Who Is Responsible For Friar Lawrence's Death

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Sara Hosn
Ms. Sanchez
Honors English P4
7 May 2018
Responsibility of an Indirect Murder
In the play, Romeo and Juliet, written by William Shakespeare, the character by the name of Friar Laurence is at fault for the star crossed lovers’ deaths. Romeo and Juliet genuinely trusted Friar Laurence and all the advice he gave them along with the plan he made for the two so they could be together. He was quick to marry them, did not have a solid plan for the two, and left Juliet to die inside the tomb. There are many reason that contribute to their cause of death but Friar Laurence is mainly to blame this great tragedy.
Friar Laurence married Romeo and Juliet too quickly as an “easy” way out instead of supporting and helping them disclose their love. …show more content…

Nothing was opening the Friars eyes hinting the marriage was becoming very destructive. He continued to ignore any signs that would lead to a bad ending. Laurence was determined to keep the couple together without causing problems but he failed. “Unless [Friar Laurence] tell[s] [Juliet] how [she] may prevent it. / If, in [his] wisdom [he] canst give no help, / with [a] knife [she’ll] help it presently" (4.1.52-55). Juliet was threatening to commit suicide rather than marry Paris causing the priest to create a very risky and unsure plan. Poorly thinking it through, the Friar handed Juliet a potion she could drink faking her death that would truthfully just make her fall into a very deep sleep. Friar Laurence had to make sure “Romeo by [his] letters know [the] drift.”(4.1.116) He had to send a message to Romeo clarifying that Juliet was not really dead and it was all a set up for the Capulets. He sent the letter through another man, Friar John, but Romeo never ended up receiving the message for “[Friar John] could not send it.”(5.2.14) Laurence was not thinking straight, again, and never told John the extreme importance of delivering the letter. With Romeo having no knowledge of the plan, Laurence hurried to the tomb to be there when Juliet came out of her trance. Romeo, not knowing, sees unconcious Juliet and kills himself and then Juliet

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