Romeo and Juliet is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare early in his career about two young star-crossed lovers whose deaths ultimately unite their feuding families. It was among Shakespeare's most popular plays during his lifetime and, along with Hamlet, is one of his most frequently performed plays. The title characters, Romeo and Juliet, are a pair of young lovers who are willing to die to be together. The play is set in Verona, Italy, and is full of violence, passion, and tragedy.
Romeo and Juliet is a work of fiction, although it is based on a true story. The story of Romeo and Juliet was first told by the Italian poet Dante Alighieri in his Divine Comedy. Dante's story was then adapted into a play by Luigi da Porto in 1524. Shakespeare's play was based on Porto's play.