The Friar Is Responsible For The Death Of Romeo And Juliet

In the play Romeo & Juliet by Shakespeare, Romeo tries to go after his love Rosaline. Later on, Romeo realizes he found a girl he is truly in love with, Juliet. The only problem is Juliet is a Capulet and Romeo is a Montague. Both of the families are enemies and hate each other. Romeo and Juliet quickly fall in love. They get married in secret by Friar Lawrence. A few hours after the marriage, Romeo kills one of Juliet’s cousin, Tybalt. This made the families angry and soon after, Romeo was banished. This depressed Juliet and her new husband. Juliet’s father, Lord Capulet, wants Juliet to marry County Paris, but Juliet doesn't want to. Juliet goes to the Friar for advice and he gives her a potion to have her fall into a deep sleep and make

When Romeo and Juliet realize they can’t be together, and Juliet is expected to marry Paris, she needs an escape plan. Juliet pays a visit to the Friar, who creates a plan for Juliet to fake her death with a sleeping potion. When Juliet asks the Friar to help her stop the marriage with Paris, he replies that “If, rather than to marry County Paris, thou hast the strength of will to slay thyself; then it is likely thou wilt undertake a thing like death to elude away this shame, that copest with death himself to scrape from it; And, if thou darest, I'll give thee remedy.” (IV i 71-76). Therefore, for the second time, the Friar agrees to give Juliet this deadly potion. The Friar has to make sure that Romeo is informed of the plan. However, the Friar puts too much trust in Friar John, who does not deliver the letter to Romeo. Friar John couldn't get the letter to Romeo because “the infectious pestilence did reign, seal'd up the doors, and would not let us forth; so that my speed to Mantua there was stay'd.” (V ii 10-12). It is Friar Lawrence's' fault that Romeo is not informed and ends up confused about the recent happenings involving Juliet. The Friar played an important role in this part of Romeo and Juliet. Due to his careless actions, Romeo and Juliet could have been living happily ever after somewhere in

Romeo, who did not know about Friar's plan, kills himself when he thinks that Juliet is dead. Juliet arises and sees Romeo dead, and takes her own life. The Friar is overcome by guilt and realizes that he has "...a short date of breath." (V iii 229). This could also be a confession that he is to blame. If the Friar was not the reason for the two suicides he would have no reason for guilt. Near the end, the Friar tells the two families and the prince about what really was going on between Romeo and Juliet. Friar explained that “Romeo, there dead, was husband to that Juliet; And she, there dead, that Romeo's faithful wife. I married them…Betrothed and would have married her perforce To County Paris: then comes she to me, And, with wild looks, bid me devise some mean To rid her from this second marriage, Or in my cell there would she kill herself….”(V iii