Heroes are usually described to be the “good” character that fixes a problem in the story. However, in the story of Romeo and Juliet the “hero” doesn’t help fix the problem, he causes the problem. This is called a tragic hero and is described to be someone who starts off in good standing or position and is led to downfall because of a fault of his/her own. The character that does, in fact, fall into the category of the tragic hero is by far Friar Lawrence. This can be shown throughout the play on multiple occasions as he attempts to help the main characters find true happiness, but the attempts fail because of his own fault. Friar Lawrence can be determined to be the biggest factor in leading the two star-crossed lovers into a very tragic death. …show more content…
This is because he manipulated the whole city of Verona into believing that Juliet was dead. He created his biggest scheme to drug Juliet and provide her with happiness. When Juliet took the drug, the Friar was there and acted surprised in front of the Capulets faces, stating “Confusion’s cure lives not in these confusions. Heaven and yourself had part in this fair maid. Now heaven hath all” (4.5, 65-67). The quote means that heaven has taken Juliet from the Capulets or Juliet has died. Even though he knew that Juliet was alive, he explicitly lied to everyone in Verona and went against his moral code of being a Friar. Also, he manipulated Romeo into believing that he should leave and that everything would be okay. The moment that Romeo killed Tybalt and got banished, Friar Lawrence manipulated him into believing that everything would be alright. He created a scheme for Romeo, stating “Beg pardon of the Prince, and call thee back with twenty hundred thousand times more joy” (3.3, 152). Friar Lawrence made Romeo think that Friar Lawrence would help him, but they never did beg the Prince for pardon. This relates to the theme of a tragic hero because belief is a huge part of the story. Specifically, Capulet’s belief that Paris is good and Romeo and Juliet’s belief that true love exists. Since Friar Lawrence has shown that he is a master of manipulation, he is able to change other character’s beliefs and creates chaos through his
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
Friar Lawrence in William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet "We still have known thee for a holy man"
The first factor that played a key part in the deaths of Romeo and Juliet is the fact that Friar Lawrence was a coward. When Juliet awakened after her two-day sleep only to find Romeo and County Paris dead, she is in a very unstable state. Instead of being responsible and staying with Juliet to comfort her and make sure that she doesn’t harm herself or others, he tells her that he will make her a nun “Come, come away. Thy husband in thy bosom there lays dead and Paris too. Come, I’ll dispose of thee among a sisterhood of holy nuns.” (5. 3.166-169). The only selfish reason he wanted to make Juliet a nun is so that no one ever finds out that he secretly married Romeo and Juliet...
Those actions were associated with the death of Romeo and Juliet. Friar Lawrence is known for being a man of wisdom, but during this period of five days he helped Romeo do everything he wasn’t supposed to do. Even more so to marry a Capulet! Friar Lawrence was an accomplice in the secret romance of Romeo Montague, and Juliet Capulet. After Romeo slaughtered Tybalt and was banished from Verona, he went to Mantua, where only The Nurse and Friar Lawrence knew where he was.
A hero is described as someone who, in the opinion of others, has "special qualities and is perceived as a role model.” In the play Romeo and Juliet, by William Shakespeare, Friar Lawrence fits this definition of a hero. Friar Lawrence is a selfless character who is always trying to help others and make people happy. In the play, the Friar does heroic acts, such as marrying Romeo and Juliet and by doing that hoping to end the feud between the Capulet and Montague families. Also, he comes up with a plan for Juliet not to kill herself and have her escape to be with Romeo, and finally he admits to the deaths of Romeo and Juliet. All three of these deeds deem The Friar as the hero in Romeo and Juliet. The author, William Shakespeare uses literary
Had Friar Lawrence not been involed with Romeos and Juliets decisions the story may not have had a tragic ending. In William Shakespeare’s play, The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet, Friar Lawrence should be blamed for the death of the two main characters. The first mistake Friar Lawrence does, is secretly marrying the two lovers with out the parents consent right after romeo had just loved his "perfect" Rosaline. Then, he agrees, to the Capulet’s, to marry Paris and Juliet. Lastly, the worst mistake was he giving Juliet the sleeping potion. All of his actions combined lead to the main character’s suicidal action.
Friar Lawrence is responsible for Romeo and Juliet’s stronger affections for each other because he married them and therefore binding their love. Friar Lawrence also came up with a risky solution to get Romeo and Juliet together for the rest of their lives without anyone knowing. However, it consisted of faking Juliet’s death and Romeo did not know she was not actually dead, but alive. Friar Lawrence’s messenger did not tell Romeo the plan in time because Romeo had already heard of Juliet’s death and had gone to her tomb to die with her. Friar Lawrence is responsible for the star-crossed lovers’ death because of his miscalculated
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.
His advice to Juliet to fake her own death is a result of her love for Romeo, and the fact that the Friar can’t stop her from marrying Paris, will lead her to the violent act of killing herself. Friar Lawrence’s character is a representation of the idea that love can lead to irrational decisions and violent actions. In conclusion, Friar Lawrence is obligatory to the action, character development, and themes of Romeo and Juliet. Without Friar Lawrence, the steps leading up to the tragedy at the end of the story would not have been possible, along with the strong characterization of Romeo.
The first reason Friar Lawrence should be punished is because, Friar kept secrets from everyone but Romeo and Juliet. One of the secrets that he kept from everyone was when he married them. “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.”(I.vi.35-37) In other words, Friar is telling Juliet that she needs to go so then he will come up with another plan for things, for what he desires them to do
Friar Lawrence is a humble and holy who is respected by the other characters. Figurative language and dramatic conventions give a well-grounded understanding of his motives, traits and values. His main motive is peace between the families he “All I had wanted to achieve was peace.” As a friar he respects the Montague’s and Capulet’s. The quote represents his motive that he wanted the feuding to stop. When he married Romeo and Juliet he wished for more then 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.” The term friar represents his traits, being
Friar Lawrence didn’t think of what was lawfully right, but of the destiny of two people, that were very important to him. He cared for them, and wished Romeo and Juliet well. He valued them as his own children. It goes to show that Friar Lawrence was human, also, and not perfect, since no one can be perfect.
In William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, Friar Lawrence is the antagonist as seen in his “mistakes” of marrying children from two feuding, noble households, giving the desperate Juliet the sleeping potion, and leaving Juliet at her tomb to kill herself. 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. 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/
Romeo is seen as a tragic hero because of the many examples of his good and bad character. This follows Aristotle’s definition because it proves him to be a character that is neither completely good nor completely bad. Romeo loves Juliet with kindness and generosity, but to love her is forbidden. Also, he tries to prevent a second fight between the two families in the streets of Verona, but later kills Tybalt, his love’s cousin. These things make Romeo both good and bad, therefore a tragic hero.
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?... ...