Friar Lawrence Monologue

As we enter Act 2 scene 3 of William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, we are introduced to Friar Lawrence, a pivotal character whose wisdom influences the tragic events that will follow in the play. The soliloquy he delivers to the audience emphasizes the clashing themes of both good and evil, as well as the ramifications of love, by using nature-based metaphors. The purpose of this speech is to foreshadow the tragic events of the play, by highlighting the ideas of misapplication of good intentions and the use of imagery of the natural world.
Friar Lawrence, a devout Franciscan monk, who detest the feud between the Capulets and Montagues. When he learns of Romeo and Juliet’s relationship, he is pleased because he believes that their union has

As he starts his soliloquy with, “The gray-eyed morn smiles on the frowning night”(2.3.1). The friar personifies both the night and morning as he is articulating how the morning, Romeo’s relationship is giving hope to the frowning night or the feud. The Friar will continue to develop the imagery by stating, “From forth day’s path and Titan’s fiery wheels/ Now, ere the sun advance his burning eye”, he is referring to the Greek god Helios who brings the day on his chariot(2.3.4-5). The Friar is suggesting that Romeo and Juliet should take advantage of the early hours to get married, before their secret becomes difficult to keep and create a sense of urgency that will continue throughout the play. The idea of getting married and ending the feud will continue as comments, “The day to cheer and night's day dew to dry”(2.3.6). The “ dank dew” of the night represents the sadness and despair that Romeo and Juliet have been feeling, while “ day to cheer” could represent the love that

He does bring up repercussions that can happen. As he recited, “The Earth that’s nature’s mother is her tomb/what is her burying grave that is her womb”; everything is born from earth, but will also return to earth(2.3.9-10). These lines convey many things, as they are referencing how Juliet is the only surviving child of her father, “Earth hath swallowed all my hopes but she;/She’s my hopeful lady of my earth”(1.2.14-15). But they also play a much greater role in foreshadowing the tragic events. The quote implies that from death, new life can come. Which foreshadows the idea that the deaths of Romeo and Juliet ultimately brings the feud between the families to an end, making peace which is a kind of rebirth or new life. Also the ideas that life and death are interrelated, suggesting that there cannot be true love which out the possibility of death which foreshadows the lovers death. Following this part of the speech, he comments, “In plants, herbs, stones, and their true qualities”, suggesting that he is knowledgeable about the natural world(2.3.15). He'll continue by stating “For naught so vile that on the Earth doth live/But to the Earth some special good doth give” which reflects his philosophy of life and his belief that interconnectedness(2.3.16). Overall these two quotes both foreshadow the Friar's knowledge of plants which will later be used to fake Juliet's death. But these quotes also show how the smallest