Friar Laurence is the Culprit in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet

I think that Friar Laurence was to a large extent responsible for the

deaths of Romeo and Juliet. However, several other factors contributed

and we can not solely blame one person. The circumstances, time period

and characters need to be taken into consideration.

The Friar is introduced half way through the play, and his role is a

vital one. In his first scene we see him with the poison, and this

scene links up with his last two scenes and the consequences of that

same poison. His entrance breaks the pace of the previous balcony

scene, and gives the audience time to absorb what has occurred between

Romeo and Juliet.

Juliet has an almost non-existent relationship with Capulet. Friar

Laurence fills this void by portraying a ^father^ figure in Juliet^s

life. She trusts him and confides in him regularly. ^Hold daughter. I

do spy a kind of hope^^ In addition the Friar is also Romeo^s confident

and tries to find solutions to their overwhelming problems.

He also breaks the terrible news to Romeo about his banishment, and he

tries to do so in a humane way. He comforts the distraught Romeo, and

when potential danger lurks, offers him a shelter under the desk!

Friar Laurence tries to dissuade Pairs from marrying Juliet. This could

be selfish behavior on his part, as the Friar knows he would be

committing a sin if he married Juliet to Paris, when she was already

married to Romeo.

Another example of the Friar^s selfish intentions, is the tomb scene,

whereupon finding Juliet in there, and two dead bodies lying on the

floor, he needs no persuasion to leave, which he does so in immense

haste!

The following incident is an example of how the Friar contributed to

the deaths of the star-crossed lovers. He marries Romeo and Juliet,

fully aware that they do not have their parents consent. He should have

refused to marry them or sought the advice of an older and more

experienced member of the church.

It was the Friar^s idea that Juliet swallows the remedy. This was a

very rash decision, and, if thought out properly, he would have

realised the dire consequences and complications that could occur.

Friar Laurence largely contributed to the deaths of Romeo and Juliet by