Essay On Romeo And Juliet Relationships

Every family fights, sometimes, rivalries form. Some families fight for centuries. The youth in those families generally learn from example. When the elderly give orders, the youth are to follow. Some rivalries will never heal, while others will require a loss to mend the dispute. William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet portrays a tale of two star-crossed lovers who are deceived and destroyed by the ancient grudge between their families and the uncontrollable powers known as the older generation. Firstly, the long standing feud between the Montagues and Capulets prevents Romeo and Juliet from being together. In the prologue of the play, the Chorus says, “Doth with their death bury their parents’ strife. / … / Which but their children’s end nought could remove” (Prologue.8-11). This quote foreshadows the dispute between the …show more content…
Through his misguided intentions, he indirectly contributes to the greater issue of the older generation controlling the younger generation’s lives. Friar Lawrence’s willingness to help is shown when he offers, “I’ll thy assistant be: / For this alliance may so happy prove / To turn your households’ rancour to pure love” (2.3.90–92). By thinking Romeo and Juliet’s relationship could heal the drift between the families, the friar becomes dedicated and devoted throughout the rest of the play, even going to extreme measures to achieve his goals. An example is when he suggests to Juliet, “If, rather than to marry County Paris, / Thou hast the strength of will to slay thyself, / Then it is likely thou wilt undertake” (4.1.71–73). The friar’s suggestion to have Juliet take a drug to make her sleep is dangerous and unprecedented. Because he offers this option to Juliet, it leads to Romeo falsely believing Juliet is dead and he then kills himself afterword. As a result of his poor decisions, Friar Lawrence is a leading factor involved in the tragic outcome of the