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. His posthaste making of decisions, bad advice, and selfish and lazy qualities ultimately cause the deaths of Romeo and Juliet. Throughout the tragedy, Friar Lawrence makes very important decisions without thinking them through fully. After rebuking Romeo for saying he forgot about Rosaline and loves Juliet, the
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In this case, Romeo and Juliet never knew that Friar Lawrence and his bad advice would lead them to their deaths. When Romeo asks the friar to marry Juliet and him, the friar thinks they are going too fast in their relationship. However, he agrees to marry them anyway. This is contradicting advice because one moment the friar is saying this is too much too soon, but the next moment, he is setting the time for their wedding. Another example of bad advice comes after Romeo found out about his banishment. Romeo has a melodramatic reaction to the news. The friar gives a speech about how Romeo is acting like a woman and how he should be thankful for this merciful punishment. After his circumlocution, the friar informs Romeo that he will help out Romeo by setting him up to spend the night with Juliet before he sets off to Mantua. Once again, the friar is relying on the chance that the Capulets will not come into Juliet’s room during the night and the watchmen will not see the two of them. In addition, this may make it even harder for Romeo to leave Juliet the next day. The next example of terrible advice by Friar Lawrence occurred when the Capulets arrange for the wedding of Paris and Juliet. Juliet, of course, is very upset and wants the friar to call off the marriage because she is married and in love with Romeo. Friar Lawrence responds by saying: “O Juliet, I already know thy grief. / It strains me past the compass of my wits. / I hear thou must, and nothing may prorogue it, / On Thursday next be married to this County” (IV.i.47-50). The only advice the friar has for Juliet, who is mentally unstable at this point, is to go along with this plan. This is extremely horrendous advice because it only worsens the situation and hurts Juliet even more, which eventually causes her to commit suicide. The last example of the friar’s bad advice is after Juliet wakes up from the sleeping potion. She is very
In this case, Romeo and Juliet never knew that Friar Lawrence and his bad advice would lead them to their deaths. When Romeo asks the friar to marry Juliet and him, the friar thinks they are going too fast in their relationship. However, he agrees to marry them anyway. This is contradicting advice because one moment the friar is saying this is too much too soon, but the next moment, he is setting the time for their wedding. Another example of bad advice comes after Romeo found out about his banishment. Romeo has a melodramatic reaction to the news. The friar gives a speech about how Romeo is acting like a woman and how he should be thankful for this merciful punishment. After his circumlocution, the friar informs Romeo that he will help out Romeo by setting him up to spend the night with Juliet before he sets off to Mantua. Once again, the friar is relying on the chance that the Capulets will not come into Juliet’s room during the night and the watchmen will not see the two of them. In addition, this may make it even harder for Romeo to leave Juliet the next day. The next example of terrible advice by Friar Lawrence occurred when the Capulets arrange for the wedding of Paris and Juliet. Juliet, of course, is very upset and wants the friar to call off the marriage because she is married and in love with Romeo. Friar Lawrence responds by saying: “O Juliet, I already know thy grief. / It strains me past the compass of my wits. / I hear thou must, and nothing may prorogue it, / On Thursday next be married to this County” (IV.i.47-50). The only advice the friar has for Juliet, who is mentally unstable at this point, is to go along with this plan. This is extremely horrendous advice because it only worsens the situation and hurts Juliet even more, which eventually causes her to commit suicide. The last example of the friar’s bad advice is after Juliet wakes up from the sleeping potion. She is very