Friar Lawrence The Hero In Shakespeare's Romeo And Juliet

A hero is described as someone who, in the opinion of others, has "special qualities and is perceived as a role model.” In the play Romeo and Juliet, by William Shakespeare, Friar Lawrence fits this definition of a hero. Friar Lawrence is a selfless character who is always trying to help others and make people happy. In the play, the Friar does heroic acts, such as marrying Romeo and Juliet and by doing that hoping to end the feud between the Capulet and Montague families. Also, he comes up with a plan for Juliet not to kill herself and have her escape to be with Romeo, and finally he admits to the deaths of Romeo and Juliet. All three of these deeds deem The Friar as the hero in Romeo and Juliet. The author, William Shakespeare uses literary

devices such as conflict, dramatic irony, and characterization throughout his play to show that the Friar is the hero.

One example of the Friar being heroic is when he agrees to marry Romeo and Juliet. This is heroic for two reasons, as it makes both Romeo and Juliet happy, and he tries to solve a problem hoping that marrying the couple will end the feud between the Montague and Capulet families. When Romeo begs the Friar to marry the two, he is hesitant to do so. Then the Friar thinks about the big picture. Not only will it make Romeo and Juliet happy, which is heroic on its own, but it very well could end the feud between the families. By marrying Romeo and Juliet this also makes the Friar seem selfless because he could get into trouble if anyone found out about it. Paris and the Capulet family could get livid at the Friar. Shakespeare uses this quote in Act Two, Scene six, line 35 to show how the Friar will marry Romeo and Juliet: "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." The Friar also want to protect Romeo's safety and make sure he’s ok by saying "you shall not stay alone." This is another sign of a hero. When marrying the couple, he gives them superb advice by telling them to love moderately. In Act Two Scene six line 10 he tells them, "These violent delights have violent ends And in their triumph die, like fire and powder, Which, as they kiss, consume. The sweetest honey is loathsome in his own deliciousness And in the taste confounds the appetite.
Therefore love moderately.

Long love doth so. Too swift arrives as tardy as too slow." This advice is excellent and heroic because he is telling them not to rush into things and to appreciate each other. Shakespeare uses the literary device of conflict to help describe the Friar twice. The Friar faces internal conflict in whether to marry Romeo and Juliet, and another conflict in the play is the Montague Capulet feud. The reason the Friar struggles to marry the two is that he knows the families hate each other and never would allow their children to marry. One example of the feud is when Juliet states in Act two Scene Two-line 36 "Deny thy father and refuse thy name, Or, if thou wilt not, is but sworn my love, And I'll no longer be a Capulet." This shows that the "star-cross'd lovers" cannot be together because of their families. The Friar faces an internal conflict when Romeo asks to marry Juliet, but he sees how in love they are and hopes to end the feud between the families. Overall, the Friar is deemed a hero when he marries Romeo and Juliet because he tries to help people and make everyone happy and

civil.

Another example of the Friar being heroic is when he saves Juliet from killing herself because of her grief of her learning that she has to marry Paris. When Juliet threatens to kill herself, the Friar comes up with a quick plan. He says in Act 4 Scene 1 line 70. "Hold, daughter. I do spy a kind of hope, Which craves as desperate an execution As that is desperate which we would prevent. If, rather than to marry County Paris, Thou hast the strength of will to slay thyself, Then is it likely thou wilt undertake
A thing like death to chide away this shame, That copest with death himself to ’scape from it.

An if thou darest, I’ll give thee remedy." The Friar comes up with the plan for Juliet to be happy and be with Romeo. This shows that the Friar is once again always trying to make other people happy, which is a quality of a hero. Shakespeare utilizes the literary device dramatic irony in this part of the play when the Friar saves Juliet. When Juliet threatens to kill herself with her dagger because she cannot be with Romeo, she does not realize that this will happen at the end of the play. The audience knows that she will eventually slay herself with her dagger but Juliet and the Friar do not. So the friar needs to save her. In Act Four scene One Juliet says" Friar, unless you can tell me how to prevent it. If you who are so wise can’t help, please be kind enough to call my solution wise. And I’ll solve the problem now with this knife. God joined my heart to Romeo’s. You joined our hands. And before I—who was married to Romeo by you—am married to another man, I’ll kill myself. " Again, The friar helping and saving Juliet makes him a

hero.
Finnall