The Montagues

• Romeo: Lady Montague’s son.
• Lady Montague: Matriarch of the house of Montague, she is Romeo’s mother and enemy of Capulet.
• Mercutio: Kinsman of Prince Escalus and friend of Romeo (technically not a member of the Montague family but aligned with them).
• Benvolio: Niece of Lady Montague and cousin to Romeo.

The Capulets

• Juliet: Daughter of Lord and Lady Capulet.
• Capulet: The head of the house of Capulet, he is Juliet’s father and enemy of Montague.
• Lady Capulet: Juliet’s mother.
• Nurse: To Juiliet.
• Penelope: Servant to the nurse and Juliet.
• Tybalt: Nephew of Lady Capulet and cousin of Juliet
• Rosaline: Niece of Lord Capulet. Romeo's unrequited love for Rosaline leads him to try to catch a glimpse of her at a gathering hosted by the Capulet family, during which he first spots her cousin, Juliet.

Others

• Friar Lawrence: A Franciscan friar and close friend of Romeo.
• Paris: A relative of Prince Escalus.
• Prince Escalus: The prince of Verona, he is related to Mercutio and Paris.
• Apothecary: A poor man ("so bare and full of wretchedness" - according to Romeo) who sells poison to Romeo.

The Place: Verona

An age-old vendetta between two powerful families erupts into bloodshed. A group of masked Montagues risk further conflict by gatecrashing a Capulet party. A young lovesick Romeo Montague falls instantly in love with Juliet Capulet, who is due to marry her father’s choice, the County Paris. With the help of Juliet’s nurse, the women arrange for the couple to marry the next day, but Romeo’s attempt to halt a street fight leads to the death of Juliet’s own cousin, Tybalt, for which Romeo is banished. In a desperate attempt to be reunited with Romeo, Juliet follows the Friar’s plot and fakes her own death. The message fails to reach Romeo, and believing Juliet dead, he takes his life in her tomb. Juliet wakes to find Romeo’s corpse beside her and kills herself. The grieving family agree to end their feud.