Friar Lawrence Mistakes

In Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare, Friar Lawrence is the most responsible for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet with his poor judgment and planning, marrying a young couple who knew each other for only a couple hours, providing Juliet with a dangerous potion, and failing to notify Romeo of the dangerous plan putting him in danger. First, Friar Lawrence agrees to marry a couple with the knowledge that they have only known each other for a couple hours when he says, “In one respect I’ll thy assistant be; For this alliance may so happy prove to turn your households’ rancor to pure love” (II.III.90-92). Friar Lawrence agrees to marry the two believing it will help the feud between the two families. This is a rather poor decision on his part

Putting them in danger of making poor decisions and especially since the parents were not aware. Secondly, Friar Lawrence provides Juliet with a dangerous substance and he says, “ A thing like death to chide away this shame, that cop’st with Death himself to scape from it; and if thou darest, I’ll give thee remedy ” (IV. I.75-77). Friar Lawrence provides Juliet a deadly potion though not permanent death it is still very dangerous. Additionally, another way he leads them to their downfall because he incorporates a risky potion into his plan to help Juliet that he knows has the potential to hurt many. Especially Romeo, who he is aware is quite dramatic and impulsive. Without knowing the potion didn’t cause permanent death Friar Lawrence knew he would be at high risk of hurting himself. Lastly, Friar Lawrence fails to get the message to Romeo of the dangerous plan when he says, “ Unhappy fortune! My brotherhood, the letter was not nice but full of charge of dear import and the neglecting it may do much danger” (V.II.18-20). Friar Lawrence fails to get the message delivered by trusting another individual to send the letter, Friar