How far is friar Lawrence to blame for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet?

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How far is friar Lawrence to blame for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet?

Friar Lawrence is the local Roman Catholic priest who is also an apothecary. He is the confident of both Romeo and Juliet and plays an important role in the fate of both. He is more than aware of the family’s feuding and seems to be well thought of by everybody.

Romeo respects Friar Lawrence very much and sees him as a father figure. When Romeo feels suicidal when he has just been banished from Verona, the Friar tells him to straighten up.

`This is dear mercy, and thou seest it not. `

When Romeo confesses that he wants to marry Juliet, Friar Lawrence teases Romeo about how fickle in love he is.

`Is Rosaline, that thou didst love so dear, So soon forsaken? `

But in spite of this he still agrees to marry the young couple as he hopes it will end the family’s feuding.

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`For this alliance may so happy prove, To turn your households’ rancour to pure love.`

He only agreed to it because he had their best interests at heart. I don’t think he is to blame for marrying them as he did what he thought was right. And even if Friar Lawrence hadn’t married them, who’s to say that another Friar wouldn’t have married them?

Romeo and Juliet both feel as if they can turn to him when they are in trouble. We see this when Romeo has been banished, because he stabbed Tybalt and Juliet has been told that ...

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