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Friar lawerence role in tragedy in romeo and juliet
Explore the significance of Friar Laurence as a plot device in Romeo and Juliet
Explore the significance of Friar Laurence as a plot device in Romeo and Juliet
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Throughout the play Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare, the two titular characters fall in love and try to keep their love strong when faced with many difficulties. Death, animosity, lack of free will, misunderstanding, and banishment all bar their love from thriving. In the play’s final scene, Romeo and Juliet commit suicide, both at seeing their love – their only hope – dead. Many of these events are influenced greatly by Friar Laurence, a priest at a church in Verona, the setting of the play. Throughout the play, Friar Laurence displays numerous character traits which show that he is responsible for the play’s conclusion. Friar Laurence is responsible for Romeo and Juliet’s tragic ending because of his selfishness, his interference, and his insincerity. Friar Laurence’s selfish intentions show in his reasons for marrying Romeo and Juliet. When Romeo attempts to convince Friar Laurence to perform his marriage to Juliet, the friar is at …show more content…
When Juliet hears after marrying Romeo that she must be married to Paris, a count, in two days, she rushes to Friar Laurence’s cell to speak of her sorrow. When Friar Laurence hears of how Juliet wishes to die if he cannot fix the problem, Friar Laurence says that he can help her if she has “the strength of will to slay [her]self” (4.1.73). This shows that Friar Laurence is again not worried about Juliet herself and her safety, but about what he can do to reconcile her family and Romeo’s. He offers this proposition when he already knows Juliet is willing to die and vulnerable. Lastly, his resulting plan is what sets the play’s tragedy in motion. Though Friar Laurence had many opportunities to back away from his involvement, keeping Juliet and Romeo safe, he does not. This shows that his interference – and the way he goes about it – are responsible for Romeo and Juliet’s
In William Shakespeare's tragedy, Romeo and Juliet, Friar Laurence plays a major role. He makes not just one, but three fatal mistakes; he marries Romeo and Juliet, gives the potion to Juliet, and gets caught up in their love. Romeo and Juliet knew they could trust Friar Laurence because he was a priest, and he always did what was right. Since Friar Laurence was so quick to make decisions he made these three fatal mistakes, which is why he is most to blame for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet.
Thus, he leaves Juliet alone in a vault filled with dead ancestors, as well as recently dead Romeo and Paris, and she kills herself. This is not to say that Friar Laurence does not feel responsible for Romeo and Juliet's deaths, he recounts his tale to the Prince and offers his life as a sacrifice if their deaths are his fault (5.3.228-68). In every step of deceiving Romeo and Juliet's parents, the government, and everyone who thought Juliet to be dead, Friar Laurence was attempting to: end a great feud between two families, help Juliet keep her marriage vows (by helping her out of marrying Paris), keeping Juliet alive, keeping Romeo safe from imprisonment or death, and ultimately, protecting the lovers' love from outside influences. He sees his acts as acts that are working for the greater good, and therefore they are just.
The start of Friar Laurence’s impulsive actions begins when he proposes a secret marriage of Romeo and Juliet. The letter explains the plan for Juliet and Romeo to eventually escape and live their lives together, but since it never sent to Romeo, that did not happen at all. Friar Laurence’s rashness is evident when he sends Friar John alone to Mantua, forgetting the rule that forbids a friar (John) from travelling without the company of another friar. Meanwhile, Friar Laurence is aware that a contagious plague is spreading throughout Verona, yet he does not choose to go with Friar John himself.
When he agrees to marry Romeo and Juliet, he states that “this alliance may so happy prove, to turn your households’ rancor to pure love,” (2.3.95-96). Friar Laurence knows that Romeo wants to marry Juliet, but he does not do it just to make Romeo happy. However, this references the fact that through Romeo and Juliet getting married, and subsequently killing themselves to be together, the houses of Montague and Capulet will end their feud because they see what type of destruction is causes. Friar Laurence wants the violence on the streets of Verona to end, as does everyone else in the city, so he considers the idea of marrying Romeo and Juliet to end the feud. Friar Laurence clearly stated to Romeo that the reason he is marrying him and Juliet is because it may very well end the fighting. Its not that Friar Laurence does not care about what Romeo wants, he very clearly does, but its implied that Friar Laurence would not have married them if it meant more violence would ensue as a result. But he knew that one way or another, the violence would end with the marriage. He is teaching Romeo to consider decisions in a long-term context, whether he meant to or not., which is something a parent or mentor would likely teach their child or
Shakespeare first proves that Friar Laurence is to blame when he makes a bad choice of marrying Romeo and Juliet. Friar Laurence is very confident about his decision of marrying Romeo and Juliet with the hopes that it will bring peace to the two families, but it is apparent that even the Friar himself is not sure if it is the right choice. Just before the marriage, when Friar Laurence is waiting for Juliet with Romeo, he states, “So smile the heavens upon this holy act. That afterhours with sorrow chide us not” (2.6.1-2). This shows that Friar Laurence is not so confident about his plan after all. He hopes that his decision will be met with good luck, and that nothing bad happens afterwards. The Friar himself begins to doubt his plan, showing that this is a poor
William Shakespeare was an amazing English poet and playwright, and was widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language. One of his most famous and well known plays was Romeo and Juliet. This play tells the story of two star crossed lovers who meet for the first time and won't let anything stop them from being together. This ultimately leads to both their deaths. Many wonder and argue who was to blame for these two lovers demise. Some might say it was their parents or the feud of their families that led to them taking their own lives. Some might even believe it was fate. Although these people make good points, the true cause of their death was Friar Laurence. Friar was the one Romeo and Juliet came to when they wished to
Friar Laurence’s tragic flaw is being too overconfidence over his actions he planned. When Romeo comes over to friar’s cell for advice, he should’ve never tried to solve conflict between Capulet Family and Montague family. His plan was to change two families madness to love by marring Romeo, son of Montague and Juliet, daughter
Friar Lawrence is one of the most important characters in the play, Romeo & Juliet.
Friar Laurence was once looked up to by both Romeo and Juliet, constantly telling them to act with more caution and restraint. Despite this, he doesn't wait long to marry these lovebirds. It has broken many hearts of the citizens of Verona and left many others in shock. At one point, Friar Laurence admitted to agreeing to marry the couple, knowing Romeo only loves Juliet due to her appearance. "
Throughout history never has there been a piece of literature as well known for its tragic end as that of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. Although many factors contribute to the grief and misfortune that this play represents, human actions play the principle role in the final outcome. At first glance, one may look over the character of Friar Laurence dismissing him as only a minor player in the plot. However, upon closer examination, it becomes obvious that the Friar plays an essential role in the development of the play and, although has good intentions, is responsible for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet.
Throughout time, there have been many tragedies cause by romance. For example, the play Romeo and Juliet, by William Shakespeare, is known for its romantic tragedy between two star-crossed lovers. With all the deaths, who is truly to blame for Romeo and Juliet's deaths? Friar Laurence is most to blame for many obvious, yet overlooked reasons.
In the classic play Romeo and Juliet, Friar Laurence plays a major part. Romeo and Juliet trusted him entirely as he was the priest of their town. They turned to the Friar for help and advice at a few crucial points in the play. Little did these two lovers know that their decision to turn to Friar Laurence for help would eventually lead to their deaths. Friar Laurence was responsible for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet because he married Romeo and Juliet, he was afraid of committing a sin, and because of his faulty plan for saving Juliet from a marriage to Paris.
Friar Laurence's immature actions make him part of the tragedy. For one, he married Romeo and Juliet. When told that Romeo loves Juliet, Friar replies, "Holy Saint Francis, what a change is here! /Is Rosaline, that thou didst love so dear, /so soon forsaken? Young men's love then lies/ not truly in the hearts, but in their eyes," (II, III, lines 66-69). In these lines, Friar admits that Romeo is only lusting for Juliet. Being the adult, Friar shouldn't have married Romeo until he found true love. However, the Friar was immature and married them anyways. Then, Friar came up with the idea for Juliet to fake death. Juliet is distressed about Romeo being banished so Friar comes up with the plan saying, "Hold, then. Go home, be merry, give consent/ to marry Paris. Wednesday is tomorrow,” Juliet is then suppose to "Take thou this vial, being then in bed/ And this distilling liquor drink thou off." After being buried and awakened, "Shall Romeo bear thee hence to Mantua." (IV, I, Lines 90-119). This bad advise, to give a girl a drink like death and tells her to run away, is only one of many immature actions Friar takes. Finally, Friar did not stay with Juliet after she frantically woke up, in a tomb, next other diseased husband who was supposed to run away with her to Mantua. Inste...
The Contribution of Juliet's Relationship with Her Parents and Friar Lawrence's Single Mindedness to the Tragic End of the Play
Friar wants to make his life a peaceful one, in which he later on does: “Tomorrow night look that thou lie alone:/ Let not the nurse lie with thee in thy chamber./ Take thou this vial, being then in bed,/ And this distilled liqour drink thou off;/ When presently through all thy veins shall run/ A cold and drowsy humor; for no pulse” (IV. i.ln 101-106). Juliet believes that his plans are only to help herself and Romeo. The Friar tries to make them believe that it would be for them and their well-being, but in the reality of it all it was for the well-being of his own. Due to Romeo and Juliet’s desperation for love they became rash in their actions; an opportune time to use someone to achieve your goal. Friar Laurence found this quite useful, the two lovers listened to every word Friar