Romeo and Juliet

Romeo and Juliet Essay What role will a priest play in a story when two teenagers from two antagonistic households fall in love at first sight? It is really hard to imagine, isn’t it? But that’s exactly what Friar Laurence was doing in this play; he occupied a strange position in the drama Romeo and Juliet. He was kindhearted and helped Romeo and Juliet through many obstacles throughout the play. We should acknowledge that Friar Lawrence also played a very important role in the play, since all the stories just happened after he had married Romeo and Juliet, in the name of God. But there are still some judgments he had made that had a negative effect on these two young star-crossed lovers who sought his guidance. Without a doubt, Friar Laurence is a holy man and is very responsible as the priest of the church. He wanted to end the feud that had lasted for many years between the Montagues and the Capulets . We can clearly see his kind heart when he agreed to marry Romeo and Juliet. “But come, young waverer, come, go with me, / In one respect I'll thy assistant be; / For this alliance may so happy prove, / To turn your households' rancour to pure love” (Act 2, scene 3, line 96-98) In this passage he was playing the role of a priest of the church trying to make a friendship between the two families of Verona, he was so wise and open-minded that he thought of the interest of all the people in Verona as well as the interest of the two families. He also became the spiritual guide for Romeo and Juliet. When Romeo was banished for killing Tybalt and thinking of death unto himself, it was Friar Laurence who was by his side, reprimanding him for his cowardice and foolishness. “Thy noble shape is but a form of wax, / Digressing from the valour of a man; / Thy dear love sworn but hollow perjury, / Killing that love which thou hast vow'd to cherish;”(ACT 3. Scene 3. Line 136-139) He was blaming Romeo for his impulse to die, pointing out what he should do