Who Is Responsible For Friar Lawrence's Death

Sara Hosn

Ms. Sanchez

Honors English P4

7 May 2018

Responsibility of an Indirect Murder

In the play, Romeo and Juliet, written by William Shakespeare, the character by the name of Friar Laurence is at fault for the star crossed lovers’ deaths. Romeo and Juliet genuinely trusted Friar Laurence and all the advice he gave them along with the plan he made for the two so they could be together. He was quick to marry them, did not have a solid plan for the two, and left Juliet to die inside the tomb. There are many reason that contribute to their cause of death but Friar Laurence is mainly to blame this great tragedy.

Friar Laurence married Romeo and Juliet too quickly as an “easy” way out instead of supporting and helping them disclose their love.

He wedded the teens thoughtlessly instead of encouraging them to tell their parents which lead to major consequences. The Friar had only one intention “for the [marriage] may so happy prove to turn [the] household’s [hate] to pure love.”(2.3.98-99) Friar Laurence thought if he married Romeo and Juliet, the Montagues and the Capulets would reunite. If he had not been in such a rush to fix everything, the Friar would have realised the young and lovesick Romeo was not mature enough. The Friar knew about how “Rosaline, whom [Romeo] didst love so dear, [was] so soon forsaken.”(2.3.70-71) Friar Laurence made a mistake not asking when the two teenagers met. With the knowledge that they met the day before, the Friar could have told them they were just feeling real love for the first time and that there was other ways to handle this complex situation. The priest was happy to marry the two teens as “[he] [would] make short work…[and] incorporate [the] two in one.” (2.6.35-37) The Friar was not wise to marry the two for they barely knew one another and should really have gotten to know each other first.
Although it is clear Friar Laurence is to blame for the cause of death of Romeo and Juliet, some may argue it was the hatred between the two households that caused their deaths. The Montagues and “[their] villain, Capulet[s]” have been in a violent feud for a long time and when the impossible happened, the love between Romeo and Juliet, the two had to keep it a secret.(1.1.81) The two families did keep the star-crossed lovers from being happy but they wouldnt have killed themselves if it werent for Friar Laurence. His quick and desperate resolutions that included a potion which the Friar himself helped provide led to the biggest mistake which was causing two young adults to die. The selfish Friar just blamed fate saying,”what an unkind hour [was] guilty of [that] lamentable chance.”(5.3.150-151)
Tybalt had killed Mercutio during a fight and Romeo was banished, from the streets of Verona.

Nothing was opening the Friars eyes hinting the marriage was becoming very destructive. He continued to ignore any signs that would lead to a bad ending. Laurence was determined to keep the couple together without causing problems but he failed. “Unless [Friar Laurence] tell[s] [Juliet] how [she] may prevent it. / If, in [his] wisdom [he] canst give no help, / with [a] knife [she’ll] help it presently" (4.1.52-55). Juliet was threatening to commit suicide rather than marry Paris causing the priest to create a very risky and unsure plan. Poorly thinking it through, the Friar handed Juliet a potion she could drink faking her death that would truthfully just make her fall into a very deep sleep. Friar Laurence had to make sure “Romeo by [his] letters know [the] drift.”(4.1.116) He had to send a message to Romeo clarifying that Juliet was not really dead and it was all a set up for the Capulets. He sent the letter through another man, Friar John, but Romeo never ended up receiving the message for “[Friar John] could not send it.”(5.2.14) Laurence was not thinking straight, again, and never told John the extreme importance of delivering the letter. With Romeo having no knowledge of the plan, Laurence hurried to the tomb to be there when Juliet came out of her trance. Romeo, not knowing, sees unconcious Juliet and kills himself and then Juliet

following.
The Friar failed many times to help Romeo and Juliet. He let them down and they died becuase of it. If he had personally delivered the message about the plan to Romeo, the two lovers would never died. Friar Laurence is at fault for causing the death of Romeo and Juliet. Their family feud ended as well as the lives of Romeo and Juliet. He did help reunite the two households but it was by indirectly murdering two lives. It is impssible to prove anyone being the guilty man who caused this mess but one man, Friar Laurence.