Nurse and Friar Lawrence in William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet
Juliet’s nurse and Friar Lawrence play a major part in the build up to
the death of Romeo and Juliet, and they contribute to the tragedy of
the play in many ways. They are the two people who arrange the
marriage and try their best to make Romeo and Juliet be together.
Friar Lawrence is involved with both the character of Romeo, and the
character of Juliet, and it is his job to look after them, as he is
their confessor, and they go to him to talk about things they have
done wrong and things they are worried about. It is also his job to
forgive people (in God’s name) for their wrongdoings, and give them
advice. The Friar is sought by many characters for advice, including
Romeo, Paris, and The Nurse. This is an indication for the audience
that he is a caring and respected man, devoted to helping others.
Friar Lawrence has probably known Romeo and Juliet for most of their
life, so he wants to help them on a personal level, not just a
spiritual level. Romeo and Juliet can definitely trust the Friar
because he is not permitted to tell anybody about what he hears in
confession, and also, the Friar is the only person not involved in the
feud, and as the two are going against their families and friends, the
Friar is the only person that they feel comfortable talking to. We
know this because as soon as Romeo kills Tybalt, he goes straight to
Friar Lawrence. That is because Friar Lawrence is the only person on
their side.
The Friar’s role parallels that of the Nurse within the play. He is
genuinely fond of Romeo and he agrees to marry Romeo and Juliet
because he hopes that it will end the feud, and unite the Montagues
and Capulets, “In one respect I’ll thy assistant be. For this alliance
may so happy prove, to turn your households rancour to pure love.” Act
2 Scene 3. The Friar consents, although he is reluctant when Romeo
The Friar frequently encourages Romeo and Juliet to lie and sneak around. However, as a religious leader, Friar Lawrence should be teaching Romeo and Juliet about honesty and obedience. When Romeo is banished, the Prince tells him to leave Verona right away, but instead of leaving, he visits the Friar. When Romeo is crying about his punishment, Friar suggests that Romeo stays in Verona until the sun rises when he says, “Go, get thee to thy love, as was decreed. Ascend her chamber. Hence and comfort her”(151). In this instance, Friar Lawrence is not only encouraging but telling Romeo that he should lie and go against the rules. As a religious leader, or even just as a human being, Friar Lawrence shouldn’t be telling Romeo to break the law. After
love with Juliet. He is also kind enough to Romeo to agree to help him
Juliet's Nurse is first introduced to the play in Act I Scene 3. It is
In conclusion, The Nurse and Friar Lawrence failed to up their roles as God Teachers because they assisted Romeo and Juliet to get married, also they kept Romeo and Juliet’s relationship a secret, hiding it from both Romeo and Juliet’s parents, which resulted in their deaths.
Mercutio and the Nurse in William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. Throughout the whole of Romeo & Juliet there is a strong comparison. between Mercutio & the nurse. Neither are a part of either family, but they get drawn into this family brawl.
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
of the couple. He is of the Catholic faith and very often has to give
In Romeo and Juliet, a tragedy by William Shakespeare, Friar Lawrence plays a dominate role in the eventual death of Romeo and Juliet even though he is not on stage for most of the play. There are basically three major parts that lead to the tragedy; the marriage, the plan, and the inevitable deaths in all which Friar Lawrence plays a vital role.Friar Lawrence plays an essential role in the marriage of young Romeo and Juliet. At Romeo’s request Friar Lawrence states, "In one respect I’ll thy assistant be; for this alliance may so happy prove, to turn your households to pure love" (Act 2 Scene 3.) Friar Lawrence believes that this holy marriage would bring the Capulet family and Montuague family closer together, for he anticipates that the families will stop hating each other and be peaceful. His attempts to make the marriage of Romeo and Juliet are admirable but poorly planned.
”(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.
Friar Lawrence finally had enough of Romeo crying and said, “Fie,fie,thou shamest thy shape, thy love,thy wit/ Which, like a unsurer, abound’st in all,/ And usest none in that true use indeed (4.3.122-124).” This is how Friar Lawrence helped married Romeo and Juliet and got Romeo back on his feet. Juliet attitude to the Nurse change when she learned of the Nurse’s different opinion about Romeo and her being married. When Juliet found out her being forced to marry Paris, Juliet believed Nurse would be on her side about not marrying Paris but she was wrong. Because the Nurse knew that there was no other option, she advised “ I think it best you married with the County./ O, he’s a lovely gentleman!/ Romeo’s a dishclout to him. An eagle, madam, (3.5.219-221)” Nurse was trying to tell Juliet that Romeo isn’t here Paris is and he way better looking than Romeo. Juliet felt betrayed and hurt for what the nurse said and yelled “Ancient damnation! O most wicked fiend (3.5.237)!” After finding out the nurse opinion on this matter decided she will go to the Friar to find an answer to her dire situation. Romeo and Juliet has tried to find a way to be with each other but it seems fate could not have that who know’s maybe Romeo and Juliet could have live if they thought this out and told everyone about their secret relationship it would of turned out
The forbidden wedding of Romeo and Juliet could not have happened without the Friar. First of all, the Friar unwisely agreed to marry Romeo and Juliet, even though he knows it will cause later problems. In the beginning, the Friar thinks that "...this alliance may so happy prove/ To turn your households' rancor to pure love." (II iv 91-92) This shows that the Friar has a slight hope of their marriage possibly working. Therefore, he decides to marry the two lovers. However, as time moves on, the Friar lets on that he has regrets about the marriage. The Friar feels that "too swift arrives as tardy as too slow." (II vi 15) In other words, the Friar means that he senses that this whole wedding is happening too fast and starts to have second thoughts. If the Friar had thought this important decision clearly through, he may have prevented many future tragedies. Therefore, the Friar knows all along that, "These violent delights have violent ends." (II vi 9) The Friar knew that this is an impossible situation, which if made possible by himself will without a doubt end up in tragedy in one way or another. Under these conditions, as the Friar predicts, Romeo sinks into a deep depression; as a result of the fact that he cannot see his wife. Similarly, Juliet becomes depressed and is grieving over the truth of her and Romeo's separation. Without the Friar the two lovers would not have been married, which would have prevented both depressions and future problems to come.
Friar Lawrence wants to marry Romeo and Juliet in hopes their love for one another will end the feud between the Montagues and the Capulets. He schemes and has the characters believe it is out of his love for Romeo and Juliet; as in their eyes, he is a fatherly figure. He is an older man who should be out to help the citizenry of Verona, but being egotistical, he uses Romeo and Juliet for his personal desires to end the feud between the families. Him being egocentric has the Friar make rash decisions in situations that he had not planned for. When the Capulets and the Montagues come together after the death of their children, Friar Lawrence says, “Her nurse is privy; and if aught in this/ Miscarried by my fault, let my old life/ Be sacrificed some hour before his time/ Unto the rigor of severest law.” (V.iii.266-269). The Friar explains Romeo and Juliet’s love story and the reasoning behind their secret marriage and why he went through with marrying the star-crossed lovers. He does not say that his rashness is to be blamed for their children’s death, but turns to the Nurse’s knowledge of the secret marriage. Friar Lawrence is showcasing his rashness by outing the Nurse’s role in the marriage and not taking blame for the deaths, but has the Prince decide his punishment. He wants to blame another character with the knowledge of the marriage to make it seem as though he is not to be blamed. His
In Romeo and Juliet, to what extent is the Nurse to blame for the tragedy?
The Nurse is Capulets servant, and she is a very good servant as she tries her hardest to please the Capulets and Juliet at the same time. She is also a very important character in the play and in the Capulets lives. Through out the play The Nurse is Juliet’s confidant. The Nurse is a crucial character who strongly influences Juliet’s thoughts and actions. The main reason why the Capulet employed her was to breast feed Juliet. The Nurse was perfect for the job because she had just lost her little baby Susan, and The Nurse will now have unwanted breast milk that is ideal for Juliet as Lady Capulet does not want the role of breast feeding. The relationship between The Nurse and Juliet is like a mother daughter relationship, she is like Juliet surrogate mother towards Juliet.
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?... ...