Responsibility In Shakespeare's Romeo And Juliet

Sometimes, a person or people are given blame or credit for things they did not cause. This is true in life as well as in fiction. The story of Romeo and Juliet is a good example of this. Too often Romeo and Juliet are blamed for their deaths and the deaths of others in Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, as well as given credit for ending the Capulet and Montague feud. Friar Laurence had the largest impact on ending the Capulet and Montague rivalry by encouraging their love, through his influence of the characters based on their trust in him, and because his plan led to Romeo and Juliet’s deaths. Friar Laurence ends the feud by encouraging Romeo and Juliet's love. After Romeo is banished, Friar Laurence instructs him on his next course of action,
Friar Laurence states, "Thou hast the strength of will to slay thyself,/ Then is it likely thou wilt undertake/ A thing like death to chide away this shame,/ That copest with death himself to ’scape from it./ An if thou darest, I’ll give thee remedy." (IV.i.74-78). Friar Laurence was the one who gave the instructions to Juliet for his plan, which ultimately led to Romeo and Juliet’s death. Laurence recounts his actions to the Prince once Romeo and Juliet are found dead, "Meantime I writ to Romeo,/ That he should hither come as this dire night,/ To help to take her from her borrowed grave,/ Being the time the potion’s force should cease," (V.iii.261-264). Friar Laurence was contacting Romeo through a different means than he had agreed before, because originally he told Romeo that he would contact him through Balthasar, who was not told of the plan, meaning Romeo thought Juliet was dead which resulted in Romeo killing himself and Juliet doing the same. It can be argued that Romeo and Juliet had the choice to commit suicide. However, as mentioned before, Romeo and Juliet killed themselves because the other one was, or appeared, dead, and it was a result of Friar Laurence’s actions and plan that caused Juliet to appear