William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet stands as one of the most enduring and iconic love stories in literary history. The tragic plot revolves around two young people from feuding families, the Montagues and the Capulets, whose forbidden love leads to their untimely demise.

The story begins with a street brawl between the servants of the Montague and Capulet households, which reflects the long-standing animosity between the two families. Romeo, a Montague, is infatuated with Rosaline, but his feelings quickly shift when he meets Juliet, the daughter of Lord Capulet, while in disguise at a masquerade ball. Despite their families’ enmity, Romeo and Juliet immediately fall in love and decide to marry in secret with the help of Friar Laurence.

Their happiness is short-lived as their clandestine romance leads to a series of tragic events. Tybalt, Juliet’s cousin, challenges Romeo to a duel, resulting in Tybalt’s death at Romeo’s hands. In retaliation, Romeo is banished from Verona by Prince Escalus, leaving Juliet devastated.

To avoid an arranged marriage to Count Paris, Juliet seeks Friar Laurence’s help, who devises a plan for her to fake her death using a sleeping potion. However, Romeo, unaware of the plan, believes Juliet to be truly dead when he finds her seemingly lifeless body. Consumed by grief, Romeo takes his own life beside her. Upon waking to find Romeo dead, Juliet also kills herself. The tragic deaths of the young lovers finally prompt their families to reconcile, but it is too late to undo the devastation wrought by their ancient feud.