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Summary william shakespeare's romeo and juliet
A very short summary of Romeo and Juliet
A very short summary of Romeo and Juliet
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This passage is taken from Act 2 Scene 3 of Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet”. In this scene, the Friar offers his opinion on Romeo’s change of heart, and is preceded by Romeo approaching him to help marry him and Juliet. Following this passage, the Friar agrees to give his help. The passage gives insight into the personalities of the Friar and Romeo, and the extent of their relationship. When compared to previous passages, it is clear that Romeo acts on passion and courage, while Friar Lawrence counsels caution and moderation. More concisely, Friar is the voice of maturity against the teenage woes of Romeo. He lists all the reasons why he is critical of Romeo’s new-found love, such as how “young men’s love then lies not truly in their hearts, …show more content…
but in their eyes”, yet Romeo simply responds by saying that the Friar had “chided” him for loving Rosaline too. From the fact that Romeo has come to Friar for help previously, it can be inferred that the Friar is a confidant to Romeo, and fulfils this role regularly. His fatherly guidance can be seen when he asks Romeo “art thou change?” and immediately following this rhetoric with informing Romeo that “women may fall when there is no strength in men”, honestly telling him that he cannot expect women to be faithful when men are so unreliable. The Friar interprets this as a weakness of Romeo, and in this line he foreshadows the "fall" (death) of Juliet that would occur later on as a consequence her being faithful. The Friar speaks in rhyming couplet, which is a tool used to illustrate class in Shakespeare’s works. His rhyming of “mine” with Romeo’s “Rosaline” emphasizes the mutual trust and equal status between the two of them. Furthermore, his use of formal language and rhyme stresses the need for caution. The passage also explores the notion of love, as perceived by the Friar in regards to Romeo.
Throughout the play, the perception of love changes with the characters. In this case, the Friar’s view on love contrasts that of Romeo’s. Although Friar presents Romeo with a rhetoric of how soon had he forsaken his love for Rosaline, he understands that Romeo has moved on. Instead, he reproaches Romeo's supposed "attraction" in love, which boils down to just physical appearance, about which Romeo waxes poetic in previous passages. This holds true not only for Juliet, but also for his previous love Rosaline, who he didn’t even talk to. Friar uses an extended metaphor when he reminds Romeo of the “brine” he had washed his “sallow cheeks” with for Rosaline, and how he “seasons love” yet does not taste it. In doing so, Friar is likening Romeo’s love to sustenance and food. There is irony in that “brine” is soaking something, such as pickles, in salty water to preserve it, yet Romeo’s tears for Rosaline have not conserved or preserved his love for her. Friar makes a convincing argument that Romeo's love for Juliet could nothing more than a crush. Just days ago Romeo was crying his eyes out the unattainable Rosaline. Now, the "stain of a salt water tear" hasn’t even dried yet, and there is imagery of his sighs still being clouds in the sky, yet he's talking about a new love
interest. At the very end of the passage, the trope of death, which is prominent throughout the play, is also touched upon. When Romeo argues that Friar had previously told him to “bury his love” for Rosaline, it foreshadows the endgame where Romeo and Juliet essentially bury themselves for love. The Friar’s use of the word “grave” to describe the metaphorical death of love is ironic in the fact that for Romeo and Juliet, it becomes a physical death. This passage illustrates a pivotal moment in the play, because at this point, the Friar is still not yet convinced that he should encourage the marriage, but is in the process of being convinced. As we all know, this decision leads to the drama and woe that occurs later in the play.
When he married Romeo and Juliet, he wished for more than their happiness. He hoped that the marriage would bring families together. When witnessing the deaths he says in sorrow, “I’m a friar holy and peaceful.” “Oh Lord, the poor deaths that lie in front of me. Are due to my greed to resolve the feud.”
Friar Laurence’s involvement in the marriage of Romeo and Juliet has caused a tragedy. Romeo and Juliet thought that they fell in love, but the Friar should have known that they were just kids and they were really rushing into things. In Romeo and Juliet, Friar Laurence says, “These violent delights have violent ends. Is loathsome in his own deliciousness, and in the taste confounds the appetite: Therefore love moderately: long love doth so, too swift arrives as tardy as too slow.” When he says this, he is giving Romeo a warnin. Also, Friar Lawrence should have known at the time, that Romeo was loving with his eyes and not with his heart. For example, Romeo was in a relationship with Rosaline, before marrying Julliet. Inonclusion , the Friar did not have the expierence to know that they were kids.
The Friar was supposed to be a responsible adult and a man of God. This means that people would have come to him to confess their sins. Romeo and Juliet were young and naive and Friar Lawrence understood that very well. He also understood their personalities and circumstances, but still chose to marry them in hope that it would end the feud between the two families. As an adult he was also supposed to be a lot smarter ands wiser. Neither of those qualities were shown in any of his decision making.
While at the point of the play when Romeo is exiled the Friar seems to be quite aggravated and harsh: “Hold thy desperate hand! Art thou a man? Thy form cries out thou art… Which heavy sorrow makes them apt unto.
Days following, Juliet will awaken and Romeo will be there to help her run away. The Friar hopes for the best in the situation, but does not consider the drawbacks that could and will suddenly occur in his plan. He continuously tells Juliet what she wants to hear in this situation because she sees him as a fatherly figure and he sees her as his daughter. Before Juliet leaves the Friar, he tells her, “ ‘Thou hast the strength of will to sly thyself,/ Then is it likely thou wilt undertake/ A thing like death to chide away this shame,’ ” (Mackenzie 1).
Friar Lawrence does not have very much time on stage, but the time he does have is crucial to the plot line. Through his words, Friar Lawrence demonstrates that he is well intentioned, yet sometimes shortsighted, and is not afraid to take risks to help others. He may do something out of the ordinary, if he thinks the outcome will help someone for whom he cares. For example, when he says "In one respect I'll thy assistant be;/ for this alliance may so happy prove, / to turn your households rancor to pure love" (II.iii.97-99), he is saying that the only reason he will marry Romeo and Juliet is that he hopes that the marriage will end the hostilities between the two houses. When he says "Shall Romeo by my letters know our drift, / and hither shall he come; and he and I/ shall watch thy waking, and that very night/ shall Romeo bear thee to Mantua" (IV.i.116-119), his intention is clearly to comfort and reassure Juliet.
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
Thy love did read by rote, that could not spell. But come, young waverer, come, go with me, In one respect I’ll thy assistant be, For this alliance may so happy prove.To turn your households' rancor to pure love.” (Romeo and Juliet 2.3.90-94) This is saying that he did eventually marry the two of them. Another reason that Friar Lawrence is to blame is that if he wouldn't have quartered Romeo when he was banished then Romeo and Juliet wouldn't have grown closer that night.
Despite his initial disapproval, Friar Lawrence agrees to secretly marry Romeo and Juliet in hopes that “this alliance may so happy prove/ to turn [their] households’ rancor to pure love” (II.iii.98-99). Although Friar Lawrence has good intentions, as he does not gain anything from the marriage, by supporting Romeo and Juliet’s infatuation, his actions will eventually create more harm than benefits, as it allows their impulsive behavior to persist. By marrying Romeo and Juliet in secret, it is evident that Friar Lawrence knows that the wedding is a bad idea, but due to his indecisive personality and the inability to make a solid choice, Friar Lawrence blindly follows through with the marriage. In addition, he does not analyze the consequences of his actions prior to his agreement to marry them, only to later express regret and warn Romeo about the dangers of their infatuated love and their impulsive behavior. Friar Lawrence’s indecisive personality is evident in his soliloquy through the excessive use oxymorons in between rhyming
Friar Lawrence felt an internal conflict within him – the conflict of self against self. He knew in his mind that it was wrong to help a teen run away with her lover, who happened to be a murderer. But he also felt himself reach out to them, as he had known them as his own children for a very long time. He knew what a desperate situation Juliet and Romeo were in, and knew that he could prevent their lives from being ruined. But the problem was that the only way to solve everything, was to take a ‘wrong path’, that everyone opposed. In the end, he ends up helping his fellow children. But by this decision, he affected the whole plot of the play, and caused it to turn greatly. This plan would have turned out marvelously, but he made a few mistakes.
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?... ...
In Act 2 Scene 3 Romeo turns to Friar Lawrence for advice and the Friar agrees to marry them stating, “For this alliance may so happy prove / to turn your households’ rancor to pure love.” The Friar is saying that he will agree to marry them with the hopes of ending the Capulet/Montague feud. In reality the Friar’s good intentions cause the exact opposite. The hosti...
”(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 for their reconciliation is the death of their children.
In contrast to common characteristics of a cleric, conformist and conservative, Friar Lawrence advocates freedom over following rules in society and always try to solve issues using the most risky methods. This is illustrated when he plans out Juliet’s death, “then as the manner of manner of our country is, in thy best robes, uncover’d on the bier, thou shalt be borne to that same ancient vault where all the Capulet lie.” (IV.ii.109-113). He indirectly plays an influence to the tragic ending even though his primal motive intends to unite the lovers and offer citizens a peaceful town. As opposed to playing their ordinary roles in society, Friar Lawrence devises plans and encourages Romeo and Juliet to pursue forbidden love under a risky circumstance in order to turn his notions into reality. Friar Lawrence’s dialogue informs Juliet of the plan illustrates his part in causing the tragedy, “Thou hast the strength of will to slay thyself, then it is likely thou wilt under a thing like death to chide away this shame,” (IV.i.72-74). From secretly marrying the them to sending Romeo to take Juliet’s virginity, he is informed about Romeo’s approaching banishment and the notorious reputation which will follow Juliet permanently. However,he continues to cover the mistake by creating the facade of Juliet’s death. This is illustrated in “All this is I know, and to the marriage he nurse is privy,” (V.iii.265-266). Friar Lawrence challenges conformism to pursue liberty, serves to liberate the forbidden love of two youngsters from opposing families but only earns a tragic fruition for his