Why Is Friar Lawrence To Blame For Romeo And Juliet

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Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet is one of the most widely known love stories in the world, and this ill-fated love could have had a happy ending if it hadn’t been for Friar Lawrence. The story works around the fate of the two star-crossed lovers, although they only had a slim chance for a good life if they hadn’t trusted him they might have both survived. Friar Lawrence is to blame because he illegally married Romeo and Juliet, didn’t go into the cave to check in on them, and because he gives Juliet an illegal potion that could’ve easily killed her. The majority of problems in Romeo and Juliet could have been avoided if Friar Lawrence had not agreed to illegally marry Romeo and Juliet. Without Friar Lawrence’s blessing, Romeo and Juliet might …show more content…

Friar Lawrence created a plan in which he would send word to Romeo letting him know that Juliet was alive and well, the plan wasn’t thought out very well and unfortunately Romeo never received word. Friar Lawrence promised Juliet that Romeo would receive word “(giving her the vial) Now go along on your way. Be strong and successful in this decision. I’ll send a friar quickly to Mantua with my letter for Romeo.” (4.1 125-128) Because of the miscommunication, when Romeo does not get the letter he mistakenly believes that Juliet is dead. When he learns this he goes to visit her grave and the visit ends with his death and the death of Paris. If Friar Lawrence had suggested that he himself would wait with Juliet in the tomb, or even if he had also asked the nurse to tell Romeo, he might not be to blame when it comes to the death of the young couple. When Friar Lawrence is trying to coax Juliet outside so that they can leave the scene of the deaths, he notes the noise and right after decides to leave “A noise sounds from outside the tomb I hear some noise. Lady, come from that nest, Of death, contagion, and unnatural sleep. A greater power than we can contradict Hath thwarted our intents.” (5.3 68-69) If he had gone into the tomb and taken Juliet out, she might have been consoled and avoided death. But because the Friars got scared there was no chance of saving