Book excerpt: Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, is a tragedy about two teenagers who fall in love. Both are dead by the play’s end. The play is set in Verona, Italy during the Renaissance. The plot is driven by the feud between two families, the Capulets and the Montagues. The play begins by introducing the rivalry through a brawl that is taking place amongst the servants of the two families. Romeo, son of Lord Montague, overhears that Lord Capulet is going to be hosting a ball. Romeo decides that he will attend, uninvited. He goes to the ball with his friends Mercutio and Benvolio. Romeo meets the lovely Juliet Capulet and they fall in love. Later on Romeo visits Juliet and stands under her balcony – they exchange vows of love. Romeo asks Friar Laurence to marry them – the Friar agrees in the hope that it will end the families’ feud. This annotated edition includes a biography and critical essay.