Examples Of Friar Lawrence In Romeo And Juliet

When someone becomes an adult, they are forced to make decisions that not only affect themselves but affect others around them. These choices can be potentially volatile and can directly harm people who look to you for guidance. In the tragedy Romeo and Juliet, by William Shakespeare, Friar Lawrence fails to make thoughtful choices for others and makes careless decisions that hurt the people who trust him for advice. Throughout the tragedy, Friar Lawrence is characterized as a responsible priest; however, he finds it impossible to make reasonable choices, which causes the unfortunate demise of the lovers. As a direct result, Friar Lawrence’s decisions and reckless actions should be investigated for their deaths. Friar Lawrence is to blame for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet due to his inability to make rational long-term decisions and

Throughout the play, Friar Lawrence tries to make decisions that will benefit others, however, his disingenuous methods end up causing torture and pain for those around him. Furthermore, he ends up causing trouble for himself when he admits that “I married them [Romeo and Juliet],” (Shakespeare 5.3.243). Although it made sense to him at the time, his refusal to admit to the orchestration of the marriage of the two lovers before it became too late put him at risk of dire punishment. When he heard word of Juliet and Paris’s wedding plans, his decision to say nothing puts him in greater trouble. That also causes him to attempt desperate measures and to get Juliet to fake her death. Not only does he lie, but he comes up with an idea rooted in dishonesty that he perpetuates. It satisfies Juliet, but it devastates the parents--after all, they lost a child! Friar Lawrence’s default to dishonesty and terrible planning skills ultimately cause the lovers’