Intro Theater - Book Report/Review Example

Most of the action in the play takes place in the city of Verona, a small city in the north of Italy. From here the action moves to the hall of Capulets house, then to the orchard which is below Juliets balcony, then to Friar Lawrence’s cell and finally ending in the vault where the Capulet family and the Montague family have gathered to mourn their dead children. The play is spread over five days. And by describing the events that happen in these five days Shakespeare is able to give us in his inimitable and flawless metaphorical language an account of the tragedy that takes place in the lives of two innocent young lovers in a short span of five days.

The story begins in the streets of Verona where a brawl breaks out between the servants of two feuding noble families, the Capulets and the Montagues. Benvolio Montague, a cousin of Romeo and Tybalt Capulet join the fight. The ruler of Verona, Prince Escalus, to prevent further conflicts between the two families decrees that in future any individual who disturbs the peace of the city will be given the death penalty. Romeo Montague meets his cousin Benvolio and when prodded by Benvolio, tells him that he is in love with Rosaline, who however does not love him.

In the meantime Paris, a relative of the Prince, asks for Juliet’s hand in marriage. But her father Capulet wants Paris to wait for two more years. Romeo and Benvolio get accidentally invited to the masquerade hosted by Capulet. At the masquerade Romeo sees Juliet and instantly falls in love with her. The two get to speak and are attracted towards each other. When they find that they belong to two feuding families, they are upset. Romeo then meets Friar Lawrence to seek his advice. The Friar agrees to marry the lovers in secret.

Friar believes that this marriage may end the feud between the two families.. The next day, Romeo and Juliet are married in Friar Lawrence’s cell. Romeo