Who Is The Friar Responsible For Romeo And Juliet's Downfall

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A “Holy” Mans The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare is the tale of two star-crossed lovers from opposing families who, due to an ancient feud, suffer a tragic, ill-fated death. One of the characters, Friar Lawrence, is typically characterized as a wise and trustworthy advisor for both Romeo and Juliet. In reality, the Friar is a poor decision-maker, negligent, and foolish. Was Romeo and Juliet's death really fate or was there something or someone that played a part in the lover's demise? Friar Lawrence ultimately causes the pair's untimely deaths through his misguided judgement First and foremost, Friar Lawrence is a poor decision-maker. In the story, there is a feud going on between Romeo and Juliet's families, the Montagues and the Capulets. The Friar believes that the lover's marriage might resolve the feud. He decides to marry them off because he thinks it is right, but he does not think about what the consequences will be. It says, "For this alliance may so happy prove/To turn your households' rancor to pure love.''(2.3.91-92). …show more content…

Instead of giving the lovers a reality check, he contributes to their mindless and impulsive love and misleads them. Friar advised the teens against marriage, considering it was less than 24 hours after they had met, but with a little bit of convincing from Romeo, he quickly changed his opinion. If the Friar were truly a wise man, he wouldn't have changed his opinion so quickly. '' But come, young waverer, come, go with me/In one respect I'll thy assistant be''(2.3.89-90). I also believe he is foolish because of his faulty planning skills improper communication of the plan accordingly as well as not thinking about what Romeo would think when he saw Juliet thus convincing him to kill himself. "Miscarried by my fault, let my old life/Be sacrificed some hour before his time/Unto the rigor of severest law."(5.3.267-269). The Friar's brainless thinking furthers the lover's