, they protect each other; Benvolio and Romeo always try to avoid fights with Capulets, but Mercutio can easily get angry. More specifically, he never runs from a fight, and he cannot tolerate his friend is insulted by a Capulet. Balthasar is the faithful servant of Romeo, and he does not want to leave his side even when he is exiled by Prince. Priest Lawrence gets along with everyone in the play, but he pays more attention to Romeo’s and Juliet’s problems. Romeo and Juliet are madly in love, and they are ready to give up their last names for their love. In other words, they rather die than living without each other.

Tybalt is Juliet's cousin, and he hates Romeo more than anyone in their family. Their servants Sampson and Gregory embrace their master's hate, and they want to start a fight whenever they see Montague's servants. Lord Paris is a relative of the Prince, and he is close to the Capulet family, and he does not like the Montague family. Lord Capulet wants to marry his daughter with him. Also, he is calmer than his nephew about Montagues. However, Lady Capulet hates them more. For instance, when they witness their servants fights with Montague's servants, she curses their family and asks the Prince to give them punishment. Juliet's Nanny likes both Romeo and Paris, but at first, she encourages Juliet about Romeo, and when he is exiled, she praises Paris.

Shakespeare's Impact on his Time

As mentioned earlier, many artists have been influenced by Shakespeare in terms of storytelling, profound English, literature, and theatre (“Shakespeare's Influence” para. 1). He was the greatest artist of his time, and still today, we remember him with his eternal plays. More specifically, he did not write simple, superficial plays. He wrote about the true passions of people, and he revealed our emotions perfectly. In the 16th century, there were not many plays that showed the human soul like him. Today, we still respect and value his plays as they are both eternal and valid topics for us.

Part II: Why It is Written and Chosen

There was not any proven story about the reason Shakespeare wrote the play. However, some people argued that there was an earlier version of Romeo and Juliet, which was written in Italy. Then, the play translated into poetic verse by a man named Arthur Brooke around 1562; and he titled it The Tragical History of Romeus and Juliet (“Romeo and Juliet” para. 1). Also, it was estimated that Shakespeare wrote the play in the 1590s. Arguably, he might have been influenced by the original play, but it is not proven. Therefore, there is not any certain reason behind the play.

In the 21st century, everyone knows Romeo and Juliet's story, and I want to read it for this assignment as it provides a chance to read it more carefully. Also, Shakespeare plays have unique characteristics and intense tirades, which leads the reader to look closer to the human soul. More specifically, many of the modern playwriters have been influenced by his play and storytelling. Therefore, I decide to read Romeo and Juliet to understand the basis of modern theatre.

The story is magical, and it is a classic. Shakespeare reveals every detail of a human soul; he reflects sorrow, love, and passion in a unique way. I am influenced by Romeo and Juliet's love, and I feel their love as much as I feel their sorrow because it is hard to get separated from the one you love most, and their story does not have a happy ending. In the first pages, Chorus and some characters give clues about their doomed fate. Therefore, I feel sad when they died.

Romeo and Juliet Synopsis: Conclusion

Consequently, this paper focuses on Romeo and Juliet; it is aimed to reveal short synopsis of the play, characters and their relationship, and Shakespeare's impacts on his time. The second part of the paper is aimed to reveal why I chose the play and its effects on me. The story itself is a classic, doomed fate of the lovers who unite in death. One can highlight that Romeo and Juliet is one of the eternal plays which have performed over the centuries, and it will be performed in the future as it concentrates on the most poetic love story in human history.

References

“Romeo and Juliet.” Enotes.com, Enotes.com, www.enotes.com/why-did-shakespeare-write-romeo-and-juliet-387965.

“Shakespeare's Influence on Theatre: William Shakespeare Contributions.” Octane Seating, 24 Dec. 2020, octaneseating.com/blog/the-impact-of-william-shakespeare-on-theater/.