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Shakespeare drama literary analysis
The impact that friar lawrence has on the lives of romeo and juliet
The impact that friar lawrence has on the lives of romeo and juliet
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As a trusted and revered priest, Friar Lawrence has a great deal of influence on the decisions made by both protagonists in Shakespeare’s classic tragedy Romeo and Juliet. His advice is responsible for Romeo and Juliet’s marriage, Romeo fleeing to Mantua, Juliet consuming lethal potion, and ultimately the tragic outcome of both lovers when his plan goes awry. Above All, Friar Lawrence is a mentor and confidant of Romeo’s throughout the play. Romeo confides in him about his current troubles and difficulties, expecting an answer or solution from the Friar who is a respected man of God. Therefore, in Act II, scene iii, lines 56-64, it is of no surprise when Romeo confesses to Friar Lawrence his love for Juliet and their plan to elope. In this moment, the very words that fall from Friar’s lips completely alter the course of this play. His approval was the only thing hindering Romeo and Juliet from making this huge mistake. Agreeing to marry the two, as a last resort to put an end to their families’ long-standing feud, only opens a can of worms. Consequently, Romeo and Juliet’s union becomes an enormous dilemma, considering that Juliet is betrothed to …show more content…
This influence is exhibited when Juliet goes to him desperately seeking guidance in her time of despair. In anguish, she urges “Give me some present counsel, or, behold, / Twixt my extremes and me this bloody knife” (IV.i. 63-64). So, as a remedy, Friar Lawrence convinces Juliet to fake her death by drinking a potion to avoid her wedding to Count Paris. Juliet, eager for an escape, accepts the risks of this plan in hopes of reuniting with Romeo. However, Friar Lawrence’s seemingly perfect plan gets derailed when a plague prevents Romeo from receiving his letter containing vital details of their plan. As a result, both Romeo and Juliet decide to end their own lives, leaving everyone but Friar Lawrence in
Friar Lawrence wants to marry Romeo and Juliet in hopes their love for one another will end the feud between the Montagues and the Capulets. He schemes and has the characters believe it is out of his love for Romeo and Juliet; as in their eyes, he is a fatherly figure. He is an older man who should be out to help the citizenry of Verona, but being egotistical, he uses Romeo and Juliet for his personal desires to end the feud between the families. Him being egocentric has the Friar make rash decisions in situations that he had not planned for. When the Capulets and the Montagues come together after the death of their children, Friar Lawrence says, “Her nurse is privy; and if aught in this/ Miscarried by my fault, let my old life/ Be sacrificed some hour before his time/ Unto the rigor of severest law.” (V.iii.266-269). The Friar explains Romeo and Juliet’s love story and the reasoning behind their secret marriage and why he went through with marrying the star-crossed lovers. He does not say that his rashness is to be blamed for their children’s death, but turns to the Nurse’s knowledge of the secret marriage. Friar Lawrence is showcasing his rashness by outing the Nurse’s role in the marriage and not taking blame for the deaths, but has the Prince decide his punishment. He wants to blame another character with the knowledge of the marriage to make it seem as though he is not to be blamed. His
Friar Lawrence is a fallacious mentor. This is seen when he agrees to secretly 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.”(2.2.35-37) This was an ill-conceived decision because the families are unaware of this so it will not actually break the tension between the two rival families. This creates dishonesty and unfaithfulness to their families which evidently ends tragically. When Friar Lawrence married Romeo and Juliet he inferred that the feud between the families would end; however, this was not the case because they kept it a secret. “This shall determine that.” (3.1.28) Romeo challenges Tybalt to a fight to the death even though Tybalt is Juliet’s cousin and they are married. This proves that Friar’s plan was faulty and unsuccessful because there is still great conflict between the two rival families. Friar’s unhelpful mentoring is shown when he agrees to secretly marry Romeo and Juliet and when he wrongly infers that the feud between the families would
William Shakespeare's famous play, The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet, has flawlessly utilized characterization to captivate audiences for centuries. Friar Lawrence, a distinguished priest of Verona and father figure to Romeo Montague, is a static character throughout the tragedy. He remains steadfast in his promise to unite Romeo and Juliet, aiming to ultimately eliminate the notorious feud between the Montague and Capulet families. Friar Lawrence’s supporting role in the tragedy is a crucial provider of both conflict and assistance to the main characters, Romeo and Juliet. He puts his reputation on the line when marrying Romeo and Juliet, hoping to simultaneously end the feud between the Montagues and Capulets and bring happiness to his Romeo, to whom he is the father figure. Friar Lawrence does everything in his power to aid Juliet in avoiding an undesired marriage to Paris, knowing well that he would be put in danger along the way. Whether it be advising Romeo in his affairs with Juliet or assisting Juliet in faking her death,
Shakespeare introduced the audience to Friar Lawrence, in act one, as Romeo's mentor. Juliet was introduced to Friar Lawrence for her marriage to Romeo. Since the day Juliet met Friar Lawrence, she went to him for most of her challenging obstacles, "Tell me not Friar, that thou hear'st of this, unless thou tell me how I may prevent it." This quote shows how Juliet couldn't resolve her own problems, she depends on Friar Lawrence for her own fate. With resulting to Friar Lawrence all the time, if his resolution did not work she wanted to commit suicide. She believed her only choices were, trust Friar or commit suicide. "If, in thy wisdom, thou canst give no help, Do thou but call my knife I'll help it presently." This quote shows that Juliet will be eased with a knife through her own gut.
In Romeo and Juliet, Friar Lawrence greatly influences the Romeo and Juliet and brings the plots to the dramatic results. Without the presence of Friar Lawrence, the story will not be so unpredictable and the tragedy may not have occurred. Initially when Romeo comes to Friar Lawrence and asks for wedding, Friar suspects Romeo’s quick changes, but is reluctant to help Romeo for this marriage. Since Romeo sincerely asks for his help, Friar finally agrees to Romeo’s plan and he says “In one respect I'll thy assistant be; / For this alliance may so happy prove, / To turn your households' rancour to pure love” (2.3.98-99). In Friar’s viewpoint, this marriage should be a benefit for the city of Vernoa. Friar hopes that with this marriage, it will calm the two feuding families down and allow them to get together again. This action seems to be incorrect for Friar, because he is trying to solve a larger ...
Throughout the next few lines spoken, is where I believe the tragedy of Romeo and Juliet is initiated, for if Romeo had not trusted and spoken of his love with an enemy; saying “I have been feasting with mine enemy “Juliet, Romeo also explains that Juliet feels the same for him. Then Friar Lawrence would not have felt the responsibility to try and reunite and mend the strife between the Montague’s and Capulet’s. In the final scene of this act Romeo, then asks the priest to bless their love and join them in marriage. Friar Lawrence, does question the true feelings of Romeo and doesn’t light -heartedly make a quick conclusion to marry them, asking Romeo” Holy Saint Francis what change is here?... ...
Friar Lawrence can be described as a sympathetic, compassionate, and peaceful person. Due to his desire to bring about peace between the feuding families, he agrees to secretly marry Romeo and Juliet, creating a detailed plan to reunite the two...
In Romeo and Juliet, a tragedy by William Shakespeare, Friar Lawrence plays a dominate role in the eventual death of Romeo and Juliet even though he is not on stage for most of the play. There are basically three major parts that lead to the tragedy; the marriage, the plan, and the inevitable deaths in all which Friar Lawrence plays a vital role.Friar Lawrence plays an essential role in the marriage of young Romeo and Juliet. At Romeo’s request Friar Lawrence states, "In one respect I’ll thy assistant be; for this alliance may so happy prove, to turn your households to pure love" (Act 2 Scene 3.) Friar Lawrence believes that this holy marriage would bring the Capulet family and Montuague family closer together, for he anticipates that the families will stop hating each other and be peaceful. His attempts to make the marriage of Romeo and Juliet are admirable but poorly planned.
Friar Lawrence plays an integral part in the action and plot of Romeo and Juliet by secretly marrying them, and giving Juliet the idea to fake her own death. Romeo and Juliet meet in the Friar’s cell for their marriage and the Friar says, “Come, come with me…For, by your leaves you shall not stay alone, Till Holy Church incorporate two in one.”(II.vi.35-37). The Friar marries the two in hopes “to turn [their] households rancor to pure love”(II.iii.99). The Friar is the binding power between Romeo and Juliet, by helping them be together. Without the Friar, Romeo and Juliet would have a difficult time trying to meet in secret with each other, but because of him, they are able to get married. Ultimately, the Friar’s wishes of ending the feud between the Montagues and Capulets are fulfilled, but the reason of their reconciliation being the death of their children. The deaths of Romeo ...
Friar Lawrence is one of the most important characters in the play, Romeo & Juliet.
Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet is a classic combination of passion and tragedy. In this play, most people focus on the main characters, Romeo and Juliet; butwhat about the secondary characters, which make the story come together? There could be no pretty light without the cord and wires woven together, causing everything to happen. One of the most important secondary figures to consider is Friar Lawrence. Without friar Lawrence Romeo and Juliet’s love would have burnt out, due to their impractical circumstances. Though his intentions were pure, if it wasn’t for his actions Romeo and Juliet’s story would not have been a tragedy. Friar Lawrence officiated Romeo and Juliet’s marriage in secret, which fuelled their desperation to be together,
Friar Lawrence had a profound impact on the outcome on Romeo and Juliet however, in a way that led to catastrophe. He disregarded his own logic and became careless with his decision to marry Romeo and Juliet. The secret marriage was only possible because Friar Lawrence had said, “In one respect I’ll thy assistant be, for this alliance may prove to turn your households’ rancor to pure love”(2, 3, 90-93). Furthermore, he carelessly thought that the marriage would bring a end to the two houses’ feud, instead, it led to much destruction. Overall, Friar Lawrence's decision to marry Romeo and Juliet was a careless and illogical choice. This marriage led to many more mistakes made by
First off, Friar should not have trusted a moody, sensitive fourteen year old girl with a potion that made her seem dead. Romeo and Juliet's love was too strong and she was willing to do anything, this was not the best approach that the Friar could have used. The Friar actually shows is irresponsibility by saying “If thou hast the strength of will to slay thyself… take this vial… no warmth, no breath shall testify thou livest”(IV, i, 48) When the Friar says, “If thou hast the strength of will to slay thyself.” He is saying take this vial of poison and if you have the courage, you can pretend to be dead. He said if this potion works, no one shall testify thou livest. What Friar Lawrence means by this is he thinks that once Juliet takes the potion, she will be in a deep slumber and everyone will be fooled into thinking that she is dead. However, that does not resolve anything because if Juliet had woken up, they most likely would have not changed their minds. And Juliet would still be forced to marry Paris instead of
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.
First of all, Friar Lawrence shouldn’t have agreed to marry Romeo and Juliet so quickly. Romeo had only known Juliet for five hours before he decided he wanted to marry her. The Friar knew of Romeo’s tendency to fall in and out of love. He also knew that Romeo was only interested in the outside ...