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Romeo and Juliet

by William Shakespeare (1564–1616)

  • Free to read
  • 5 hours to read
  • 46 chapters
  • Reading level: 6th grade

"Romeo and Juliet" by William Shakespeare is a tragedy written between 1591 and 1595. Set in Verona, Italy, it tells the story of two young lovers from feuding families—the Montagues and Capulets. Their secret romance unfolds against a backdrop of street brawls, family honor, and bitter hatred. With the help of Friar Laurence, they attempt to overcome the violence dividing their families. The play explores themes of love, fate, and the devastating consequences of ancient grudges through Shakespeare's masterful poetic language and dramatic structure.

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  • Vendetta
  • Youth
  • Verona (Italy)
  • Juliet (Fictitious character)
  • Romeo (Fictitious character)
  • Conflict of generations
  • Tragedies (Drama)

Read the opening

Scene I: Verona. A Public Place

Enter SAMPSON and GREGORY, of the house of Capulet, with swords and bucklers

Sampson. Gregory, on my word, we'll not carry
coals.

Gregory. No, for then we should be colliers.

Sampson. I mean, an we be in choler we'll draw.

Gregory. Ay, while you live, draw your neck out
o' the collar.

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Contents

Show all 46 chapters
  1. Preface
  2. Scene I: Verona. A Public Place
  3. Scene II: A Street
  4. Scene III: A Room in Capulet's House
  5. Scene IV: A Street
  6. Scene V: A Hall in Capulet's House: Musicians waiting. Enter Servingmen with napkins
  7. Act II
  8. Scene I: A Lane by the Wall of Capulet's Orchard: Enter ROMEO
  9. Scene II: Capulet's Orchard: Enter ROMEO
  10. Scene III: Friar Laurence's Cell: Enter FRIAR LAURENCE, with a basket
  11. Scene IV: A Street: Enter Benvolio and Mercutio
  12. Scene V: Capulet's Orchard: Enter JULIET
  13. Scene VI: Friar Laurence's Cell: Enter Friar Laurence and Romeo
  14. Scene I: A Public Place
  15. Scene II: Capulet's Orchard: Enter JULIET
  16. Scene III: Friar Laurence's Cell: Enter Friar Laurence
  17. Scene IV: A Room in Capulet's House: Enter Capulet, Lady Capulet, and Paris
  18. Scene V: Juliet's Chamber: Enter ROMEO and JULIET
  19. Scene I: Friar Laurence's Cell: Enter Friar Laurence and Paris
  20. Scene II: Hall in Capulet's House
  21. Scene III: Juliet's Chamber
  22. Scene IV: Hall in Capulet's House
  23. Scene V: Juliet's Chamber
  24. Scene I: Mantua. A Street: Enter ROMEO
  25. Scene II: Friar Laurence's Cell: Enter Friar John
  26. Scene III: A Churchyard; in it a Tomb belonging to the Capulets: Enter PARIS, and his Page bearing flowers and a torch
  27. Introduction
  28. Prologue
  29. Act I
  30. Scene II. — 4: Reckoning. Estimation, reputation
  31. Scene III. — 1: On the character of the Nurse Mrs. Jameson says: —
  32. Scene IV. — Mercutio is thus described in Brooke's poem: —
  33. Act II
  34. Scene I. — 2: Dull earth. "Romeo's epithet for his small world of man: the earthlier portion of himself" (Clarke). Cf. Sonn. 146. 1: "Poor soul, the centre of my sinful earth."
  35. Scene IV. — 2: To-night. Last night. See on i. 4. 50 above
  36. Scene V. — 7: Love. That is, Venus. Cf. Temp. iv. 1. 94: —
  37. Scene VI. — 9: These violent delights, etc. Malone compares R. of L: 894: "These violent vanities can never last." He might have added Ham. ii. 1. 102: —
  38. Scene I. — 2: The day is hot. "It is observed that in Italy almost all: assassinations are committed during the heat of summer" (Johnson)
  39. Scene II. — 1: Gallop apace, etc. Malone remarks that S. probably: remembered Marlowe's Edward II., which was performed before 1593: —
  40. Scene III. — 1: Fearful. Full of fear, afraid; Cf. M.N.D. v. 1. 101: 165, etc
  41. Scene IV. — 11: Mew'd up. Shut up. Cf. T of S. i. 1. 87, 188, etc: Mew originally meant to moult, or shed the feathers; and as hawks were then shut up, it got the secondary sense it has here
  42. Act IV
  43. Scene III. — 5: Cross. Perverse. Cf. Hen. VIII. iii. 2. 214: —
  44. Scene IV. — 2: Pastry. That is, the room where pastry was made. Cf: pantry (Fr. paneterie, from pain), the place where bread is kept, etc. Staunton quotes A Floorish upon Fancie, 1582: —
  45. Act V
  46. Appendix

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About this edition

This free edition of Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare comes from Project Gutenberg eBook #47960, released 2015-01-13. It is in the public domain in the United States, so you can read it here in full at no cost, on any phone, tablet or computer. Genre: Plays/Films/Dramas, Classics of Literature, British Literature.

Other editions: eBook #1513 (most read), eBook #1112, eBook #1777, eBook #2261.

Summary provided by Project Gutenberg (automatically generated).

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