Friar Lawrence Is Responsible For The Death Of Romeo And Juliet

Improved Essays
Who do you think people trusted during the Elizabethan period? In Shakespeare 's play Romeo and Juliet, Friar Lawrence’s role as a member of the Order of St. Francis, he is presented as a holy man who is trusted and respected by the other characters. Romeo and Juliet trusted Friar Lawrence entirely, turning to him for advice. Even though Friar Lawrence’s role as a friend and advisor to Romeo and Juliet, his rashness, short-sightedness, poorly thought out plans and desperate measures led to Romeo and Juliet 's death. Today I am going to prove to you that Friar Lawrence is the one ultimately responsible for the death of Romeo and Juliet. Nevertheless, to prove that Friar Lawrence is ultimately responsible for their deaths, all you have to do …show more content…
When we know what to do or are stuck in a situation, we turn to an authority figure for help. That is exactly what Juliet did, turned to Friar Lawrence for help but Friar used his authority for the wrong reasons. I feel the problem with Friar Lawrence’s decision is that it was deceptive and acts of deception are more likely to fall through and cause damage rather than acts of forthrightness. Even after Mercutio 's death and Romeo 's banishment, Friar Lawrence decided that he will continue to attempt to keep Romeo and Juliet together by creating a potion that would help fake Juliet’s death. Personally, the plan he concocted for this, however, was short-sighted, poorly thought out, risky and was as effective as riding a bike with a flat tyre. If you believe that Friar’s decision to create the potion was a good idea, I strongly disagree. It is obvious that Friar Lawrence has once again gone against his religious beliefs in doing what is not ethical. Why would a Friar who was highly regarded in the Elizabethan Time create a potion that would help Juliet fake her own death? When Friar says to Juliet in the tomb, "A greater power than we can contradict hath thwarted our intents" (5, 3, 152-153) meaning that a power greater than us, God has ruined our plans. We can see that Friar Lawrence is trying to push the blame onto god but the only one to blame is himself. Again, how can a religious member of the Order of St. Francis place the blame on someone that he worships? When we see Friar Lawrence out at dawn gathering herbs in act 2 scene 3, he was not just gathering healing herbs. This is evident in his lines, "I must up-fill this osier cage of ours with baleful weeds and precious-juiced flowers," The herbs were used to make a potion that he gives to Juliet to help her

Related Documents

  • Improved Essays

    However it wasn't his fault that he was exposed to a plague that covered the city of Verona and wasn't able to leave the city. If Friar Lawrence was more responsible and gave the letter explaining the plan about Juliet fake death to a person that could actually delivered the message, then Romeo would have not have killed himself when he found Juliet in the tomb. The Friar could have also to prevent Romeos death had a back up plan if the message never got to Romeo, or have given the message to a second person to make sure the message was delivered. If the priest would have had a back up plan or a second messenger then he could have saved Romeo and Juliet…

    • 684 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    “Many critics of Shakespearian drama feel that the friar serves as an agent of malevolent fate” (Holland). Instead of using Friar Laurence to personify all that was wrong with the Catholic Church, he portrayed him as a religious man who was truly concerned for the young couple. He is presented as a wise, understanding man who officiates over both the sacred and secular rites of the play. He oversees the marriage of Romeo and Juliet, which he hopes will then bring about peace between their warring families. There is absolutely nothing self serving at work here because Friar Lawrence has no wish for recognition or advancement.…

    • 868 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The Friar felt as though he had to come up with a way of getting Romeo and Juliet back together after Romeo’s banishment. This was a very risky undertaking and he should have worked to convince Romeo and Juliet to come forward with the truth that they were married as soon as Romeo was banished. Instead, Friar Laurence devised a ¬¬¬plan that involved Juliet pretending to be dead by taking a 42-hour sleeping poison. As part of the plan, he would send a letter to Romeo asking him to come and take Juliet away. Friar Laurence shows his irresponsibility by asking Juliet to be part of this very dangerous plan.…

    • 1118 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The Friar is to blame for all that was happening. If he would have brought that letter to romeo then he might not have even had to kill himself. Even though the Friar got stuck trying not to catch the black plague he still should’ve at least try to make it to Romeo. The Friar could’ve legitimately kill juliet if he gave her the wrong potion. Romeo would’ve never thought to go to juliet’s tomb and think she’s actually dead if he got the letter and realized Juliet wasn't dead.…

    • 505 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    First, Juliet does not want to be married to Paris, and Friar can’t really do it anyways. That logic makes it seem like it was a great idea, and all of his ideas were good, they just needed some work and more thought. Secondly, Friar Lawrence doesn’t want to be found out that he has been assisting these two lovers in their quest for love. In all honesty, he really just digs his hole deeper by giving a potion. Would her parents agree to her having a potion?…

    • 748 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Friar Lawrence's Downfall

    • 434 Words
    • 2 Pages

    In the play, Romeo and Juliet, by William Shakespeare, the character Friar Lawrence is most responsible for the deaths of the two star-crossed lovers. His mischievous acts, including carelessness, cowardice, and incompetence, comes between Romeo and Juliet’s love for each other, and ultimately kills them. Romeo and Juliet fall in love and quickly get married, even though their families were long time rivals. Friar Lawrence foolishly gives in to their wants, and marries them in secret, which is the beginning of their downfall. This demonstrates that Friar Lawrence was careless in his early actions.…

    • 434 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Have you ever thought about who really was the main cause of the tragedies in Romeo and Juliet? Tragedies happen and are linked to many characters, but there is one in particular that caused them all. Friar Lawrence is the character who is the main cause of the tragic events in Romeo and Juliet because he married Romeo and Juliet, gave Juliet the sleeping potion, and he is more worried about himself than other people. Friar Lawrence is the most to blame for the events that occur in Romeo and Juliet because he married Romeo and Juliet.…

    • 648 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Imagine being a man who was seen as someone as holy and influential as the church, and then turning your back on your beliefs to help two young lovers betray their families. This is the trial and tribulation that Friar Laurence went through after realizing his plan of getting the young Montague and Capulet together resulted in their deaths. Although Friar thought he was being helpful and caring, he was ultimately the man responsible for the deaths of Sir Romeo Montague and Lady Juliet Capulet. My first piece of evidence to prove Friar Laurence guilty is a diary entry he wrote a couple days after the deaths of Romeo and Juliet.…

    • 726 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Friar Lawrence is a Murderer Teenagers usually have a trusted adult in their lives, a person they go to for guidance and support. In William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, the starring couple is in dire need of help. Friar Lawrence becomes their advisor, but unfortunately he fails. Friar Lawrence’s actions lead to their untimely death. Friar Lawrence’s selfishness, childish actions, and poor decision-making doom Romeo and Juliet.…

    • 928 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The evidence shows us that it was Romeo’s own decision to take poison and kill himself. Their own decisions are to blame for their deaths, and not the guidance of Friar Lawrence. On the other hand, this argument is not valid because all of Romeo and Juliet’s choices were caused by the reckless plans created by Friar Lawrence. Friar Lawrence got them married without their parents permissions, he gave Juliet the plan to fake her own death, he didn’t tell Romeo about the plan beforehand, thus causing Romeo to die. Romeo and Juliet’s decisions have no effect on their…

    • 837 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Sometimes when youth need help they will go to a priest or a reverend, however in Romeo and Juliet by Willam Shakespeare Friar Lawrence proved this to be a bad idea. In this play there are many people to blame for everything that happens, but Friar Lawrence is most to blame because he married Romeo and Juliet, he had bad plans, and because he withheld information from Romeo and Juliet’s parents. Friar Lawrence’s first mistake was marrying Juliet to Romeo. He knows that they had just met the night before. Friar Lawrence also knows that the night Romeo and Juliet meet, Romeo was “in love” with Rosealine.…

    • 753 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    “Hold, daughter! I do spy a kind of hope, which craves as desperate an execution” (IV.i. 69-70). When Juliet came to him for help, instead of taking more time to find a solution, for Paris and Juliet’s dilemma, he felt pressured to help Juliet so that she would not commit suicide, and suggested the plan that led to Romeo and Juliet’s death. The Friar would have simply refused not to help the lovers anymore if he used his common sense, instead he succumbed to their desires, again, and formed an impulsive plan in his mind on the spit with out weighing the consequences. Friar Lawrence, who is displayed as a man of god, is actually just as impulsive as Romeo and…

    • 1127 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Romeo and Juliet, by William Shakespeare, tells of two star-crossed lovers who take their own lives because of the feud between their two families. Within this tragedy lies many characters who influence Romeo and Juliet in various ways. Friar Lawrence is fair Verona’s priest. He has a great impact on the lives of Romeo and Juliet, in a very bad way. In Romeo and Juliet, Friar Lawrence redefines what it means to be a priest.…

    • 1578 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Who is to Blame? Romeo and Juliet was a story about two lovers who died because of many people but one of these people was guilty. In the story of Romeo and Juliet Friar Lawrence, is to blame for their deaths because he married Romeo and Juliet, and he gave the potion to Juliet, and he hid Romeo from the prince. with this information brought to you, you should believe that Friar Lawrence.…

    • 270 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    According to Romeo and Juliet, the Friar says, "Meanwhile, I’ll send Romeo word of our plan. He’ll come here, and we’ll keep a watch for when you wake up" (Shakespeare IV.i.116-119). The Friar is responsible for sending crucial information to Romeo instead, he makes Friar John tell Romeo the plan. The Friar did not think out his plan when he sent another Friar to Romeo. He should have waited to be informed that Romeo knew the plan then gave Juliet the sleeping potion to ensure the safety of the lovers.…

    • 1161 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays