Friar Lawrence Responsible For The Deaths Of Romeo And Juliet

The play Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare is perhaps the most-known romantic tragedy of all time. Everyone knows the inevitable fate of the star crossed lovers Romeo and Juliet, but who is truly to blame for their deaths? Many feel that the responsibility is with the two families, as they carry an ongoing feud. Instead of telling their families about their love and marriage, Romeo and Juliet are forced to keep it a secret. Even though this is the case, Friar Laurence and the Nurse are most to blame for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet for numerous reasons. Firstly, Friar Laurence should have never married Romeo and Juliet because of the feud between the Montagues and Capulets. Friar Laurence is responsible because it was his idea

This ruins their relationship and Juliet loses complete faith in Nurse. These are the reasons why Friar Laurence and Nurse are responsible for the unfortunate deaths of Romeo and Juliet.
One of the many reasons Friar Laurence is held responsible for the death of Romeo and Juliet is that it was Friar’s idea for Romeo and Juliet to get married. Friar Laurence is naïve and believes this union could help bring the families together, but does not take into consideration that the families truly have a terrible rivalry. Romeo and Juliet trust Friar Laurence and trust his guidance. Instead of secretly marrying them, he should have made them face their families and profess their love. “But come, young waverer, come, go with me. In one respect I'll thy assistant be, For this alliance may so happy prove To turn your households' rancor to pure love (2.3.96-99).” Friar Laurence believes, based on the quote, that the bond between Romeo and Juliet will cure the feud between the two households. But due to the bond a marriage has and Friar Laurence’s ill based judgment, their marriage would eventually lead to their untimely deaths because it sets

Although Friar does not believe that Romeo fell in love with Juliet, right after he was so deeply desperate for Rosaline, he still agrees to marry them thinking it will resolve the feud, which we know does not work. According to Norman N. Holland on the The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet, he states that “First the Friar fail in their duty to properly counsel Romeo. (Holland)” Friar did not provide the right advice, and in doing so, provided advice that Romeo would listen to rather than doing what is correct. Romeo trusts Friar’s advice and this his relates to his marriage because Romeo and Juliet depend on Friar’s advice, which is ultimately what they want to hear, which is “... go with me. In one respect I’ll thy assistant be, For this alliance may so happy prove To turn your households’ rancor to pure love.” Friar Laurence’s poor advice in advising marriage eventually results in the death of Romeo and Juliet. Furthermore, the Nurse also plays a huge role in the death of Romeo and Juliet. When Romeo kills Tybalt in revenge for Mercutio's life, Juliet reports the scene back to the Nurse. Later, Prince Capulet suggests that Juliet should marry Paris. Juliet and the Nurse discuss the situation and the Nurse says, “Romeo is banished, and all the world to nothing That he