Society norms are unwritten rules on what behaviour is acceptable amongst a community and often considered somewhat constraining. In Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare illustrates how Juliet, Romeo, and Friar Lawrence breaking societal norms or laws lead to the young couple’s eventual death. The play further portrays that not following such societal norms can often be the cause of life- altering events and chaos. To begin with, women are expected to be blindly obedient and show no defiance in the mostly patriarchal environment of Verona. During Act 2, Juliet agrees to marry Romeo despite being fully aware her parents would never consent to her marriage to a Montague. On the balcony, Juliet says “Thy purpose marriage, send me word tomorrow, /By one that I’ll procure …show more content…
This holy man possibly breaks this trust when he agrees to marry the two teenagers secretly “I’ll thy assistant be; / For this alliance may so happy prove” (II.iii.90-91). In spite of the Friar’s good intentions to diminish the family feud, the secret union proved to be even more disastrous for the young lovers. The Friar’s seclusion of the news of their marriage pushed Capulet to promise Juliet to another man, hence leading to her supposed and later actual death. Adding on to this, the Friar provides Juliet with the ‘death’ potion when she visits him for counsel. He further explains “When presently through all thy veins shall run/ A cold and drowsy humour; for no pulse” (IV.i.95-96). Surprisingly for a man at his holy position, Friar Lawrence encourages Juliet to fake her own death and deceive her entire family. Ultimately, this risky plan is the most significant event building up to Romeo and Juliet’s suicide. This tragic love story would not have taken place if it had not been for Friar Lawrence’s good hearted but ill-fated willingness to bend the rules for the sake of Romeo and