Friar Lawrence Responsible For The Deaths Of Romeo And Juliet

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.

“Take thou this vial, being then in bed, And this distilling liquor drink thou off. When presently through all thy veins shall run, A cold and drowsy humor, for no pulse” (Shakespeare 4.1.93-96). This quote shows what happens when Juliet drinks the vial. She needed a solution where she could escape and be with Romeo. He did not have to be a part of this mess, but because he said yes at the beginning, he now has to help Juliet. If he had not married Romeo and Juliet in the first place, he could have prevented them from dying. This drives home the point that Friar Lawrence is culpable for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet. Some people might argue that the prefrontal cortex is to blame for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet, as their brains are not yet fully developed. According to the US Department of Health and Human Services, “This brain region gives an individual the capacity to exercise ‘good judgment’ when presented with difficult life situations.” Brain research indicating that brain development is not complete until near the age of 25, refers specifically to the development of the prefrontal cortex. Romeo and Juliet are still teenagers, not yet