Romeo and Juliet
tragedy by William Shakespeare
tragedy by William Shakespeare
The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet is a play written by William Shakespeare, composed during the 1590s [6] and belonging to the Renaissance period [7]. Written in English [9], it is classified as both a tragedy and a melodrama [10] and centers on the subject of forbidden love [12], depicting a pair of star-crossed lovers [8] from rival Italian families. The play opens with the now-famous prologue beginning "Two households, both alike in dignity, in fair Verona, where we lay our scene" [3], establishing its Italian setting and the ancient grudge that drives the plot [1].
The work features an extensive cast of characters, including Romeo, Juliet, Tybalt, Mercutio, Friar Laurence, and Count Paris, among others [2]. The title characters have come to be regarded as archetypal young lovers [1]. Romeo and Juliet was among Shakespeare's most popular plays during his own lifetime and, alongside Hamlet, remains one of his most frequently performed works [1]. It has been described and discussed across a range of reference works, including the New International Encyclopedia and The New Student's Reference Work [11].
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