Friar Lawrence Responsible For The Death Of Romeo And Juliet

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William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet tells the story of two star-crossed lovers that come from feuding families and secretly get married, but ultimately meet their tragic end due to a series of devastating events. Some might blame Romeo for killing Tybalt which led to his banishment or the family feud for making it impossible for the couple to be together openly, which led to their secret marriage and their deaths. Others could point out that Juliet's parents controlling behavior led to her death. While all of those may have contributed to Romeo and Juliet’s deaths, ultimately the most blame for the tragic ending should go to Friar Lawrence because he abandoned Juliet in her time of need after her husband's death and he suggested a very dangerous plan to fake Juliet's death and risk her life, which led to the young couple’s deaths. Friar Lawrence bears the most responsibility for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet due to his abandonment of her after her husband’s sudden death. After Romeo drank the deadly poison, Juliet awakened to find him dead. …show more content…

Friar Lawrence was moved by Juliet’s profound love for Romeo and her desperation to be with him. This led him to suggest and aid a plan to fake her death. Friar Lawrence suggested to Juliet, "Take thou this vial, being then in bed,/ And this distilled liquor drink thou off;/ When presently through all thy veins shall run/ A cold and drowsy humor; for no pulse/ Shall keep his native progress, but surcease/" (Shakespeare 4.1.95-99). As an adult and mentor figure, Friar Lawrence should have known better than to suggest a dangerous plan based on Romeo receiving a single letter in time. By suggesting and aiding such a dangerous plan to Juliet, he put her life at risk and contributed to the deaths of Romeo and