Friar Laurence In Shakespeare's Romeo And Juliet
Romeo and Juliet: Friar Laurence
Kelly Glorioso At first glance, one may look over the character of Friar Laurence and dismiss him as only a minor player in the story of Romeo and Juliet. However, upon closer examination, it becomes obvious that the Friar plays an essential role in the development of the play and is notable for moving the action along. A Franciscan friar, he is also an expert of plants and natural remedies. At the beginning of the play, we learn that he is very close with Romeo and considers Romeo to be his pupil. Romeo considers Friar Laurence someone he can confide in, and therefore tells him about his newfound love, Juliet, as soon as possible. The Friar, however, is not convinced. He feels that Romeo is very …show more content…
He goes to the Capulet household after Juliet is discovered “dead”, and helps motivate the family to rush their deceased daughter to her funeral service and then to burial. He justifies this by saying it is God’s will, and he lowers himself here by using God as a tool in his dishonesty. However, we must remember that he is still trying to help both families and his young friends, despite his new fault. In Scene 5.2, Friar Laurence’s well-laid plans begin to fall apart. The letter that he sent to notify Romeo of Juliet‘s scam does not reach him. The Friar realizes that things have gotten out of hand and that he must go to Juliet’s tomb to be there when she wakes up. In Scene 5.3, everything that Friar Laurence attempted to do falls apart. He tries to save Romeo and Juliet, but they both commit suicide, which lays heavy guilt upon the man. He is humiliated when he has to admit his part in the entire scheme, but the Prince believes his story. This does not, however, remove Friar Laurence’s feeling of personal responsibility. Though he is a genuinely a good man, he, too, can make the wrong choices for the right reasons. His pure intention of bringing the families together has been attained, but his close relationship with Romeo and Juliet does not allow him to feel happy about the results. He is indirectly responsible for their deaths, and though he still remains a very religious man, one may wonder if his faith in God and God’s good will stands just as strong as
Kelly Glorioso At first glance, one may look over the character of Friar Laurence and dismiss him as only a minor player in the story of Romeo and Juliet. However, upon closer examination, it becomes obvious that the Friar plays an essential role in the development of the play and is notable for moving the action along. A Franciscan friar, he is also an expert of plants and natural remedies. At the beginning of the play, we learn that he is very close with Romeo and considers Romeo to be his pupil. Romeo considers Friar Laurence someone he can confide in, and therefore tells him about his newfound love, Juliet, as soon as possible. The Friar, however, is not convinced. He feels that Romeo is very …show more content…
He goes to the Capulet household after Juliet is discovered “dead”, and helps motivate the family to rush their deceased daughter to her funeral service and then to burial. He justifies this by saying it is God’s will, and he lowers himself here by using God as a tool in his dishonesty. However, we must remember that he is still trying to help both families and his young friends, despite his new fault. In Scene 5.2, Friar Laurence’s well-laid plans begin to fall apart. The letter that he sent to notify Romeo of Juliet‘s scam does not reach him. The Friar realizes that things have gotten out of hand and that he must go to Juliet’s tomb to be there when she wakes up. In Scene 5.3, everything that Friar Laurence attempted to do falls apart. He tries to save Romeo and Juliet, but they both commit suicide, which lays heavy guilt upon the man. He is humiliated when he has to admit his part in the entire scheme, but the Prince believes his story. This does not, however, remove Friar Laurence’s feeling of personal responsibility. Though he is a genuinely a good man, he, too, can make the wrong choices for the right reasons. His pure intention of bringing the families together has been attained, but his close relationship with Romeo and Juliet does not allow him to feel happy about the results. He is indirectly responsible for their deaths, and though he still remains a very religious man, one may wonder if his faith in God and God’s good will stands just as strong as