Romeo and juliet is a tragedy written by william shakespeare early in his career about two young star crossed lovers whose deaths ultimately reconcile their feuding families it was among shakespeares most popular plays during his lifetime and along with hamlet is one of his most frequently performed playstoday the title characters are regarded as archetypal young lovers. Romeo and juliet play by william shakespeare written about 1594 96 and first published in an unauthorized quarto in 1597 the appeal of the young hero and heroine is such that they have become in the popular imagination the representative of star crossed lovers. Juliet ay me romeo she speaks o speak again bright angel for thou art as glorious to this night being oer my head as is a winged messenger of heaven unto the white upturned wondering eyes of mortals that fall back to gaze on him when he bestrides the lazy pacing clouds and sails upon the bosom of the air juliet o romeo romeo wherefore