Friar Lawrence Responsible For The Death Of Romeo And Juliet

From The Simpsons to Taylor Swift, Romeo and Juliet, one of the most well known romances in the world, has influenced popular culture even centuries after its creation. Written in the 1590’s by renowned playwright William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet is the classic love story of star-crossed lovers Romeo Montague and Juliet Capulet. The descendants of warring parents Lord Montague and Lord Capulet, Romeo turns to Friar Lawrence and Juliet to her Nurse for guidance. With Friar Lawrence, Romeo and Juliet find a way to be with each other that, unfortunately, leads to their suicides. While some may say the Nurse is to blame for Romeo and Juliet’s deaths, Friar Lawrence is truly at fault for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet because he encourages

After being unwillingly betrothed to Count Paris, Juliet went to the Friar for help, saying she’d rather kill herself than marry Paris. In response, the Friar told her that if she “...hast the strength of will to slay thyself,/ Then is it likely thou wilt undertake/ A thing like death to chide away this shame,/ … An if thou darest, I'll give thee remedy.” (4:1:72-77) The Friar’s plan was to fake Juliet’s death so that she wouldn’t have to marry Paris. The Friar knew that Juliet is suicidal, and yet he devises a plan that puts her at great risk of death, a clearly fatal mistake. They went through with it, the Friar writing to Romeo of the plan, telling Romeo that “... he should hither come…/ To help to take her [Juliet] from her borrowed grave, /Being the time the potion's force should cease. But he which bore my letter…/ Was stayed by accident, and yesternight Returned my letter back” (5:3:259-261) Had the Friar informed Romeo of his plan, or even told Romeo he had a plan at all, Romeo would’ve known that Juliet wasn’t actually dead, and he wouldn’t have killed himself. Tragically, Romeo’s father figure, the Friar, becomes the driving force for Romeo and Juliet’s death. On the other hand, if Juliet had listened to her mother figure, the Nurse, instead of the Friar, Juliet could’ve

, the Friar is nevertheless the guilty party. For example, the day after Romeo and Juliet meet, the Nurse acted as Juliet’s messenger, telling Romeo, “Pray you, sir, a word. And as I told you, my young lady bid me inquire you out.” (2.4.165-167) Although the Nurse was supporting Romeo and Juliet’s relationship in a way by helping them communicate with one another, she is still hesitant. She warned Romeo not to lull Juliet into a false sense of happiness and security, for it would be “ a very gross kind of behavior… truly it were an ill thing to be offered to any gentlewoman…” (2.4.168-173) The Nurse actually gave thought to Juliet’s well-being unlike the Friar, who remained ignorant to the dangers of Romeo and Juliet’s relationship. Following Romeo’s exile, the Nurse promised Juliet that she would seek him out to “... comfort [Juliet]. I wot well where he is. Hark ye, your Romeo will be here at night. I'll to him. He is hid at Lawrence' cell.” (3.2.151-154) Even though the Nurse did go to Romeo, the Friar is nonetheless at fault, for the Nurse then went on to advise Juliet to marry Paris, for “I think you are happy in this second match,/… it excels your first./… Your first is dead, or 'twere as good he were…” (3.5.223-27) The Friar should’ve done as the Nurse wanted and had Juliet marry Paris, which could’ve prevented Juliet from dying so