Romeo and Juliet Coursework on Friar Lawrence

Romeo and Juliet Coursework Friar Lawrence Romeo and Juliet, by William Shakespeare, was first performed in 1594 or 1595. Theatres in those days were round wooden buildings. They had no roof and also no lighting. This was why plays were only performed during daylight. The stage itself came out from one side. Over the top of the stage was a roof called the canopy which was painted underneath with stars, suns and moons. There was almost no scenery, so different parts of the stage stood for different places. There was a balcony, which was used for the famous scene in Romeo and Juliet, could also be used for an upper room, mountain top or castle battlements. As there wasn't much scenery, one of the characters, possibly the chorus, would tell the audience where the scene was set or one of the cast would walk across the stage holding a sign. The actors mainly wore their everyday clothes when acting but may also have worn a distinctive piece of clothing such as a crown. Women were not allowed to act so their parts were played by boys of 13 - 14. It was very hard for them to act some of the deep feelings of some of the women characters. Depending on how rich you were, there were different places that you would sit in the audience. The most expensive place to sit was on the edge of the stage. This is where dukes and duchesses would sit. The next most expensive place was in the

  • Word count: 1571
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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Romeo and Juliet - The role of Friar Lawrence.

Romeo and Juliet - The role of Friar Lawrence. In this essay I am going to explain how Friar Lawrence is responsible for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet. In Act 2 Scene 3 we first meet Friar Lawrence, there are lots of opposing contrasts used to describe him in this scene, 'The grey eyed morn smiles on the frowning night' and other description words like 'now ere the sun advances on his burning eyes'. Friar Lawrence is gathering flowers and herbs. He reflects that, like people, the flowers and herbs contain both healing medicine and poison, both good and evil. Romeo finds consolidation in Friar Lawrence when he is faced with the dilemma of his love for Juliet. Friar Lawrence is happy to see Romeo when he visits his cell in Act 2 Scene 3. Friar Lawrence often calls Romeo son or pupil. This is a reflection of how he sees his relationship with Romeo. He wants the best possible life for Romeo, his former pupil and dear friend. Friar Lawrence has a very strong relationship with Romeo, and often finds himself guiding and helping him through many situations, such as Romeos obsession with Rosaline and now his proposed marriage to Juliet. Whilst on his visit to Friar Lawrence's cell Romeo also informs the Friar that his love for Rosaline has now passed and been over thrown with his love for Juliet, the daughter of the Capulet family, his own family's rivals. Romeo has

  • Word count: 770
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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Romeo and Juliet - Friar Lawrence is the man who provided help for Romeo and Juliet.

Romeo and Juliet coursework Friar Lawrence is the man who provided help for Romeo and Juliet. He married them in secret, he comforted them after Romeo killed Tybalt and of course, he came up with the idea of faking Juliet's death to re-unite them. "At the end of the play, Friar Lawrence is a broken man, he has failed all those he set out to help." With reference to Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, I will be looking at Friar Lawrence's character, actions and his motives for helping Romeo and Juliet. What would have happened without his intervention? What other factors must be considered? I will be discussing whether or not he is responsible for their deaths, and who else could be more to blame. I will examine and comment on his 'failure' to help Romeo and Juliet. The soliloquy that Friar Lawrence opens act 2 sc. 3 with has speech that foreshadows what is to happen in the rest of the play. He uses the contrast of good and evil and that they are in everything, "smiles" and "frowning", "darkness" and "light" (act 2 sc. 3). "In man as well as herbs, grace and rude will; And where the worser is predominant, Full soon the canker death eats up the plant." (Act 2 sc. 3) This symbolises the later plot by suggesting that when the evil that is in everything is stronger than the good, there will be death and tragedy. The opening paragraph tells us that Friar Lawrence is an important

  • Word count: 2616
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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Is Friar Lawrence to blame for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet

Is Friar Lawrence to blame for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet? In Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, the two main characters both commit suicide, Romeo takes poison and Juliet stabs herself. Although they both took their own lives many other characters deserve some blame for the death of Romeo and Juliet such as, Tybalt, Lord Capulet and Paris. Shakespeare describes the couple as star crossed lovers, meaning that they were meant to be together so even fate plays some part in their deaths, but the character who plays the biggest part in Romeo and Juliet's deaths is Friar Lawrence. Friar Lawrence enters the play in Act 2 Scene 3 Romeo arrives at the Friars cell pleading for Friar Lawrence to marry him and Juliet despite having only just met Juliet Friar Lawrence is reluctant to marry the couple but agrees in the hope that it will stop the fighting between the Capulets and the Montagues "For this alliance may so happy prove, to turn your households rancour to pure love," Friar Lawrence warns Romeo to be careful or else more hate could come from the marriage "Wisely and slow, they stumble that run fast." Although Friar Lawrence has his doubts the marriage takes place in Act 2 Scene 6. Before vows are exchanged the Friar warns Romeo to slow things down and compares their love to the sweetest honey, "The sweetest honey is loathsome in his own deliciousness,

  • Word count: 870
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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Friar Lawrence is an important character in Shakespeare's play, Romeo and Juliet.

Friar Lawrence is an important character in Shakespeare's play, Romeo and Juliet. He is one of the most important central characters in Shakespeare's play. In fact, he adds flavour to the play. He is a person who can see wisdom and draw morals from his observations of nature and the society around him. Apart from this, Shakespeare presents him as a herb collector. We learn of this in Act 2 Scene 3 where we first meet him. Friar Lawrence does not have very much time on stage but the time he does have is crucial to the plot. Besides being philosophical, he can also perceive many aspects of human nature. He is able to see that "young men's love lie not in their hearts, but in their eyes." on witnessing how quickly Romeo forgot his love for Rosaline upon meeting Juliet. This great command of knowledge has led him to become deeply respected by all the citizens of Verona. His speeches have weight and authority and the ''whole city is much bound to him." As a priest, he has the 'wit of souls', i.e. he is responsible for both spiritual and mental welfare of human beings. One of Friar Lawrence's most favourable traits is how good intentioned he is. He may do something out of the ordinary if he thinks the outcome will help someone he cares for. For example, when he says "in one respect, I'll be thy assistant be; for this alliance may so happy prove, to turn your households

  • Word count: 1497
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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what was the role and importance of friar lawrence in romeo and juliet?

William Shakespeare, a terrific and an outstanding author who has written over hundreds of magnificent sonnets, plays and poems. From the selection of plays written by a Shakespeare a unique, dramatic and spectacular play is, "Romeo and Juliet". "Romeo and Juliet" a well written novel which is built on the foundation of love, hatred and revenge. Shakespeare has used many techniques to grab the audience's attention like suspense, dramatic irony and stage craft. Stage craft is the skill that goes into writing a play so that it's fantastic when performed by actors on stage. Involved in this astonishing play is "Friar Lawrence"; at this moment you would be wondering what is a Friar? Well a Friar is a Franciscan Monk, a man who is a member of certain Roman Catholic religious orders, who vowed to live a life of poverty. After explaining what is a Friar, a question is left unanswered, "What was the role and importance of Friar Lawrence in Romeo and Juliet?" First of all, the time when we first meet Friar Lawrence we can identify his personality, when it says, "We sucking on her natural bosom find, Many for many virtues excellent, None but for some and yet all different. O, mickle is the powerful grace that lies In herbs, plants, stones and their true qualities." From his speech we learn that the Friar wonders how brilliant nature is as different plants have different unique

  • Word count: 1697
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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Analyse the dramatic impact of Friar Lawrence in the play Romeo and Juliet

Analyse the dramatic impact of Friar Lawrence in the play Romeo and Juliet The play "Romeo and Juliet" has many characters, each with their individual role in sustaining the plot. Although Friar Lawrence spends only a little time on stage, his role is fundamental to understanding the morals of the play. This essay explores the significance and dramatic impact of Friar Lawrence on the play and his influence on other characters. The essence of young love is expressed in no better play than in "Romeo and Juliet". The play is not a simple love story; it is as much about hate as it is about love and the morals of society. The play is set in Verona where Romeo and Juliet fall instantly in love at a masked ball; however the secrecy of the forbidden love becomes overwhelming and ends up with the eventual deaths of Romeo and Juliet. Shakespeare also uses themes such as fate, because in this era common people believed strongly in religion and mysticism. This invites the question; "was the death of Romeo and Juliet due to fate or the influence of other characters, such as Friar Lawrence? Different aspects of Friar Lawrence's character are exposed through the relationship he has with that particular person. To all of Verona he is a priest and spiritual adviser; to Romeo he is a teacher as well as a father figure; "Thou chid'st me oft for loving Rosaline." "For doting, not

  • Word count: 908
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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Discussing whether Friar Lawrence is responsible for the tragedy of Romeo and Juliet.

Romeo and Juliet In this essay I will be discussing whether Friar Lawrence is responsible for the tragedy of Romeo and Juliet. In act 5 he states to the Prince that he feels his guilt is the "greatest". I believe that he is partly responsible for what happens at the end of the play, as he was the one who married Romeo and Juliet. He also gave Juliet the plan to take the sleeping potion and fake her death. He was also responsible for delivering the letter to Romeo, that Romeo never received. However, there are other characters that can also be held responsible and in this essay I will be discussing Romeo and Juliet, Lord and Lady Capulet and how Fate all play a part in this tragedy. Friar Lawrence has a lot of involvement in the tragedy of Romeo and Juliet because even though he thinks that their love emerges too suddenly to be true love, he still agrees to marry them: "In on 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) Firstly Friar Lawrence is telling Romeo that he thinks that they are acting too promptly but he will marry them to stop the fighting between the two rival families and turn the fighting into love: "Wisely and slow, they stumble that run fast." (Act 2 scene 3) However, Friar Lawrence then warns Romeo that after he marries Juliet that they should not make any hasty

  • Word count: 1994
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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How Responsible Was Friar Lawrence For The Deaths Of Romeo And Juliet

How Responsible Was Friar Lawrence For The Deaths Of Romeo And Juliet? Romeo and Juliet a tragedy-play by William Shakespeare, tells the sad and heart-rendering tale of two lovers - mainly Romeo and Juliet, which there families are engaged in a perpetual and ever wondering feud - that makes it impossible for Romeo and Juliet to be peaceably united. However, in deepest of love they nevertheless marry. The consequences that are destined to follow lead to a violent and bloody outcome, for which circumstances, more than the action of one character-would seem to be responsible. However, circumstances do not exactly happen by chance; as often as not they require human intervention- and exactly 'that' within the case in this story. Although none of the characters of the two camps of the Montagues and Capulets are by any means blameless, the single character whose marked intervention steers the plot, that invariably becomes tragedy, is the priest, friar Laurence. So exactly how responsible is he, for the eventual death of Romeo and Juliet? The friear Laurence, from the onset, is set to briefed Romeo and Juliet in their endeavours for wedded bliss, despite the mountain of dangers waiting. Those in danger being to emerge when Romeo in respite for the killing of Mercutio slays Tybalt. As punishment, Romeo is banished to Mantua whereupon the friear devises a plan to reunite the

  • Word count: 1146
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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What is the importance of Friar Lawrence in this novel? -- Romeo and Juliet

"What is the importance of Friar Lawrence in this novel?" 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. Friar Laurance marries Romeo and Juliet even though he believes that the marriage will end up in tragedy. However he marries them in hope that it will end the continuous feuding between the two families. When Romeo asks Friar Laurance to marry him with Juliet the Friar doesn't think that his love is true. "O, she knew well/Thy love did read by rote and could not spell." (Act 2, Scene 3, 87-88). As was his love for Rosaline, the Friar believes that his love for Juliet will not last. Even though he thinks that the marriage is flawed he agrees to marry them in his own self interest of ending the feuding. "Come, come with me, and we will make/short work;/For, by you leaves, you shall not stay alone/Till Holy Church incorporate two in one." (Act 2, scene 6, 34-27). This is

  • Word count: 1056
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Linguistics, Classics and related subjects
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