The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet (Full Version)

William Shakespeare’s The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet is the definitive drama of youthful love set against a world ruled by feud, reputation, and violence. In “fair Verona,” Romeo Montague and Juliet Capulet find in one another a sudden, radiant devotion—yet every step toward intimacy is shadowed by the ancient quarrel that divides their families and infects the city’s streets.

More than a romance, the play is a study in haste and consequence: impulsive vows, public honor, and private longing collide with tragic momentum. Shakespeare balances lyric tenderness with biting wit and volatile action, revealing how social conflict can shrink the space where love might safely live. Its enduring power lies in its language—at once exuberant and fatalistic—and in its clear-eyed portrayal of how hatred is inherited, while suffering is shared.

• Listeners who want a timeless classic where poetic romance and brutal social conflict are inseparable
• Students and theatre-lovers looking to hear Shakespeare’s language—wit, wordplay, and imagery—at full emotional force
• Anyone drawn to tragedies about youth, choice, and the high price of pride and public honor

William Shakespeare (1564–1616) was an English playwright, poet, and actor whose works define much of the Western literary canon. Writing in the late Elizabethan and early Jacobean eras, he composed enduring tragedies, comedies, histories, and romances, including Hamlet, Othello, Macbeth, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and King Lear. Celebrated for his psychological insight, theatrical craft, and unmatched command of the English language, Shakespeare shaped modern storytelling with characters and lines that remain instantly recognizable. His plays continue to be performed worldwide, continually reimagined across cultures and media.