Friar Lawrence As A Parental Figure In Romeo And Juliet

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Parental figures very important in a child’s development, they guide them through all the challenges life throws at them. Usually a parent is a child’s parental figure, however, parental figures do not always have to be parents they can be anyone that provides support and guidance. For example, in Romeo and Juliet written by William Shakespeare, the protagonists Romeo and Juliet parental figures other than their biological parents. Although lord and Lady Capulet and Lord and Lady Montague are the parents in this play, Friar Lawrence and the Nurse function as the parental figures for Romeo and Juliet. To begin, Friar Lawrence acts as Romeo’s fatherly figure, greatly impacting the decision he makes in life. Romeo informs Friar Lawrence about …show more content…

The nurse has been taking care of Juliet since birth and always has the best intentions when it comes to Juliet. For example, the nurse one of the few people was aware of Juliet’s relationship with Romeo and she helped with arranging the marriage. In Act 2 Scene 6 the Nurse exchanges a message with Juliet saying, “NURSE: Then hie you hence to Friar Laurence’s cell./ There stays a husband to make you a wife./ Now comes the wanton blood up in your cheeks;/ They’ll be in scarlet straight at any news./ Hie you to church; I must another way,/ To fetch a ladder, by the which your love/ Must climb a bird’s nest soon when it is dark./ I am the drudge and toil in your delight,/ But you shall bear the burden soon at night./ Go; I’ll to dinner: hie you to the cell. JULIET: Hie to high fortune! Honest nurse, farewell.”(lines 73-83). This quote demonstrates the Nurse’s love for Juliet. In this scene, she comes back from talking to Romeo to tell the anxious Juliet the news on their marriage. This shows that, the Nurse will go out of her way to ensure that Juliet is happy. Furthermore, the Nurse is always there to protect Juliet even from her own father, Lord Capulet. In this scene, Lord Capulet has informed Juliet about her arranged marriage with Paris, knowing nothing about her relationship with Romeo. Lord Capulet and the Nurse have an argument: “CAPULET: Hang thee, young baggage, disobedient wretch!/ I tell thee what: get thee to church o’ Thursday,/ Or never after look me in the face./ Speak not, reply not, do not answer me./ My fingers itch. --Wife, we scarce thought us blessed/ That God had lent us but this only child,/ But now I see this one is one too much,/ And that we have a curse in having her./ Out on her, hilding!/ NURSE: God in heaven bless her!/ You are to blame, my lord, to rate her so./ CAPULET: And why, my Lady Wisdom? Hold your tongue,/ Good

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