Friar Lawrence

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In Shakespeare’s tragedy, Romeo and Juliet, the two main characters, Romeo and Juliet both commit suicide due to unfortunate events. Friar Lawrence, a priest who plays the role as a counselor for Romeo and Juliet, is directly responsible for their untimely deaths. Although there are many factors that cause their deaths, Friar Lawrence’s reckless mistakes were the most impactful. Friar quickly marries the two reckless lovers in secrecy, he meddles in the Capulet’s wedding ceremony by giving Juliet a poison, and he trusts someone else to send a very important letter to Romeo. Had it not been for these three significant mistakes by Friar, Romeo and Juliet would probably still be alive. Therefore, Friar Lawrence should be condemned for his reckless behavior.
Romeo and Juliet are two lovers that fall in love quicker than the blink of an eye. On the same day the lovers meet, Juliet already decides to ask Romeo for his hand in marriage. Romeo agrees and the next morning he confronts the Friar about the marriage. Friar was very knowledgeable about Romeo’s love life and had questioned Romeo’s sudden change in heart. In the tragedy, the Friar says
“Holy Saint Francis! What a change is here!
Is Rosaline, that thou didst love to dear,
So soon forsaken? Young men’s love then lies
Not truly in their hearts, but in their eyes.” (II.3.65-68)
Here, the Friar knows better than to marry off Romeo and Juliet so soon. However, he still decides to do so because he believes it will undo the hatred between the Montagues and Capulets. The decision to marry the two off so soon in secrecy is Friar’s first mistake. As a priest, it is wrong for the Friar to marry the two without the consent of both families. If the Friar would have confronted Capulet...

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...ay do much danger…” (2.17-20).
Having Friar John relay the message to Romeo was careless and shows how the Friar doesn’t think things through. Because Friar Lawrence didn’t think things through, Romeo commits suicide and so does Juliet. Therefore, the blood of Juliet’s and Romeo’s lies on Friar’s hands since it was his reckless planning that led to their deaths.
Many of the characters besides Friar Lawrence made bad choices throughout the play. However, the Friar makes reckless decisions that seal the fates of Romeo and Juliet. His decisions to quickly marry the two reckless lovers in secrecy, to give Juliet the poison, and to trust Friar John with the letter, were all bad decisions. In conclusion, the consequences of these choices prove that the Friar is entirely responsible for this play’s tragedy. Therefore, Friar Lawrence should be condemned for his behavior.

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