How Is Friar Lawrence A Foil In Romeo And Juliet

It is said that when people age they gain more wisdom, but this is not always the case. Even though adults have experienced more, it does not always mean they know best. Lady Capulet, from Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, is the mother of Juliet. She would like to think she is acting only in the best interests of her daughter when arranging Juliet's marriage, but she doesn’t take the time to think how unhappy it makes Juliet. The Friar Lawrence also likes to think he is doing is right, but he fails to instill his wisdom on the love struck Romeo and Juliet. In Shakespeare's, Romeo and Juliet the character foil of Lady Capulet and Friar Lawrence develop the theme that even adults make mistakes, through lady Caplets enforcing tradition by urging

Though he respects tradition, he allows Romeo and Juliet to elope. The Friar has much wisdom but decides to only give warnings, which is unrecognizable by star struck lovers. When Romeo first came to the Friar and asked him to marry them he responded with “ Wisely and slow; they stumble that run fast” (scene 3 act 2 line 96). Friar Lawrence was trying to warn Romeo of this fairytale love story; but Romeo had his head so far in the clouds he would never be able to think clearly for himself. This is where the Friar should have stuck to his more traditional roots and try to talk some sense into Romeo. Another example of Friar Lawrence not bestowing wise advice by breaking traditions, is when he despised the plan for Juliet to “die”. Juliet came to the Friar in total and utter despair telling him that she would rather kill herself then marry Paris. In an attempt to save Juliet from suicide, he devised an alternative plan. In his cell Friar Lawrence explains“ Take thou this vial, being then in bed, and this distilled liquor drink thou off; when presently through all thy veins shall run a cold and drowsy humor, for no pulse...thou shall continue two and forty hours then awake as from a pleasant sleep” (scene one act four line 94-99, 106-107). Friar Lawrence should have taken charge of the situation and instead of trying to cover up and hide his mistake, he should have confronted it head on. Furthermore, the Friar would have never been in this situation if he had convinced Romeo and Juliet to wait and come out with their feelings for each other. Of all people he should know from his scholarly studies that lies just lead to a path of misery. In a whole, Friar Lawrence made the mistake of not sticking to his more traditional roots to explain to Romeo and Juliet their irrational love. Maybe if he did it would have resulted in saving both of their