The Presentation od Friar Lawrence in Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare

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"Romeo and Juiliet" is a play written by renound author William Shakepeare. The story is bound around a pair of star-crossed lovers who long to be together. However, from Shakepeares prologue, we know it is never going to be a happy ending, the play unfolds a tragedy.

In this play I will be mainly focusing on act 4 scene one, looking at "How Friar Laurence is presented" whether it be through; language, plot, relationships or his character. I will also be making comparisons between Zefferelli and Lurnman film versions looking at their interpretations of shakepeare's "Romeo and Juliet"

One way the friar is presented is through his character as being wise and knowledgable.The Friar is perhaps the oldest character in the play; we generally associate older people with knowing more and seeing the bigger spectrum in a situation. Friar Laurence does this exactly.One example of this is when he gives cousel to Juliet at the church as she threatens to kill herself over the bigamy dilema with the County Paris. However, the Friar "Spy's a kind of hope" but doesn't reveal this until he has "thought beyond the compass of my wits." He is very wise in this situation and ironically takes time thinking of a alternative plan, which he never finds. The Friar whilst he is preparing the potion makes it fully aware to the audience and Juliet that this is only to be consumed in desperate circumstances."Which craves as desperate execution. At that it is desperate that we would prevent it."Friar Laurence reiterates this to assure Juliet understands the possible hazards of taking the home-brewed concotion.

Friar Laurence is presented as a man who is fall of his own self- importance .The language used by shakepeare is long, rambling- even after...

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... him as a more faithful individual.Even the tone of his tone of voice presents him as a more innocent figure.

From analysing Shakepeares text and comparing the two interpretations of Zefferelli and Lurhman, there are many ways which Friar Laurence has been presented.From an audience perspective we see him being presented as a:fatherly, scheming,arrogant figure who fails to properly anaylise situations.Throughout act four scene one and the rest of Shakepeare's play there is always the contrast between slow and fast pace.Which definatly doesn't fall in the Friars favour as under-pressure, we know as the audience he is very reckless.Shakepeare portrays the Friar to be the main decision maker in the play.The action in which the Friar takes ultimately changes the play, presents his as being as being powerful and could be considered to be playing God?

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