The Roles of the Nurse and Friar Lawrence in Romeo and Juliet

The Roles of the Nurse and Friar Lawrence in Romeo and Juliet

Friar Lawrence is Franciscan friar who is good and decent friend to

both Romeo and Juliet. He is a kind, civic minded and always ready

with a plan; for example the potion he gives to Juliet. Friar Lawrence

secretly marries the impassioned lovers in hopes that the union might

eventually bring peace to Verona and to both the Capulet family and

the Montague family as they have been sworn enemies to each other as

friar Lawrence already knows. His relationship with Romeo is like a

father to son relationship as Friar Lawrence does so may fatherly

gestures to Romeo for example he likes to tease the young lad and also

give advice for him for example before their wedding Friar Lawrence

says to Romeo “So smile the heavens upon this holy act, /that after

hours with sorrow chide us not”. He tries to advice Romeo to “love

moderately”. But in my opinion the relationship is so close between

the two because Friar Lawrence always confides Romeo as he did after

the killing of Tybalt, Romeo hides in the Friar’s cell, so the friar

has to call him out, “Romeo, come forth; come forth, thou fearful man:

/affliction is enamour’d of thy parts, /and thou art wedded to

calamity”. A person’s “parts” are is qualities, such an honour,

courage, etc; the friar is expressing sympathy for poor Romeo because

he seems to be married to bad luck.

The nurse; Juliet’s nurse, the woman who breast-fed Juliet when she

was a baby and has cared for Juliet her entire life. A vulgar,

long-winded, and sentimental character, the Nurse provides comic

relief with her frequently inappropriate remarks and speeches. But,

until a disagreement near the play’s end, the Nurse is Juliet’s

faithful confidante and loyal intermediary in Juliet’s affair with

Romeo. She provides a contrast with Juliet, given that her view of

love is earthy and sexual, whereas Juliet is idealistic and intense.