Friar Lawrence's Soliloquy Analysis

Friar Laurence plays a significant role in the development of the play and serves to move the plot and action along stemming away from comedy and directing the conclusion towards tragedy. His introductory soliloquy reflects both towards this act as well as the play as a whole as a form of foreshadowing and as representative of Friar Laurence’s intentions and character. Dramatically, he is a moral figure and an advisor to Romeo, however his introductory soliloquy is allowing his philosophy to come to light to let the audience know the intentions of his character and why he is acting as an advocate for the couple rather than directing them to obey their parents and family. In the soliloquy in Act 2 Scene 2, Friar Laurence looks to herbs, foreshadowing the events of the future of the play. Near the beginning, he states: “I must upfill this osier cage of ours/with baleful weeds and precious-juiced flowers” (2.2.7-8), and this passage reflects the contrasting nature of the herbs he is collecting. He has both “baleful weeds” or malevolent herbs, and “precious-juiced flowers” that heal and are a positive force. This contrast helps to set the audience up for the coming herbs that are given to Juliet by the Friar, and the passage also serves a dramatic purpose as the Friar connects the “children of divers kind” (2.2.11) to the herbs and mirrors the other characters, stating that good and bad are …show more content…
He represents the earth as a place where things die and are born, indicating that the death of Romeo and Juliet will birth a peace between the Capulet and Montague families. This soliloquy also helps to characterize Friar Laurence by revealing his philosophy, which helps to justify his later actions. Friar Laurence states in lines 13 to