The feud

In Romeo and Juliet, two noble families are at war: The Montague-Capulet feud is established in the very first scene when a fight breaks out between Montague’s and Capulet’s serving men. From that moment on, the Montague-Capulet subplot pervades the entire play and helps drive the plot to its tragic ending.

After the tragic death of their children at the end of the play, both families agree to bury their grievances and acknowledge their losses. Potentially, Romeo and Juliet resolve the long standing conflict between their respective families, but unfortunately do not live to enjoy the peace.

But who’s who in the Montague-Capulet feud? The following list divides the play’s characters by family:

The House of Montague

Lord and Lady Montague

Romeo Montague

Benvolio - Montague’s nephew and Romeo’s cousin

Balthasar - Romeo’s serving man

Abraham - Montague’s serving man

Our House of Montague page contains full character profiles for each of the above.

The House of Capulet

Lord and Lady Capulet

Juliet Capulet

Juliet’s Nurse

Tybalt – Lady Capulet’s Nephew and Juliet’s cousin

Samson, Gregory and Peter - Serving men for the Capulet

Our House of Capulet page contains full character profiles for each of the above.