Friar Laurence In Shakespeare's Romeo And Juliet

“We still have known thee for a holy man.” Both families in Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare had an abundance of respect for the man, Friar Laurence. He is a key character in the plot of Romeo and Juliet. Friar Laurence servers many dramatic purposes in the play. His role was a father figure to both Juliet and Romeo, a man whom Romeo could divulge information to, and an instrumental character in the final scenes of Romeo and Juliet.

Friar Laurence’s speech to Romeo shows how he is a father figure to Romeo. The Friar and Romeo have a discussion in the first scene about his love of Rosaline. Friar Laurence says,

“That's my good son: but where hast thou been, then?”(Shakespeare Act II Scene III). He directly calls a Montague, Romeo, his son. It shows how much both of them respect each other as well.

Romeo’s speech to Friar Laurence showed how the Friar was a man whom Romeo could divulge information to.

Romeo told the Friar that he wanted to marry a Capulet girl, Juliet. Romeo said, “Do thou but close our hands with holy words, Then love-devouring death do what he dare; It is enough I may but call her mine” (Shakespeare Act II Scene VI). Romeo is requesting that the Friar will marry him and Juliet in the sacrament of Matrimony. He then says, love-destroying death can do whatever it pleases, it's enough for me if I can call her mine. Romeo is asking Friar Laurence to marry him to a Capulet, the opposing family. It shows that the Friar is man whom Romeo could divulge information

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Friar Laurence's actions in Act IV shows how he is an instrumental character in the final scenes of Romeo and Juliet. Juliet was going to kill herself with a knife, but Friar Laurence found a solution that would solve the problem of her marrying Paris. Friar Laurence told her, “Take thou this vial, being then in bed” (Shakespeare Act IV Scene I). He is telling Juliet to drink the vial while in bed. The Friar’s plan was quite complex. First, she would drink the poison in bed. The poison would render her unconscious, and she would appear to be dead. She would be buried in the Capulet catacombs, and Romeo would be sent a letter telling him the plan. He would then travel to the tombs and rescue her. Obviously, this failed because Romeo never got word. This lead to the deaths of both Romeo and Juliet, arguably caused by Friar Laurence himself.