Romeo and Juliet: The Condensed Version
By: William Shakespeare
Act I Scene 1
The family feud is introduced by a quarrel between the peaceful Benvolio of the Montague family and
the fiery Tybalt of the Capulets. The quarrel is subdued by the Prince, who, in the presence of the heads of the
quarreling households, declares that death will be the penalty if the city’s peace is again disrupted by their
feud.
Romeo’s strange new mood is discovered by his parents and Benvolio. Romeo enters and it is soon
discovered that unrequited love has brought on his mood. Benvolio is determined to help Romeo forget
Rosaline, and he suggests the company of other women.
Act I Scene II
Capulet discusses his daughter Juliet with the Count Paris who seeks her hand in marriage. Lord
Capulet plans a feast and sends out an illiterate servant to invite the guests. The servant encounters Romeo
and Benvolio and asks them to read the guest list for him. Romeo does so, and seeing Rosaline’s name on the
list, agrees to attend the feast with Benvolio.
Act I Scene III
In the presence of nurse, Lady Capulet tells Juliet of Paris’ suit. Juliet learns that she will meet Paris that
night at the feast.
Act I Scene IV
Mercutio and Benvolio join together in urging the reluctant Romeo to forget his heartaches and enter
into the spirit of the feast.
Act I Scene V
Romeo sees Juliet at the feast and immediately falls in love with her. Tybalt hears Romeo’s voice and
recognizes him. Enraged that a Montague should dare to attend a Capulet feast, he leaves the banquet hall,
determined to punish Romeo’s intrusion. Romeo and Juliet meet, fall in love, and part.
Act II Scene 1
Benvolio and Mercutio seek Romeo, who has entered the Capulet gardens. Mercutio’s comments about
Rosaline and about love in general show that Romeo’s companions are unaware of the change in his feelings,
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Act II Scene 2
Juliet tells the heavens of her love, and confession is overhead by Romeo. He comes to her call and they
plan marriage.
Act II Scene 3
Romeo goes to visit Friar Laurence and ask him to perform the wedding ceremony. Reluctantly, the
friar promise to do so, since he sees in the marriage the possibility of reconciliation between the Montagues
and the Capulets.
Act II Scene 4
A conversation between Benvolio and Mercutio reveals that Tybalt has sent a challenge to Romeo.
Mercutio expresses his scorn for Tybalt. The second part of the scene completes the arrangements for the
marriage, with the nurse serving as Juliet’s messenger.
Act II Scene 5
Juliet wrings Romeo’s message from the loquacious nurse.
Act II Scene 6
The marriage ceremony is performed.
Act III Scene 1
Tybalt, who is seeking Romeo, comes upon Mercutio; they exchange insults. Romeo approaches and
Tybalt calls him “villain.” But Romeo, out of respect to his secret alliance with the Capulets, controls his anger.
Mercutio is angered at Romeo’s “vile submission” and he takes up the fight with Tybalt. Benvolio and Romeo
come between them, but Tybalt strikes Mercutio a last blow and runs off. The blow is fatal. The death of his
friend rouses feelings of revenge in Romeo. Tybalt returns to the scene of the fight in triumph, but he is soon
challenged and killed by Romeo. The Prince, hearing of the events that have taken place, sentences Romeo to
banishment.
Act III Scene 2
Juliet is told of Tybalt’s death and Romeo’s banishment. She grows almost distraught with despair and
confusion. When the nurse finally admits that she knows where Romeo is hiding, Juliet sends her to Romeo
with a ring and a message to come that night for a last farewell.
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Act III Scene 3
Upon hearing the sentence of banishment, Romeo breaks down in despair. Friar Laurence’s philosophy
fails to comfort him, but his spirits are bolstered by the message from Juliet. The friar warns him to leave for
Mantua at the break of day and promises to keep him informed of events in Verona.
Act III Scene 4
Paris presses for an answer to his love suit. Capulet sets the following Thursday as the wedding day for
his daughter and the Count.
Act III Scene 5
Romeo and Juliet bid farewell. Romeo has already escaped when Lady Capulet comes to tell Juliet that
she is to marry Paris the following Thursday. Since the family has concentrated their hatred on Romeo as the
slayer of Tybalt, it is impossible for Juliet to confess her marriage. She pleads for time, angering her father
who bursts forth in abuses. Lady Capulet turns a deaf ear to Juliet’s pleading, and even the nurse refuses to
help her. Juliet, seeing that her only hope is in the friar, plans to go to him.
Act IV Scene 1
By chance, Juliet meets Paris at the friar’s cell. While Paris is present, she exhibits great self control;
but, upon his leaving, she breaks down in anguish. The friar suggest a daring plan by which Juliet will take a
potion that will make her appear dead for forty-two hours. This will prevent her marriage to Paris, and give
the friar time to contact Romeo in Mantua.
Act IV Scene 2
Unconcerned about his daughter’s feelings, Capulet makes preparations for the marriage. Juliet feigns
willing submission to his wishes and seems eager for the wedding.
Act IV Scene 3
A cheerful Juliet makes the necessary preparations for her wedding and then asks to be left alone for
the night in order to pray. In spite of fears and misgivings, she drinks the potion given to her by the friar.
Act IV Scene 4
The household is busy preparing for the wedding feast. The bridegroom has arrived, but the bride
cannot be found.
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Act IV Scene 5
The friar’s plan has worked well. Juliet is thought to be dead and the wedding feast is quickly turned
into a funeral.
Act V Scene 1
The scene is Mantua where Romeo is hiding. Balthasar brings Romeo news of Juliet’s burial, but he has
no message from the friar. Romeo is determined to commit suicide beside Juliet’s body so that night, by
bribing a poverty-stricken apothecary, he procures a deadly poison.
Act V Scene 2
Friar Laurence discovers that just as his messenger was about to depart to Mantua he was quarantined.
The distressed friar goes hurriedly to the tomb in order to be present when Juliet awakes.
Act V Scene 3
Romeo goes to Juliet’s tomb where he is approached by Paris who has come to the tomb bearing
flowers. Paris and Romeo fight and Paris is slain. Romeo drinks the poisonous drug and dies. Juliet awakens to
find Romeo dead and she stabs herself with her lover’s dagger. The friar explains the events of the past few
days to the Prince, Lord and Lady Capulet, and Lord Montague. His words are supplemented by the letter
Romeo has left with Balthasar. The family feud is finally ended with the death of Romeo and Juliet.
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