Analyzing The Death Of Friar Lawrence In Shakespeare's Romeo And Juliet

In the story of Romeo and Juliet, the two characters who fall in love, end up dying. And you know what, it's Friar Lawrence's fault. “But he's the one who married them." How could it be his fault?” Why don't you see for yourself?

First of all, Friar Lawrence was the one who came up with the plan to fake Juliet’s death. When Juliet came to him, she vowed to kill herself if he couldn't help her get back with Romeo. This should have been an indicator that she didn’t care what her family thought about her. But instead of helping her run away to Mantua to see Romeo, he makes the death plan. In Act III Scene 5 Juliet's father threatens to disown Juliet if she doesn't marry Paris. This shows that her family doesn't care how she feels. Then in Act IV scene 1 she goes

But if Friar Lawrence had expressed the importance of the letter to Friar John, or taken it to Romeo himself, Romeo would have known that Juliet wasn't actually dead. In Act V scene 2, Friar Lawrence learns that Friar John didn't get the letter to Romeo due to an illness. On line 17-20, Friar Lawrence tells Friar John the importance of the letter. Now considering that when Romeo heard the news of his banishment, he said quote “Ha banishment? be merciful, say death.” so even though Juliet was still alive at that time, he still would've preferred death to banishment. Knowing this information, Friar Lawrence should’ve known that if Romeo heard about Juliet's death without knowing the plan, he would absolutely kill himself. Lastly, when Friar Lawrence arrived at the tomb, after Romeo had already died, he saw Juliet had been woken up. Almost as soon as Juliet found out Romeo was dead, Friar Lawrence heard a noise that scared him out of the tomb, leaving Juliet with dead Romeo. In Act V scene 3, after Romeo dies, Friar Lawrence arrives at the tomb to find Juliet. After she discovers Romeo's death, he runs out of the tomb after hearing a sound, “I dare