How Is Friar Lawrence Selfish

Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare is one of the most well known love tragedies of all time. Within four days they meet, fall in love, get married, and kill themselves. One bad thing after another, and Friar Lawrence is to blame. He married Juliet even when he knew about the feud, he even married them when he knew that Romeo was head over heels for a completely different girl just a few hours prior. Friar Lawrence is also the reason for their death...he gave Juliet the potion, as well as failed to get the letter to Romeo in time. Friar Lawrence was selfish, he’s to blame for the tragedy of Romeo and Juliet.

Friar knew that Romeo just hours before... was head over heels for a different girl named Roseline. That was a sign that he couldn’t think straight, yet the Friar still married Romeo and Juliet. “Is Rosaline, that thou didst love so dear, So soon forsaken? Young men’s love then lies Not truly in their hearts, but in their eyes,” (Shakespeare 410). He started off the tragedy with marrying the of them, even when he questioned it himself if it

was the right thing to do. He began the timeline of unfortunate events for the two lovers when he should’ve thought it through more. He went against his own instinct for the slim possibility of it working out.
The dictionary definition of selfish is a person, action, or motive lacking consideration for others; concerned chiefly with one’s own personal profit or pleasure… that’s exactly what Friar Lawrence did.

He tried to please everyone so nobody would point a finger towards him. He gave Juliet the potion even when he knew it could kill her, either way he would be safe. If Juliet died there would be no sign that is was his fault… nobody would find out about how he secretly married Romeo and Juliet. Also, if the plan worked Juliet and Romeo would be happy and thankful for the Friar. He let Juliet take the potion even when he knew the risk, “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 cop’st with death himself to scape from it; And, if thou darest, I’ll give thee remedy,” (Shakespeare 452). He was only ever out for himself in the

end.
Someone who can be compared to Friar Lawrence and his selfish ways is Omar Mateen, he never had any consideration for anyone else. Omar was selfish… he killed 49 people in a gay nightclub in Orlando. He pledged his allegiance to ISIS and never showed any concern of what he was doing to other people. All he was thinking about was his own demented pleasure. Such as the Friar they never cared about would the future could hold, just as long as they’re covered. Such as the pain and grief the Capulets and Montagues went through from Friar Lawrence’s choices, the lesbian and gay community had the same grief due to Omar Mateen. While the violence could have hit any American community, "This is an especially heartbreaking day for our friends who are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender," (CNN). It’s the selfish choices people make that can determine the outcome for the people around them.
Consequently, he catastrophe of Romeo and Juliet is the outcome of Friar Lawrence’s selfish decisions. Maybe things could’ve been different… if only he followed his gut and thought more about marrying both of them, possibly if he chose not to give Juliet the potion that risked her life. Friar Lawrence is to blame for the tragedy of Romeo and Juliet.