The friar, a character often viewed as the supportive mentor of Romeo and Juliet, is actually guilty of manslaughter. In Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, two teenage lovers struggle through a series of conflicting circumstances and unfortunate events that ultimately lead to their dramatic deaths. The conflicting circumstances are inevitably caused by a tradition of family rivalry, but the unfortunate events are created and tangled up by none other than Friar Lawrence, who is supposed to be a source of wisdom and guidance for the immature lovebirds. Instead of guiding young Romeo and Juliet toward wisdom or a realistic plan, Friar Lawrence’s ill-conceived plans and decisions end up guiding them toward their own deaths. Due to impulsiveness, recklessness,
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Despite his tremendous responsibility for the lovesick couple, Friar fails to prepare for his own that he develops. For example, Friar fails to promptly notify Balthasar about the feigned death of Juliet and does not properly plan out the urgent delivery of the letter to Romeo with Friar John. “In my view, the flaw of impulsiveness or rashness… [explains] the tragedy of Romeo and Juliet Friar Lawrence’s rashness is responsible for Friar John’s detention, not chance. And it is equally responsible for Balthasar’s reaching Mantua, undeterred, with news of Juliet’s ‘death.’ It is the Friar’s fault that Balthasar is unaware of her feigned death” (Cardullo 213). Cardullo reveals how Friar Lawrence fails to carry out his own plan, when he fails to communicate those who needs the information (in this case, Balthasar, who ends up informing Romeo about the “death” of Juliet). This ultimately results in Romeo’s false belief that Juliet is actually deceased. Friar Lawrence does not succeed in guiding the couples, but instead, brings great confusion. More importantly, Friar makes an oafish and rash decision when marrying this couple, in the first place. Despite his awareness of the ceaseless feud between the two families, the friar decides to marry the lovers from separate sides of the conflict, thinking that this would actually ease the relationship between the Montagues and the
Despite his tremendous responsibility for the lovesick couple, Friar fails to prepare for his own that he develops. For example, Friar fails to promptly notify Balthasar about the feigned death of Juliet and does not properly plan out the urgent delivery of the letter to Romeo with Friar John. “In my view, the flaw of impulsiveness or rashness… [explains] the tragedy of Romeo and Juliet Friar Lawrence’s rashness is responsible for Friar John’s detention, not chance. And it is equally responsible for Balthasar’s reaching Mantua, undeterred, with news of Juliet’s ‘death.’ It is the Friar’s fault that Balthasar is unaware of her feigned death” (Cardullo 213). Cardullo reveals how Friar Lawrence fails to carry out his own plan, when he fails to communicate those who needs the information (in this case, Balthasar, who ends up informing Romeo about the “death” of Juliet). This ultimately results in Romeo’s false belief that Juliet is actually deceased. Friar Lawrence does not succeed in guiding the couples, but instead, brings great confusion. More importantly, Friar makes an oafish and rash decision when marrying this couple, in the first place. Despite his awareness of the ceaseless feud between the two families, the friar decides to marry the lovers from separate sides of the conflict, thinking that this would actually ease the relationship between the Montagues and the