Friar Lawrence's Decision-Making In Romeo And Juliet

Romeo’s decision-making becomes the most irrational and erratic during the final hours of his life. Once the news of Juliet’s supposed death is accidentally delivered by one of Romeo’s friends, he enters into a careless spiral of bad decisions, causing collateral damage along the way until his eventual suicide. Romeo did not consult his father figure and most trusted adviser, Friar Lawrence, to confirm Juliet’s death. Once at the tomb, he encounters County Paris, whom he murders to get to Juliet’s bed. In his final hour, Romeo chooses to commit suicide in his most impulsive decision of the play. Romeo is informed of Juliet’s death by his close friend Balthasar, who is unaware of Friar Lawrence’s plan. Romeo then goes to an apothecary shop, where he

One noticeably missing step from Romeo’s course of action is consulting Friar Lawrence. Friar Lawrence serves as a father figure for Romeo because his actual father is a distant figure in his life. Romeo and Friar Lawrence’s special relationship is on display when Romeo says “Good morrow, father” and Friar Lawrence returns that sentiment when he says “That’s my good son”(2.3.31)(2.1.47). Throughout the play, Romeo constantly turns to Friar Lawrence in times of need, such as when Romeo needs someone to marry him and Juliet and when Romeo gets banished from Verona. The fact that consulting Friar Lawrence on the validity of the reports of Juliet's death does not even cross Romeo’s mind, shows he does not stop thinking about his alternatives before committing to his actions. Romeo’s lack of deliberation before acting is further proven when Romeo kills County Paris. After the death of Tybalt, Lord Capulet arranged a marriage between County Paris and Juliet. Throughout the play, Paris treats Juliet with kindness, and it is clear that he even loves her. The extent of this love is unclear, however, it still motivates him to visit Juliet’s