We next meet Friar Lawrence on the afternoon of the following day at his cell, prior to the wedding of Romeo and Juliet. Juliet has not yet arrived; Romeo and the Friar are discussing the forthcoming marriage. Friar Lawrence advises Romeo against the marriage with a premonition “These violent delights have violent ends.” The Friar was warning Romeo that something good is always neutralised with something terrible, an awful event will occur. He also advises Romeo about love “The sweetest honey is loathsome in his own deliciousness, and in the taste confounds the appetite.” Romeo and Juliet should love each other moderately over a long period of time and then the love will be stronger and more lasting. The “sweetest honey” is Juliet from Romeo’s point of view, if he has too much too soon he will find it sickly.
Unfortunately all of the Friar’s advice is theoretical, he has no idea what Romeo is feeling for Juliet as he’s never experienced romance. Theoretically the majority of Friar Lawrence’s advice is excellent but in practise there are problems that cannot be foreseen. Unsurprisingly Romeo ignores the advice and makes it clear he does not care what happens as long as he can be with Juliet “Then love devouring death do what he dare”.
Juliet arrives and the marriage vows exchanged and all are about to leave when the Friar says “Till holy church incorporate two in one” his hope is that the marriage will unite the families. Ironically and tragically it is not the marriage of Romeo and Juliet that joins the families but their deaths.
Friar Lawrence next appears in Act 3 Scene 3; it is the day after a fight where Romeo kills Tybalt, Juliet’s cousin, in retaliation to Tybalt’s murder of Mercutio, Romeo’s best friend. Friar Lawrence could not foretell these slaughters; the blame is purely on those involved and their natural animal instincts. With reference to the Friar’s quote “These violent delights…” the deaths of Tybalt and Mercutio may have been the violent end that he was awaiting. Alternatively Romeo and Juliet also come to a violent end. Mercutio was naturally aggressive and passionate, this couldn’t be prevented, but Romeo should have realised that there is a time where you have to constrain instincts. The slaying of Tybalt was unnecessary, Romeo could have handed Tybalt to the police then not suffer the consequences of murder. The punishment was originally death, but the sentence was reduced to exile to Mantua by daybreak the next day. Typically in his time of need Romeo goes to Friar Lawrence for advice.
Friar Lawrence tells Romeo “Thou art wedded to calamity” meaning that he is married to disaster. Romeo questions the Friar for his punishment and the Friar replies “Not body’s death, but body’s banishment.” Romeo replies melodramatically “Exile hath more terror in his look, much more than death: do not say ‘banishment’.” This is immature and insular of Romeo; he should be glad that he does not have to die. Friar Lawrence tries to make him realise this and that there is more to see in the world than Verona “Hence from Verona art thou banishèd. Be patient, for the world is broad and wide.” Romeo continues with his narrow-minded thoughts and replies “There is no world without Verona walls, but purgatory, torture, hell itself:” Yet again the Friar tries to reason with Romeo that the situation really isn’t that bad “This is dear mercy, and thou seest it not.” As Romeo is still only a youth he doesn’t see the bigger picture, he’s only interested in what he wants in the short term. The Friar was trying to make Romeo realise that in the long term it is possible for him and Juliet to be united.
Romeo continues his tirade in a long speech complaining that even the lowliest animals may see Juliet and he may not. He is being selfish and is showing his immaturity, jealousy of animals and insecurity. Romeo threatens suicide “Hadst thou no poison mixed, no sharp-ground knife, no sudden mean of death” this is actually a cruel prophecy of his and Juliet’s fate. At the end of the play Romeo takes poison and Juliet stabs herself with a knife. This is one of the places where Romeo is manipulating the Friar. The Friar knows he has to do something to persuade Romeo against suicide. The Friar says he will give him advice “I’ll give thee armour to keep off that word- adversity’s sweet milk, philosophy, to comfort thee thou art banishèd.” The “armour” is advice; the Friar wants Romeo to see the positive points about exile. The Friar realises that Romeo won’t listen to his advice “O, then I see that madmen have no ears.” Instead the Friar tries to calm Romeo but Romeo replies “An hour but married, Tybalt murderèd.” Romeo is not self-composed, as within an hour he has become a husband and a murderer. The Friar has some understanding but as he hasn’t been in Romeo’s situation he cannot fully comprehend his feelings.
Juliet’s nurse enters and asks after Romeo and informs that Juliet is weeping constantly. Again Romeo hastily offers to kill himself but the Nurse prevents him. Friar Lawrence believes Romeo is trying to take an easy escape by killing himself. The Friar begins a tactical speech to bring Romeo to his senses. His opening tactic is to mock Romeo “Art thou a man” “Thy tears are womanish” Then degrades him “The unreasonable fury of a beast.” The Friar attempts to make Romeo feel guilty: He states that Romeo is wasting good attributes “Thou sham’st thy shape, thy love, thy wit, which like a usurer abound’st in all, and usest none in that true use indeed.” The Friar says that Romeo looks like a man but doesn’t act like one “Thy noble shape is but a form of wax”. Friar Lawrence utilises his knowledge of Romeo saying that Romeo is betraying Juliet, hoping that Romeo will finally listen. So far the Friar has used negative words in this speech in an attempt to make Romeo realise his weaknesses and to correct them. The negative words include: hate, usurer, slay, sham’st, skilless.
Suddenly the Friar changes tack and becomes positive about Romeo. He begins by stating three reasons why Romeo should be happy. The first being “Thy Juliet is alive, for whose dear sake thou wast but lately dead: there art thou happy.” The Friar is saying that Romeo should be happy, as Juliet is alive. The second is that Romeo should be happy as he is alive “Tybalt would kill thee, but thou slewest Tybalt: there art thou happy. The third reason is that Romeo is going to be exiled not executed “The law that threatened death becomes thy friend and turns it to exile: there art thou happy.” William Shakespeare used repetition of the phrase “there art thou happy” this was possibly to emphasise two things: I) that the Friar is being positive II) that Romeo should be happy/positive. The Friar shouts at Romeo for complaining about his fortune and love and says that those that do this die miserably.
Friar Lawrence then suggests his plan to Romeo. Romeo should spend the night with Juliet to prevent their marriage being annulled. Then early the next morning Romeo must leave for Mantua. Romeo must wait in Mantua until a time suits when he can return, “To blaze your marriage, reconcile your friends, beg pardon of the prince”. Romeo leaves the Friar’s cell and goes to Juliet. This is the first time that Romeo has followed the advice of the Friar. It took much of the Friar’s wise ability to persuade Romeo.
In this scene positive points for the Friar include: I) Romeo came to Friar Lawrence for consolation and council- proving that Romeo has immense trust in Friar Lawrence. II) The Friar manages to make Romeo see sense. III) Friar Lawrence gives Romeo excellent advice and manages eventually to make Romeo listen to it. IV) He shows sympathy to Romeo. On a negative note Friar Lawrence cannot show empathy to Romeo, as he hasn’t experienced Romeo’s situation. He can only be sympathetic.
Friar Lawrence next appears in Act 4 Scene 1. County Paris, an honourable man, has come to him to discuss his marriage to Juliet, instigated by Juliet’s parents. Juliet doesn’t want to marry Paris, but her parents say she must. As Friar Lawrence was a first hand witness of Romeo and Juliet’s marriage he tries to dissuade Paris. He questions Paris about his knowledge of Juliet’s feelings on the subject of marriage and attempts to persuade Paris to delay the wedding “You say you do not know the lady’s mind? Uneven is the course; I like it not.” The Friar is deceiving Paris that it is fine for him to marry Juliet. If the Friar Lawrence allows Paris and Juliet to marry, knowing that Juliet is already married, he is committing a crime.
At this point in the play you could argue that Friar Lawrence should be honest with Paris. Alternatively you could disagree and say that it is not the Friar’s fault he is in this position.
Juliet appears, intending to seek advice from the Friar. Paris addresses Juliet “my lady and my wife!” presuming that he will marry her. Juliet reacts neither politely nor rudely. The Friar who says he needs to speak to Juliet alone interrupts the conversation. Paris leaves. Juliet says how she is feeling “past hope, past cure, past help”. The Friar says he is sympathetic but nothing can be done to delay the marriage, she must marry Paris and not upset her parents. Juliet appears very distressed and threatens suicide “And with this knife I’ll help it presently”. She manipulates the Friar by saying “I long to die, If what thou speakst speak not of remedy.” This means if the Friar can’t help Juliet then she’ll kill herself. Immediately the Friar summons up a plan to prevent Juliet from committing suicide.
An argument against the Friar may say that if Juliet hadn’t threatened suicide then he wouldn’t have thought of a plan. The plan was a spontaneous thought and the Friar didn’t think of the possibility of things going wrong. Another person could dispute that the Friar did the right thing as he prevented Juliet from committing suicide.
The plan was that Juliet would take a herbal potion, created by the Friar, which would create the appearance of death in Juliet; actually she would be in a deep sleep (a coma). The Friar would send a letter to Romeo to tell him of the plan and to ask him to come and join Juliet. She would be found and presumed dead. She would then be taken to the family tomb where she would awaken and be reunited with Romeo.
Juliet reacts “O bid me leap, rather than marry Paris, from off the battlements of any tower, or walk in thievish ways, or bid me lurk where serpents are; chain me with roaring bears,” The foul images convey that Juliet would rather go to hell than marry Paris. Juliet continues her outburst of the tasks she would rather undertake, than marry Paris, within which is a prediction of the plot. “Or hide me nightly in a charnel house, o’ercovered quite with dead men’s rattling bones,” “Or bid me go into a new-made grave, and lay me with a dead man in his shroud.” Juliet does wake up in the tomb of her family “charnel house” with dead bodies surrounding her. She gets placed in a new-made grave adjacent to the body of Tybalt. Perhaps Friar Lawrence’s idea for placing Juliet in the tomb derived from her outburst. This is called a self-fulfilled prediction.
Friar Lawrence gives Juliet advice on how to carry out the plan. He assures her that he will contact Romeo and make sure that they are both present for her awakening. Finally he checks whether she is being serious “If no inconstant toy nor womanish fear abate thy valour in the acting it.” Juliet reassures him that she wants to go ahead with the plan. Friar Lawrence gives her a vial containing the potion. He does not anticipate that the plan may go wrong or that there would be consequences. What would Romeo and Juliet do after they were reunited?
Further arguments for and against what the Friar did in this scene could include: argument for- the Friar’s plan may reunite Romeo and Juliet and let them spend their lives together. Arguments against- the plan was too rash, if there was a delay in the funeral Juliet would have woken up where she was and Romeo may find out about Juliet’s “death” before he received the Friar’s letter- this is what actually happens.
Friar Lawrence’s plan goes ahead and he next appears in Act 4 Scene 5 when Juliet’s “dead” body is discovered. It was already arranged that the Friar would come to the Capulet’s house before attending the wedding. Upon arrival he asked “Is the bride ready to go to church?” He pretends not to know the answer. Everyone was distressed but the Friar was insincere. If he were honest he would have explained the truth about Juliet. Keeping true to his vocation and his loyalty to Romeo and Juliet the Friar arranges the funeral. Contrary to this the Friar wasn’t loyal to the Capulets and Paris; if he were then he would have informed them of the truth.
Meanwhile Balthasar, Romeo’s former servant, hearing of Juliet’s “death” immediately went to Mantua to find Romeo. Mantua was in isolation due to disease, no one was allowed in or out of the city but Balthasar found access. He informed Romeo of the “death”. Romeo hadn’t received Friar Lawrence’s letter so did not know that Juliet wasn’t really dead. Immediately Romeo returned to Verona.
The Friar’s next appearance is in Act 5 Scene 2. Friar John had been entrusted to bare Friar Lawrence’s letter to Romeo, returns to tell him that he has failed his task. Having arrived in Mantua Friar John had discovered the city was being isolated and turned back, he didn’t know how vital it was that Romeo received the letter.
Friar Lawrence told his fellow Friar how important the letter was and how urgently it should have been delivered “The letter was not nice, but full of charge, of dear import; and the neglecting it may do much danger. Friar John, go hence, get me an iron crow and bring it straight unto my cell.” Friar Lawrence should have told Friar John how urgent it was that Romeo received the letter the first time he sent him. It is too late to tell him after. Friar Lawrence should have foreseen that Romeo might not receive the letter. It was imperative that Friar Lawrence ensured Romeo knew about the plan. Friar Lawrence writes to Mantua again. Instead of wasting time writing again he should have hastened straight to Juliet’s tomb. He ought to have realised that Romeo might hear of Juliet’s death. If he had gone straight to the tomb at this point he could have prevented what occurs next.
During this time Romeo had arrived at the tomb of the Capulets and found Paris in attendance. Paris, thinking Romeo had come to desecrate Juliet’s grave, attacks Romeo. Romeo kills Paris and continues to find Juliet’s “dead” body, he spends some time looking at her and talking to her before taking poison.
In Act 5 Scene 3 Friar Lawrence has arrived at the Capulet’s tomb. He talks to Balthasar who tells him that Romeo is in the tomb. The Friar says, “I fear some ill unthrifty thing” already he understands he is probably too late to prevent anything ill happening. In the tomb he finds Romeo and Paris’ dead bodies and then finds Juliet waking. Juliet is confused and asks for Romeo, Friar Lawrence tells her that events that he felt he could do nothing about had prevented his plan from succeeding “A greater power than we can contradict hath thwarted out intentions.” He then continues to inform her of the deaths of Romeo and Paris. The Friar then leaves Juliet, she kisses Romeo “ I will kiss thy lips: haply some poison yet doth hang on them.” There is no poison left on Romeo’s lips. She stabs herself with Romeo’s dagger and dies.
Juliet is found dead and Friar Lawrence explains to the two families what occurred. Friar Lawrence blames the entire episode on himself. Prince Escalus claims some of the blame, saying that he should have been firmer and ended the feud. He also blames the Montagues and Capulets, as they should not have been feuding.
In this scene Friar Lawrence’s faults were: I) He needed to be at the tomb earlier to prevent the outcome II) should have foreseen what would happen and prevented it III) at the end he ought not have left Juliet alone, he just gave up. It must have been obvious to him that Juliet would do something stupid. He could have saved her life.
In conclusion Friar Lawrence cannot be blamed entirely for the downfall of Romeo and Juliet. His contribution causes adverse events to occur, as I’ve highlighted in this analysis. In my opinion he should have: delayed the marriage between Romeo and Juliet, it was too soon, and he didn’t consider the consequences first, been honest with the families and Paris, and not gone ahead with the plan. Juliet could have run away to be with Romeo. If the plan did go ahead he was obliged to ensure the letter was received by Romeo and been with Juliet when she awoke. If at least some of these points were taken I’m sure that the outcome would have been more positive.
Personally I do not think that Juliet’s nurse was to blame. Others may argue that she should have prevented Juliet from marrying Romeo. I do not think Juliet would have listened to her nurse, as she is naive. I believe the two families are partly to blame, the Capulets more so. They should never have started feuding. Lord and Lady Capulet should not have instigated Juliet’s marriage with Paris without consulting Juliet first. After Juliet said no to the marriage they should have listened. Prince Escalus also shames blame, as he should have done more to halt the feud.
Most of all Romeo and Juliet are to blame. They let their immaturity and impetuosity control them. With maturity they would probably have realised that a relationship together would require the family feuds to end, they would have thought through their decisions. If Romeo had not relied on Friar Lawrence then he would have been more aware of his parents’ views so would not have attempted a relationship with a Capulet. Likewise Juliet confides with her Nurse rather than her family. It was essential for Romeo and Juliet to act responsibly to prevent the tragedy from occurring. William Shakespeare creates this tragedy by interweaving the plot with the mistakes of individuals and their failure to be honest.
