"Roméo et Juliette" by William Shakespeare is a tragedy written between 1591 and 1595. Two young lovers from feuding Italian families defy ancient hatred to pursue their forbidden romance. Set in Verona, their secret marriage sets off a chain of violence involving duels, banishment, and desperate schemes. As misunderstandings multiply and blood feuds escalate, the lovers face impossible choices between family loyalty and their devotion to each other. This archetypal tale of young love has become one of Shakespeare's most performed plays.