The story is set at the beginning of the 14^th century, at a time when the rivalry between the two leading families of Verona, the Capulets and Montagues, was causing bloodshed in the city. Romeo Montecchi goes in disguise to a masked ball at Capulet's house, where he falls hopelessly in love with Juliet. After the ball, he hides under Juliet's balcony and overhears her confessing to the night her love for him. He reveals his presence and proposes a secret wedding. The next day they are married by Friar Laurence.

Shortly after, Romeo meets Juliet's cousin Tybalt in the street and is attacked by him for having been to the ball in Capulet's house. Romeo, aware that he is now related to Tybalt, refuses to fight, but his friend Mercutio, amazed by his meekness, intervenes against Tybalt, who kills him. Romeo has to avenge the death of his friend, and he kills Tybalt; for this he is banished from the city, and the next day, after spending the night with Juliet, he is obliged to flee to Mantua. Meanwhile, Juliet is compelled by her father to agree to marry Paris. Friar Laurence suggests the stratagem of feigning death: Juliet is to drink a potion which will make her appear to be dead for forty hours, and meanwhile he will inform Romeo, who will retrieve her from the tomb and take her with him to Mantua.

Juliet agrees, but the secret message never reaches Romeo, who does however hear of her death. In despair, he buys a deadly poison and hurries to Verona to see Juliet one last time. At the tomb he meets Paris, kills him in a fight and then drinks the poison. When Juliet awakes and sees Romeo dead she realizes what has happened and stabs herself. Friar Laurence arrives too late to prevent the tragedy, and before the bodies of the two young lovers, victims of the rivalry and hatred between their families, the Capulets and the Montagues are reconciled at last.