The Good Friar Laurence in William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet

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Holy Saint Francis! What a change is here!

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...(II, III)

This is only some of the wisdom spoken by Friar Laurence to young Romeo in William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet on the decision made by him to wed thirteen year old Juliet in such hastiness. Romeo sought after the confidence of Friar Laurence when he first met Juliet as there was no one else he could turn to, especially when the couple decided they were going to be married. There are many are many instances in the play that indicate "Friar Laurence always intended the best for Romeo and Juliet." That is, no matter the tragic outcome of the play, Friar Laurence's only intention was for the marriage of Romeo and Juliet to be happy, everlasting and for it to bring peace to the civil feud between the families.

Although he is not seen very much during the play, Friar Laurence's role is a highly important one. In Romeo and Juliet there are three main events, the marriage, the plan and the death, that relate to him. One of the most true and sensible things told to Romeo by the Friar, was a forewarning to the hastiness of the wedding;

These violent delights have violent ends

And in their triumphs die, like fire and powder

Which as they kiss, consume. The sweetest honey

Is loathsome in its own deliciousness

And in the taste confounds the appetite

Therefor love moderately, long love doth so;

Too swift arrives as tardy as too slow. (II, VI)

These words aimed directly at Romeo mean that with the metaphor "The sweetest honey/Is loathsome in its own deliciousness" is that something so sweet can become sickly and you could quickly lose your appetite for it. Initially the Friar is trying to convince Romeo that Juliet would be something he would grow out of ie. like his love for Rosaline. In the last two lines of the quote, the Friar is trying to convince Romeo that nothing as important as love and marriage should not be jumped into when it could be done just as slow to be confident that the right decision is made leaving no room for regrets.

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