What Is Romeo and Juliet Based On?

A lot of people know the story of Romeo and Juliet, but how many people know how it started? The beautiful play is based on the real-life love story between two young lovers who were forced to marry each other by their respective families. The play is set in the city of Verona in Italy during the Renaissance period, when feuding families were commonplace. Romeo and Juliet meet at a party and fall in love at first sight. Romeo is a Montague and Juliet is a Capulet, two families who have been feuding for generations. Romeo is banished from Verona after he kills Juliet’s cousin Tybalt in a duel. Juliet fakes her own death in a plan to be reunited with Romeo, but on the way back home to their families’ homes they find out that their parents are planning on marrying them off against their will! Romeo believes Juliet is truly dead and kills himself, followed by Juliet finding his body beside hers (and killing herself). The play ends with the two families being reconciled by the deaths of Romeo and Juliet—one of literature’s most famous love stories!