Romeo and Juliet is set in Verona, Italy, where there is an ongoing feud between the Montague and Capulet families. The play opens with servants from both houses engaged in a street brawl that eventually draws in the family patriarchs and the city officials, including Prince Escalus. The Prince ends the conflict by issuing a decree that prohibits any further fighting at the risk of great punishment.Meanwhile, Romeo, a young man from the Montague house, laments his unrequited love for a woman named Rosaline, who has vowed to remain chaste for the rest of her life. Romeo and his friend Benvolio happen to stumble across a Capulet servant, Peter, who is trying to read a list of invitees to a masked party at the Capulet house that evening. Romeo helps Peter read the list and decides to attend the party because Rosaline will be there. He plans to wear a mask so that he will nobody will recognize him as a Montague.Romeo arrives at the Capulets' party in costume. He falls in love with young Juliet Capulet from the moment he sees her. However, Juliet's cousin Tybalt recognizes Romeo and wants to kill him on the spot. Lord Capulet intervenes, insisting that Tybalt not disturb the party because it will anger the Prince. Undeterred, Romeo quietly approaches Juliet and confesses his love for her. After exchanging loving words, they kiss.

シェイクスピアが描く本作の本質は、対立する家の憎しみをも溶かす若き魂の情熱と、残酷な運命の交差にあります。注釈版で読み解くべきは、二人が交わす比喩に満ちた詩の至高の美しさです。光と闇、聖と俗が混ざり合うその言葉遣いには、数百年を経ても色褪せない人間の生への渇望が宿っています。 この宿命的な愛は、閉鎖的な社会に対する魂の叫びとして響きます。ロザラインへの執着を瞬時に忘れ去るロミオの盲目さは、過ちではなく理性では制御できない純粋な真理の顕現です。悲劇へ向かう一途な美学こそが、今なお我々の心を激しく揺さぶり、読書という体験を至高の陶酔へと誘うのです。