Friar Lawrence's Drug Speech Essay

Double Sided

(A Discussion of Three Messages in Friar Lawrence’s Drug Speech)

The iconic tale of Romeo and Juliet is famous for the intricately woven messages hidden throughout the story. Each character portrays many different messages in their dialogues and soliloquies. One such famous soliloquy is delivered by Friar Lawrence about medicine and drugs. Despite many underlying messages residing within this speech, three stand out dramatically. Three major themes addressed by the Friar Lawrence speech; all sorts of different things come from the earth, bad things can turn good and vice versa, and humans have two sides to their personalities.

To begin with, Friar Lawrence explains that all unique sorts of things are born from the earth. Every creature, plant, and human is created uniquely from the universal mother earth. The friar also tells that all things born from the earth return to the earth for death. On page 844 of Prentice Hall’s Literature, Volume Two, lines 10-14 the friar tells, “What is her burying grave, that is her womb; And from her womb children of

divers kind We sucking on her natural bosom find, Many for many virtues excellent, None but for some, and yet all different.” In those very lines, Friar Lawrence tells insightfully of every unique creature born from the earth.
Secondly, Friar Lawrence explains that every bad creature of the earth or intention has the power to be pure and good.

From the most vile and poisonous substances, powerful, life saving medicine can be the outcome, if used properly. Also, the evil intentions of someone, can lead to something truly wonderful, whether by accident or not. However, a useful substance can be abused, defeating its original purpose, resulting in catastrophe. Yet, the best intentions of humans can occasionally turn sour, causing unintended consequences. On page 845 of Prentice Hall’s Literature, Volume Two, lines 19-22, Friar Lawrence warns, “...Nor aught so good but, strained from that fair use, Revolts from true birth, stumbling on abuse. Virtue itself turns vice, being misapplied, And vice sometime by action dignified.” The friar is very wise upon this statement, as it has many true meanings and applications to this

day.
Finally, the father figure of Friar Lawrence tells that not unlike herbs, men possess light and dark within themselves. Herbs can be used to heal ailments, as well as poison the body. Each and every human has darkness and light within their soul. However, some men are more balanced or imbalanced than others. It is our own choice as to which pathway we take with our own darkness and light. On page 845 of Prentice Hall’s Literature, Volume Two, lines 26-30, Friar Lawrence truthfully tells, “Two such opposed kings encamp them still In man as well as herbs-grace and rude will; And where the worser is predominant, Full soon the canker death eats up that plant.” Men, just as much as herbs have dark and light sides to them.
Clearly, the three themes of Friar Lawrence’s drug speech are that all sorts of things are born from the earth, bad can transform to good, and vice versa, and humans have two sides to their souls. Romeo and Juliet is known for the constant messages interwoven in the intricate text. Yet, the Friar Lawrence speech has messages that still are completely accurate even to this day. Especially with the rising drug use in current generations. Without a doubt, Friar Lawrence delivers a powerfully accurate speech about herbs and medicine.