2 FRIAR LAURENCE1Romeo & Juliet: Friar LaurenceDanny HarrisAshworth College
FRIAR LAURENCE2AbstractThe contents of this paper will discuss the importance of the secondary characters. Secondarycharacters are defined as those in the play that are important but not as important as the maincharacters; they help the story move along they play a big role in making the story. In particular,Friar Laurence, in Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. Had Friar Laurence been excluded from theplay there would have been a much different outcome. He was responsible for the secretmarriage of the two, providing that fateful love potion, and keeping the romantic connectionfired up between Romeo and Juliet. All of his actions play into the theme of love throughout
…show more content…
Though FriarLawrence’s plans all seem well conceived and well intentioned, they serve as the mainmechanisms through which the fated tragedy of the play occurs (SparkNotes). Within this paper,we will discuss the actions of the secondary character Friar Laurence and the importance of themthroughout the play.
FRIAR LAURENCE3Romeo & Juliet: Friar LaurenceThe play Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare carries a resounding theme of love.The theme of a play is defined as the underlying message or ‘big idea,’ the critical belief theauthor is trying to convey (Notari). This play is known as one of the greatest love stories of alltime. It conveys passion, love, loyalty and the violence that can surround a forbidden love; a lovethat was helped along by the secondary character I have chosen, Friar Laurence. Secondarycharacters as the only religious character in the play he was responsible for marrying Romeo andJuliet, giving them advice, sneaking them to see each other and he also provided the sleepingpotion to them. Without Friar Laurence the play would have had a very different outcome. I would say the biggest affect Friar Laurence had on the outcome of the play was thepotion he gave to
Friar Laurence was Romeo’s friend who gave Romeo someone to confide in about his emotions towards Juliet. Not only that but Friar Laurence’s true character is also shown when he is with Romeo and Juliet. This is shown when he marries Romeo and Juliet because he knows that their families would disapprove but he does it anyways because it’s what he thinks is the right thing to do. All in all, that is how Romeo and Juliet’s true character is revealed when they are with those that
In the classic play Romeo and Juliet, Friar Laurence plays a major part. Romeo and Juliet trusted him entirely as he was the priest of their town. They turned to the Friar for help and advice at a few crucial points in the play. Little did these two lovers know that their decision to turn to Friar Laurence for help would eventually lead to their deaths. Friar Laurence was responsible for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet because he married Romeo and Juliet, he was afraid of committing a sin, and because of his faulty plan for saving Juliet from a marriage to Paris.
In the Shakespearean tragedy, Romeo and Juliet, Friar Lawrence was a monk, and a counselor, who came up with intricate plots and concocted a seemingly magical elixir in order to solve problems that the lovers encountered. Friar Lawrence had a profound impact on the outcome of this Shakespearean play; however, in a way that led to catastrophe. There are many factors that caused the deaths of the lovers, but two of the most important were how Friar Lawrence disregarded his own logic, and how he missed numerous opportunities to save the lovers.
A large part of trying to accomplish his goal are the three plans he makes for Romeo and Juliet to be together. The first plan was the marriage. The second plan for Romeo to get a pardon from the prince for killing Tybalt, Juliet’s cousin. That does not work out so Romeo consummates the marriage then says bye to Juliet before leaving to Verona. Juliet would then leave to Verona too. Friar Laurence does all this planning as the story goes on. If the plans are done correctly, it can lead to peace but if not, it can be dangerous and even deadly. He puts in much hard work and effort trying to make things go right. This is vital to have success. He has to make these plans off the top of his head as new problems arise. He knows how life threatening helping Romeo and Juliet
Romeo and Juliet, the ‘star-crossed lovers’, were doomed to a tragic end by Friar Lawrence, their final hope. In this analytical essay, the statement ‘Friar Lawrence is to blame for the tragic events that occur in the play’ will be proved true. In William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, Friar Lawrence’s belief in his vision for Romeo and Juliet’s future, leads him to cause the tragic end to their love story instead. There are three reasons why Friar Lawrence is to blame, firstly he should not have agreed to marry Romeo and Juliet, secondly he should not have given Juliet the sleeping potion, and thirdly he failed the most important aspect of his plan, which was to deliver the message to Romeo.
(Friar Laurence, Act 5, Scene
Friar Laurence’s character flaws greatly impacted the end result of the play. The Friar should be punished for his poorly made decisions throughout Shakespeare’s story. His first mistake was when he initially helped Romeo and Juliet with the aid of the Nurse. Both Romeo and Juliet are children and their parents should be included in every decision made for them. The Friar married Romeo and Juliet in Act 3 of the play. “Till Holy Church incorporate two in one” (3.1.37) The marriage was the start of many issues. Such as Juliet’s inability to wed Paris, being a married lady. This led to Friar’s next choice of giving Juliet the sleeping potion—making her appear dead. “Take this vial, being then in bed,” (4.1.93) Giving Juliet the poison was the reason why so many characters had died in the end of Act 5 of the play. Paris had died fighting Romeo because he thought he was attempting to steal Juliet’s “dead” body. Romeo, ignorant of the fact that Juliet was not dead, killed himself. Juliet committed suicide because of her fiancé lying next to her lifeless. The poison given by Friar
Friar Laurence is a good person because he thought that marrying Romeo and Juliet will end the feud between the two families. But his plan about Juliet’s “death” and the dangerous path that he took to solve the problem that he did for Romeo and Juliet was the evil part of him. Friar Lawrence is related to the theme “The individual versus society” because everyone respects the Friar and think that he is trustworthy and a very good person. What he didn’t want to show to the society is that he married a couple without their parents knowing and that is not allowed. Trying to solve the problem behind the couple’s parents’ back and not trying to explain the problem to them peacefully and end the feud wisely. All of these things he couldn’t show to
Friar Lawrence, who encourages the star-crossed lovers to break apart from their family tidings, is one of the most controversial figures in Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. Some argue that he is the centripetal force leading to the tragic resolution while remains in repentance for his sin. Others simply express empathy for his effort to help the lovers casts a shadow on him forever. Tragic heroes are prestigious and free-spirited characters who lead themselves to downfall from a lapse in their judgment. Friar Lawrence is portrayed as an archetypal tragic hero in Romeo and Juliet as he acquires high social standing, makes unreliable decisions that lead to the tragedy, and accepts his punishment with an open heart.
In William Shakespeare’s, Romeo and Juliet, there are numerous of dramatic purposes that the characters serve in the building of the story. One major character that stands out is Friar Laurence who is a wise and holy man respected by everyone in Verona. However, you should not let that presentation of him fool you. There are a variety of times Friar Laurence has committed sins of dishonesty and deception. The few but many dramatic purposes Friar Laurence has in Romeo and Juliet include: being a mastermind with medicine, peacemaker, and the main reason for Romeo and Juliet’s death.
There are many characters in the play of Romeo and Juliet that have important roles and unique characteristics. One of these characters is Friar Lawrence, a Franciscan monk who is an expert in plants and medicines. While the Friar does not appear in all parts of the play, he acts as an advisor to Romeo and Juliet and gets them married. Being an honest, trustworthy, and loving friend, Friar Lawrence helps keep Romeo and Juliet together while maintaining his character and not acting dual-sided or having a second nature. Throughout the later parts of the play, Friar Lawrence’s characterization remains consistent as he guides the two lovers through their troubles and eventually ends the family feud between the Capulets and the Montagues.
Friar Laurence is a Franciscan friar who aids both Romeo and Juliet throughout the whole play. Choices he made determined the outcome of the play and had he made different choices, the play may not have ended the way it did.
“There’s one good reason why I’ll assist you: this marriage could be the happy course of turning the enmity between your two households into real love” (Shakespeare 103-105). Friar Laurence is a good example of characterization because Friar Laurence is respected as a holy man who is greatly trusted. Romeo came to Friar laurence and asked him to marry him and Juliet. Friar was shocked as to how quickly Romeo had abandoned Rosaline and had fallen in love with Juliet. However, he agrees to marry Romeo and Juliet in the hopes that their marriage will heal the rift between the Montague and Capulet families (Connolly). Shakespeare used Friar Laurence as an important character because he offered to marry Romeo and Juliet and he was an important role in the lover’s death. Friar Laurence had a special mix of poison that Juliet could take and her blood stops flowing, her heart stops beating, and her body is still and cold, but she was not dead. This special elixir does not kill Juliet, but helps her fake her death.
“Romeo and Juliet” by William Shakespeare has been read in schools around the world ever since schools have existed. One of the characters in the play is Friar Lawrence, who makes many influential decisions that affect the story. Friar Lawrence marrying Romeo and Juliet causes more problems than it solves. Also, Friar Lawrence’s plan for Juliet to fake her death is one of the worst decisions in the play that leads to terrible tragedy. Finally, Friar Lawrence had the chance to save Juliet from killing herself after she awoke, but he gave absolutely no effort. Shakespeare used Friar Lawrence as a major driving force in the tragedy.
Friar Lawrence was one of the most important characters in the novel. Even though he was not on the stage for most of the play he greatly contributed to the tragedy that would soon happen at the end of the play. There was basically three major parts that lead to the death of Romeo and Juliet, which Friar Lawrence was involved in all of them. Friar Lawrence played a vital role in the marriage, planning and death of Romeo and Juliet. His attempts to do the right thing were noble, but because of poor planning they would soon lead to the inevitable tragedy.