ipl-logo

Friar Lawrence Research Paper

400 Words2 Pages

Anna Claire Dowdy Heun 2nd 17 April 2024 Friar Lawrence’s Wisdom with Consequences Keri Russel once said, “Sometimes it’s the smallest decisions that can change your life forever.” In Shakesphere’s Romeo and Juliet, Friar Lawrence portrays this quote through his imprudent choices. Despite his religious authority, Friar Lawrence’s impulsive decisions and willingness to go against church laws ultimately led to a tragic downfall. Friar Lawrence’s actions and choices create uncertainty about his honesty and truthfulness. Furthermore, the friar’s acts of withholding the truth from Juliet's parents about her death causes mistrust among readers (Zbierski ). His decision to stage Juliet’s death could be seen as a deceptive and risky move (Bryant, 66). …show more content…

Overall, Friar Lawrence acts as a foil to Romeo’s haste (Zbierski ). Friar Lawrence makes many mistakes that violate the church law that he is expected to uphold (Brenner 69). For example, Friar Lawrence’s decision to marry Romeo and Juliet without their parents’ consent completely goes against the expectations of the church. According to church law, marriages are not to be done in secret. Secondly, when traveling, all friars must be accompanied by another friar (Cardullo 62). Friar Lawrence defies this law when attempting to send Friar John to Mantua alone. Subsequently, why did Friar Lawrence not deliver the letter himself? Friar Lawrence’s decision making can be seen as inconsistent due to his varying choices (Bryant 67). His will to purposely break church laws puts him at risk for a three-year suspension (65). These risky decisions ultimately cause the death of both Romeo and Juliet (Zbierski). In conclusion, Friar Lawrence’s personality and tendency to break church laws plays a significant role in the tragic events of Romeo and Juliet. While some may know him for his wisdom, his impulsive actions are against the well-established

Show More
Related

Friar Lawrence Quotes

744 Words | 3 Pages

Ishant Ghimiray Ms. Baker English 8-Period 8 13 March 2023 Friar Lawrence’s role for the tragic death of Romeo and Juliet In the city of Verona there lived two houses that hate each other that constantly fight. Romeo and Juliet is a tragic play by William Shakespeare that tells the story of two young lovers who come from feuding families. Friar Lawrence is a character who played a role in the tragic end of the play. He made several poor choices that ultimately led to the deaths of Romeo and Juliet.

Read More

Romeo And Juliet Bad Decisions Essay

511 Words | 3 Pages

Poor decisions are present in many places in the play of Romeo and Juliet, especially in the role of Friar Lawrence. One of the major decisions that later prove to be of bad judgement was his choice to willingly marry Romeo and Juliet, in absolute discretion other than notifying a select few. This is not only seen as a foolish move by the audience, but also by Friar Lawrence himself as he states “These violent delights have violent ends/ And in their triumph die, like fire and powder” (II, vi, 9-10). Here, it is shown that “like fire and powder”, Friar Lawrence himself predicts that this marriage will end in an explosion of sorts.

Read More

How Does Friar Lawrence Make Correct Decisions

842 Words | 4 Pages

 He hastily decides to marry Romeo and Juliet, even he knows it isn’t a good idea. He fakes Juliet’s death with a faulty plan which leads to Romeo killing himself. The friar also makes the unwise decision to flee from the tomb when he hears a noise, missing the chance to have possibly saved Juliet’s life. Thus, Friar Lawrence’s poorly planned

Read More

How Is Friar Lawrence A Foil In Romeo And Juliet

915 Words | 4 Pages

Though he respects tradition, he allows Romeo and Juliet to elope. The Friar has much wisdom but decides to only give warnings, which is unrecognizable by star struck lovers. When Romeo first came to the Friar and asked him to marry them he responded with “ Wisely and slow; they stumble that run fast” (scene 3 act 2 line 96). Friar Lawrence was trying to warn Romeo of this fairytale love story; but Romeo had his head so far in the clouds he would never be able to think clearly for himself. This is where the Friar should have stuck to his more traditional roots and try to talk some sense into Romeo.

Read More

Romeo And Juliet Irresponsible Quotes

1169 Words | 5 Pages

The Friar is an important adult in both Romeo and Juliet’s lives, being a priest who is always there for confessions and sins that Romeo and/or Juliet might have had. Friar Lawrence being such an important adult in Romeo and Juliet’s lives means he has to guide them in the correct path, even if Romeo and Juliet begged the Friar multiple times to fulfil their wishes. But Friar Lawrence did not guide

Read More

Why Is Friar Lawrence Important In Romeo And Juliet

603 Words | 3 Pages

Friar Lawrence helps Juliet fake her death so that she doesn’t have to marry County Paris. This also helps the Friar in that he doesn’t have to marry Juliet to a different man after she has married Romeo. This would help the Friar keep his credibility and priesthood intact so that he may continue preaching and teaching about the word of God, but this could also be the Friar wanting to help his apprentice Romeo therefore as the audience wonders if Friar Lawrence was helping to save his career as a viable preacher or to help his friend, Romeo, who needed assistance, as well as Romeo’s wife Juliet, be with her husband after she escapes marring Paris and leaving to Mantua with

Read More

Friar Lawrence Research Paper

626 Words | 3 Pages

Joanna Ngo Period 4 April 12, 2024. Friar Lawrence’s False Innocence: The beginning of tragedies can be derived from goodwill. In the play The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet, written by William Shakespeare, the children of the feuding families, Romeo and Juliet, happen to fall in love with each other at first sight. Romeo, madly in love, came to Friar Lawrence to marry them, despite just meeting Juliet a few hours before. Friar Lawrence sees the impulsiveness in this marriage decision, yet disregards it and marries them, and also keeps Romeo and Juliet’s relationship a secret, resulting in their devastating deaths.

Read More

Friar Lawrence Research Paper

1328 Words | 6 Pages

Romeo and Juliet: The Role of Friar Lawrence Friar Lawrence is the local Roman Catholic Priest who becomes a trusted person to both Romeo and Juliet. The people of Verona think very highly of the Friar, and could have never imagined the role he would play in the two lover’s tragic story. Friar’s are required to take vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. The vows are to be achieved through service to society. Friars are different from the traditional monk, where as monk’s live among other monk’s in a private community.

Read More

Friar Lawrence Blame

750 Words | 3 Pages

He was the one who married the two, hoping that the marriage would cause an end to the feuding. Romeo and Juliet getting married was banned and wouldn't be able to take place without Friar Lawrence. Friar Lawrence stupidly chose to marry Romeo and Juliet even though he knew that it would cause issues in the future. The Friar says in the beginning of the story "this alliance may so happy prove To turn your households' rancor to pure love." (II iv 91-92) This shows that the Friar has doubts and only has a small bit of hope that Romeo and Juliet's marriage will actually be successful.

Read More

Friar Lawrence Responsible For The Deaths Of Romeo And Juliet

967 Words | 4 Pages

Zelda Fitzgerald, famous American writer and painter, once said that “Nobody has ever measured, even poets, how much a heart can hold.” In William Shakespeare’s tragic play, Romeo and Juliet, young love leads to earth-shattering tragedy. Although there are numerous factors that play a role in the disastrous end to Romeo and Juliet’s love story, the ultimate responsibility for their deaths falls upon Friar Lawrence. Friar Lawrence is to blame for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet because he overstepped his role as a Friar to intervene in the private lives of the Capulet and Montague families, helping their children make poor choices without consent. As a Friar in the Catholic Church, Friar Lawrence has a responsibility to his congregation and God.

Read More

Are Friar Lawrence's Intentions In Romeo And Juliet

733 Words | 3 Pages

Friar Lawrence again breaks church law because the marriage he performs not only lacks parental approval, it also exists as a secret union (Brenner, “Shakespeare’s” 47). After all, besides Juliet’s nurse, no one knows Romeo and Juliet’s marriage. In addition to these laws, church law prohibits friars from traveling alone. However, Friar Lawrence sends Friar John to travel to Mantua alone to deliver news to Romeo (Cardullo 62). Friar Lawrence’s troublesome personality reveals itself through his many church law violations.

Read More

The Inensibility Of Friar Lawrence In Shakespeare's Romeo And Juliet

246 Words | 1 Pages

In William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, Friar Lawrence’s insensibility causes him to give Romeo and Juliet rash advice, leading to the pair of star-crossed lovers’ ultimate doom. When Romeo seeks advice from Friar Lawrence in hopes that he can marry him with Juliet, the Friar agrees, in hope of “[turning the] households’ rancor to pure love” (2.3.99). However, as an adult, and as a man that others seek for help, Friar Lawrence should have put more thought into the different ways the families could react by the marriage. The Friar should have realized that there was a big possibility that the Capulets and Montagues would be angered by the wedding. Instead, he makes his decisions upon the improbable idea of reconcilement through marriage.

Read More

Friar Lawrence Is To Blame

438 Words | 2 Pages

In Shakespeare's play "Romeo and Juliet," the tragic ending of the star-crossed lovers is the result of a conflict between their families. While several characters contribute to the tragic outcome, Friar Lawrence is the most at fault for their deaths. As a Franciscan friar and an advisor to both Romeo and Juliet, Friar Lawrence plays a significant role in the events that lead to the tragic ending. Throughout the play, Friar Lawrence is a complex character torn between his desire to help Romeo and Juliet and his fear of the consequences of his actions.

Read More

Is Friar's Impulsiveness In Romeo And Juliet

637 Words | 3 Pages

Not to mention, Franciscan law prevents a friar from traveling alone, especially without another friar (62). Ultimately, Friar Lawrence’s impulsive and thoughtless nature is a major contributor to the tragic outcome of the play. Friar Lawrence's character in Romeo and Juliet displays not only impulsiveness, but also an egoistic, selfish cleric. Despite his role as a spiritual guide and advisor, his actions sometimes prioritize his own interests over those of others (Whalen 41). For instance, his decision to marry Romeo and Juliet secretly can be seen as self-serving, as it serves to advance his personal agenda of ending the feud between the Montagues and Capulets (Brenner 71).

Read More

Friar Lawrence's Decisions

724 Words | 3 Pages

In Shakespeare's play Romeo and & Juliet, several supporting characters contribute to the tragic demise of the titular characters. One such character is Friar Lawrence, who presents himself as a wise and caring religious figure in the play. However, his actions and decisions throughout the play ultimately reveal him

Read More

More about Friar Lawrence Research Paper

Open Document