Similarities Between Friar Lawrence And Lord Capulet

As humans we tend to create a persona entirely constructed for likeability; this is similar to Friar Laurence and Lord Capulet’s motives in the play Romeo and Juliet, written by William Shakespeare. The main problematic characteristic Friar Laurence and Lord Capulet possessed was their desire to uphold a prestigious reputation and status. The opinion and judgement of the outside world shaped these characters’ actions resulting in a vigorous desire to have a memorable reputation. In the play, both Romeo and Juliet fell in love very early in the story and decided to finalize their feelings in marriage. Lord Capulet, Juliet’s father, had promised Juliet’s hand in marriage to Paris. Lord Capulet loved Juliet very much, but when she refused to marry
Paris, his love was masked by his determination to maintain a great reputation and keep his promise. Friar Laurence, another main adult character in the play, married Romeo and Juliet with the intention to end their families’ feud and bring peace upon Verona, Italy. His motivation of creating peace became The pair put their reputation, the ideas that others had of them over them, over the Throughout the play, both Friar Laurence and Lord Capulet are motivated by saving their reputations which shows when honor is put before all else, it causes great destruction among the people you love. Friar Laurence and Lord Capulet both valued their reputations more than the people they're trying to protect, their actions turned into selfish ambitions that they went to great expense to save.
Friar Laurence’s motivation for saving his reputation is present during the fourth scene when he tells Paris to slow down the wedding. During this scene Friar Laurence says, “On Thursday, sir? The time is very short/… You say you do not know the lady’s mind./Uneven is the course. I like it not,” (IV.i.1-5). In this section Friar tells Paris that the time period for the wedding is too soon and if he does not know what Juliet is thinking they should not be getting married. After he discusses this with Paris, Friar whispers to himself, “I would I knew not why it should be slowed,” (IV.i.16). In this quote Friar is referring to how he wished he was never aware of the wedding that he performed. Upon saying this Friar is clearly motivated by his reputation, and realizing the mistake that he had made in marrying Romeo and Juliet. In addition to Friar Laurence’s selfish motives, Lord Capulet shares similar intentions to keep his reputation spotless. I was able to see Lord Capulet's motivations when he had a conversation with Paris about marrying his daughter. During this scene Lord Capulet says, “Sir Paris, I will make a desperate tender/ Of my child’s love. I think she will be ruled/ In respects by me. Naymore, I doubt it not”(III.IV.12-14). Lord Capulet’s objective is shown in this quote
due to how he was influential over Juliet and had complete control over Juliet's actions. In the next section of text Lord Capulet had a conversation with Juliet about why she should comply to his demands. Lord Capulet says, “Thursday is near. Lay hand on heart, advise./An you be mine, I’ll give you to my friend./An you be not, hang, beg, starve, die in the streets,/For, by my soul, I’ll ne'er acknowledge thee,/Nor what is mine shall never do thee good./Trust to't, bethink you. I’ll not be forsworn,” (IV.i.191-196). Lord Capulet is telling Juliet that he will not break his promise to Paris and if he does, she will be disowned. During this time period it was extremely crucial to have an authoritative standing over your family. I believe Lord Capulet’s actions were caused by this gender role and stature. There is a direct correlation between Friar Laurence and Lord Capulet’s motivations to save their reputations and the misfortunate events that make up the play.
At the end of the play Friar Laurence found Juliet in the tomb standing next to the dead bodies of Romeo and Paris. He needed to convince her to leave Romeo behind. At this time Friar Laurence tells Juliet, “Come, I’ll dispose of thee among a sisterhood of holy nuns/ Stay not to question for the watch is coming. Come, go, good Juliet. I dare no longer stay”(V.iii.168-171). In this quote Friar Laurence told Juliet to come with him and he would cast her among a sisterhood of nuns. I think this showed his motivation due to trying to dispose Juliet so he could not be associated with Romeo and Paris’s deaths. During this scene I also took note that Friar Laurence most likely new Juliet would take her life if he left her, but again his reputation and image trumped saving Juliet’s life. Furthermore, Lord Capulet also put his reputation over the happiness and fate of Juliet, Romeo, and Paris, causing great obliteration of them. I found my next quote when Lord Capulet had talked to Juliet about her marriage to Paris. During this scene Lord Capulet told Juliet, “Hang thee young baggage! Disobedient Wretch!/ I tell thee what, get thee to church o’thursday,/ Or never look me in the face” (III.V.160-162). In this quote Lord Capulet demonstrated his power over Juliet by saying if she does not comply with his wishes she will be
disowned by him and her mother. I believe that Lord Capulet did love and respect Juliet but when it came to his reputation being questioned or if he could not uphold his promise, he looked past that love to save himself. I believe that without Lord Capulet and Friar Laurence’s self absorbed motivations, Romeo, Juliet, and Paris would not have died and the characters in the play would be genuinely happy.
In the end, it becomes evident that the two adults, Friar Laurence and Lord Capulet in the play Romeo and Juliet were so concerned about their self-image they were not aware of all the problems and turmoil happening around them to the ones they loved. Friar Laurence motivation of saving his reputation ultimately resulted in the death of Romeo, Juliet, and Paris, because of not telling the truth to being with but also not making sure the note about Juliet’s fake death reached him in time. Lord Capulet's motivation to keep his reputation also resulted in the deaths of Romeo, Juliet, and Paris due to making sure that the wedding would happen as soon as possible making Juliet and Friar Laurence turn to desperate measures to dodge the wedding. I think William Shakespeare showed his audience that it is important to think about the people you love and care about when making decisions, not yourself.