Friar Laurence Should Be Pardoned In Shakespeare's Romeo And Juliet

After Romeo’s and Juliet’s death was discovered in William Shakespeare’s play Romeo and Juliet, Prince Escalus of Verona states “Some shall be pardoned, and some punished.” Two adult figures by the name of Nurse and Friar Laurence keep Romeo’s and Juliet’s marriage a secret from both the Capulets and Montagues. Friar Laurence should be the one who is being punished and Juliet’s Nurse should be the one who is being pardoned. Friar Laurence should be the one who shall be punished is because he plays a part in the reason of Juliet’s and Romeo’s death. In the first place, Friar Laurence meddles and decides to marry two teenagers. Friar Laurence does this by keeping it a secret and hiding it from both the Capulets and Montagues. If either family was to find

The Capulets and Montagues would punish Friar Laurence because he unrightfully married them and since the two families are enemies it might’ve made the situation even worse. After Romeo gets exiled out of Verona for killing Tybalt, Juliet goes to Friar Laurence to seek help from him in finding Romeo. From there, the Friar makes up a whole plan. This plan includes Juliet drinking a potion to fake her death which will prevent her from marrying Paris. He gave Juliet a potion that made her look dead, he did this knowing there could be complications like Juliet might not wake up and get buried alive. As Friar Laurence himself states “And this distilled liquor drink thou off; / When presently through all thy veins shall run / A cold and drowsy humor, for no pulse.” (4.1.93-96). The last reason why Friar Laurence should be punished for going to the catacombs