Friar Lawrence is to Blame in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet

In Shakespeare's play, Romeo and Juliet, Friar Laurence has a major role. As a member of the Order of St. Francis, a group of wise and generous priests, Romeo and Juliet trusted Friar Laurence completely, turning to him for advice, and solutions. He was there throughout Romeo’s and Juliet's lives; he married them, came up with a plan to keep them together, and was a friend throughout their tragedies. However, Friar Laurence’s rash action in marrying Romeo and Juliet, his shortsighted plan for rescuing Juliet from an unwanted marriage to Paris, and his fear of committing sin all contributed to the deaths of Romeo and Juliet.

Friar Laurence, through his lack of good judgment, is largely responsible for the deaths of both Romeo and Juliet. Rather than being supportive of them and helping them disclose their loving situation, Friar Laurence took the “easy” way out. He succumbed to their desire to elope. He secretly married Romeo and Juliet instead of standing behind them and encouraging them to confront their families with the facts about their commitment to and love for each other. As a result, an even stronger bond between them was created through marriage: "For, by your leaves, you shall not stay alone / Till holy church incorporate two in one" (2.6.36-37). Friar Laurence married Romeo and Juliet, hoping that their union would bring an end to the constant feuding between their two families, the Montagues and the Capulets. Though the friar’s intentions were good and above reproach, they were certainly missteps along a pathway to tragedy. None of the tragedies would have occurred if Romeo and Juliet were not married. When Tybalt challenged Romeo...

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...is to blame, his haste and

incompetence, was propelled by his inadequacy and impure motives.

Romeo’s and Juliet's deaths were the result of Friar Laurence's shortcomings, his

predisposition to act in haste, his shortsightedness and his fear of sin. He set the wheel of

catastrophe in motion, mixed in a little rashness and hastiness and topped it of with a few

bad decisions. In trying to please everyone, he pleased no one. “They stumble who run

fast” (2.3.101); it is odd how someone could not apply his own wisdom to his own actions.

"Virtue itself turns vice, being misapplied" (2.3.17). Friar Laurence's own advice would

suit him best and God help the rest.

Works Cited

Shakespeare, William. Romeo and Juliet. New York: University Press, 1992.