Romeo

and
Juliet
William Shakespeare
 William
Shakespear
e
(1864-
1616)
 William Shakespeare was
born on April 23, 1564, in
Stratford-upon-Avon. The son
of John Shakespeare and
Mary Arden, he was probably
educated at the King Edward
VI Grammar School in
Stratford, where he learned
At eighteen, he married
Anne Hathaway, a
woman seven or eight
years his senior.
Together they raised
two daughters:
Susanna, who was born
in 1583, and Judith
 Little is known about
Shakespeare's activities
between 1585 and 1592.
Robert Greene's A Groatsworth
of Wit alludes to him as an
actor and playwright.
Shakespeare may have taught
at school during this period,
but it seems more probable
Due to the plague, the London
theaters were often closed
between June 1592 and April
1594.
During that period,
Shakespeare probably had
some income from his patron,
Henry Wriothesley, earl of
Southampton, to whom he
 The former was a long narrative
poem depicting the rejection of
Venus by Adonis, his death, and
the consequent disappearance of
beauty from the world.
Despite conservative objections to
the poem's glorification of
sensuality, it was immensely
popular and was reprinted six
CHARACTERS
Romeo
Romeo is the teenage son
of the Montague family,
who are busy feuding with
the Capulets. In the
beginning, Romeo is
brooding over his
unrequited love for
Rosaline. When he sees
 Juliet
Juliet Capulet, on the cusp of 14
years old, falls in love with Romeo,
the son of her family’s enemy. She
subsequently proposes
marriage. With the help of Nurse,
her guardian, they are secretly
Friar
Laurence
 Friar Laurence is a
Franciscan friar and a
mentor to Romeo and
Juliet. He secretly marries
them, hoping to broker
peace between the two
families. The Friar later
arranges for a banished
 The Nurse
The widowed Nurse is a loyal
companion to Juliet, having cared
for her since she was a baby. Her
long-winded stories, raunchy
comments, and distaste for men
generally serve as comic relief
Mercuti
o
Mercutio is a relative of
the Prince of Verona
and a close friend to
Romeo. His volatile
nature, quick wit, and
saucy wordplay serve
 Tybalt
Tybalt is the nephew of
Lady Capulet and
Juliet’s cousin. The
Nurse also considers
The Montagues
One of the two major
families of Verona.
They are bitter
enemies of the
The Capulets
One of the two major
families of Verona.
They are bitter
enemies of the
 Escalus
The Prince of Verona. He
is tired of the fighting in
his city and threatens
anyone who disturbs the
 Paris
A young nobleman and
kinsman of the Prince. He
is handsome and
courteous and favorable
 Benvolio
A nephew of
Montague and a
friend of Romeo.
 Friar John
A Friar in the same church
as Friar Lawrence. He is
sent to deliver a message
to Romeo in Mantua about
Friar Lawrence’s plan for
 Lady Capulet
The young wife of
Capulet, who has an
ugly temper. She is
humbled by the death
Balthazar
Servant to
Romeo.
Samson and Gregory

Servants to the
Capulets.
 Peter
Servant to Juliet’s
nurse. He helps
keep the family
 Abraham
Servant to the
Montagues. He also
helps keep the family
quarrel alive.