Macbeth and Romeo & Juliet recap

In Macbeth, three witches predict that Macbeth will be king. Encouraged by Lady Macbeth, he murders Duncan, takes the crown, and orders further killings to protect it. Guilt destroys Lady Macbeth, while opposition gathers around Duncan's son Malcolm and Macduff. The witches' misleading promises give Macbeth false confidence; Macduff kills him and Malcolm becomes king. In Romeo and Juliet, children of the feuding Montague and Capulet families fall in love and marry secretly. Romeo is banished after killing Tybalt. Juliet takes a potion to avoid another marriage, but the plan is not explained to Romeo. He believes she is dead and poisons himself; she wakes and kills herself beside him. Their deaths finally reconcile the families.

After Scotland defeats an invasion and rebellion, three witches tell Macbeth that he will become king and that Banquo's descendants will rule after him. King Duncan soon rewards Macbeth with a title named in the prophecy. Lady Macbeth persuades her husband to murder Duncan while the king is their guest, and they frame his guards. Duncan's sons flee, allowing Macbeth to take the crown. Fearing Banquo's predicted line, Macbeth has his friend killed, though Banquo's son escapes. He returns to the witches, whose warnings make him feel protected by impossible conditions. Macbeth orders the slaughter of Macduff's family, driving Macduff to join Malcolm's invasion. Lady Macbeth, tormented by guilt, dies. Malcolm's soldiers camouflage themselves with branches from Birnam Wood, fulfilling one warning. Macduff reveals that the witches' promise does not protect Macbeth from him, kills the tyrant, and enables Malcolm to become king.

Macbeth's murder of Duncan leads to a fearful reign, the destruction of Lady Macbeth, and a revolt led by Malcolm and Macduff. Macduff kills Macbeth and Malcolm restores the royal line. The collection then moves to Verona, where Romeo Montague and Juliet Capulet fall in love despite their families' feud. Friar Laurence marries them secretly. Tybalt kills Romeo's friend Mercutio, and Romeo kills Tybalt, for which he is banished. When Juliet's parents order her to marry Paris, the friar gives her a potion that will make her appear dead until Romeo can take her away. The message explaining the plan never reaches him. Romeo enters the tomb, believes Juliet dead, and takes poison. Juliet wakes and kills herself with his dagger. Faced with the deaths of their children, the Montagues and Capulets end their feud.

Macbeth ends after the king's violent rule drives Malcolm and Macduff to lead an army against him. Lady Macbeth dies after being overwhelmed by guilt. Macbeth trusts the witches' assurances until Birnam Wood appears to move toward his castle and Macduff reveals that he was not born in the ordinary manner. Macduff kills Macbeth, and Malcolm takes the Scottish crown. Romeo and Juliet ends when Friar Laurence's message about Juliet's feigned death fails to reach Romeo. Believing her dead, Romeo takes poison in the Capulet tomb. Juliet wakes, finds him dead, and kills herself. Their parents finally recognize the cost of the feud and agree to peace.