Friar Lawrence In Shakespeare's Romeo And Juliet

Friar Laurence is responsible for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet because he is presumptuous, careless and rash with his decisions. Firstly, Friar Laurence agrees to married Romeo and Juliet in secret, without thinking how it might worsen the tension between the two families. When discussing the marriage with Romeo, Friar Laurence says “For this alliance may so happy prove / To turn your households’ rancour to pure love” (2.3.94-95). However, his statement of how their marriage will cause their families’ enmity to evolve into “pure love” is solely based on assumption. Blinded by good intentions of a marriage, Friar Laurence jumps to a conclusion that the two families would reunite in peace, when in reality the tension between the two families worsen leading to the deaths of Mercutio and Tybalt, the arranged marriage of Paris and Juliet, and ultimately the deaths of Romeo

Friar Laurence agrees to marry the couple and the ceremony is carried out in the secrecy of his cell. The Friar says, “ Come, come with me, and we will make short work/For, by your leaves, you shall not stay alone/Till Holy Church incorporate two in one” (2.6.35-37). As the Friar does not want them to consummate their love before marriage, he rushes the marriage rather than consulting with the two families or think of the viability of the relationship. Initially, Friar Laurence scolds Romeo for changing his affection from Rosaline to Juliet and for being too passionate, but he still believes the marriage is the right solution. However, the Friar is wrong because it only exacerbated things. Finally, Friar Laurence is incautious in Juliet’s fake death plan that lacks foresight. When Friar John informs Friar Laurence about the letter, he tells him, “ I could not send it -here it is again-”(5.2.14). Friar Laurence knows how suicidal Romeo is due to his