Friar Lawrence To Blame In Shakespeare's Romeo And Juliet

Romeo and Juliet, the two star-crossed lovers, destined to be together, both meet their tragic demise because of the work of one character. Meeting at a party, it was love at first sight. Romeo followed Juliet home, and they agreed to get married the next day. Friar Lawrence, the priest at the Verona church, was asked to marry them. Taking this as an opportunity to bring together the two warring families of the lovers, he made many rash decisions. These include marrying the couple behind the backs of their families, and planning Juliet's pseudocide. These decisions lead to the ill fate of the star-crossed lovers. In the Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet, written by William Shakespeare, Friar Lawrence is the most responsible person for the deaths

She would take this potion before she was supposed to marry Paris to avoid the marriage. After her burial, Romeo would be sent to the tomb where she was buried to take her when she awakened. This plan directly causes the deaths of the two lovers, as Romeo kills himself because he believed she was truly dead.. Friar Lawrence tells Juliet, “Tomorrow night look that thou lie alone/ Let not the nurse lie with thee in thy chamber”, meaning be alone in the night so she can drink the potion (4.1.91-92). The next evening, Juliet sends the nurse away so she can be alone. “She drinks and falls upon her bed within the curtains” (Act 4 scene 4 stage directions). Juliet, determined to be only with Romeo, willfully drinks the potion to knock herself out. Shakespeare writes this to show how far true love will go, no matter the age of it. The next morning, the Nurse sees Juliet lying lifelessly on the floor, and her parents call for her burial. Romeo enters the tomb where his wife is buried and sees her body. Thinking her death was final, Romeo poisons

The friar’s reckless decisions show his guilt and responsibility for the deaths. On the other hand, some may argue that Friar John is to blame for the fate of the lovers. Friar John is supposed to inform Romeo that Juliet is not actually dead, but only poisoned. Due to an outbreak of the plague, the coroner, “Sealed up the doors, and would not let us forth/ So that my speed to Mantua there was stayed” (5.2.11-12). While Friar John not delivering the letter to Romeo is important, it would be insignificant if Friar Lawrence did not give Juliet the poison. When Juliet wakes up from her poisoning, Friar Lawrence hears a sound from outside the tomb, and tells Juliet, “I'll dispose of thee./ Among a sisterhood of holy nuns./ Stay not to question, for the watch is coming./ Come, go, good Juliet. I dare no longer stay”(5.3.161-164). The watch is coming to the tomb, so the friar wants Juliet to leave with him and become a nun. He wants her to be a nun, so no one will ever find out he was the one who married the two. When Juliet refuses to leave, Friar Lawrence leaves and Juliet is left alone. Juliet stabs and kills Romeo’s dagger in order to be with