However, the Friar plans go further; logic dictates he must also prevent Juliet, meanwhile from the prearranged marriage to Paris. In turn, using his knowledge herblist skills he concocts a potion- a drug that will induce sleep – for Juliet to take to fake death, so allowing Romeo time to return and escape with her after she pronounced dead.
But the Friar plans are set to go tragically wrong: In the processes Romeo slays Paris quite unaware of the Friar scheme he then discovers the dead Juliet where upon he takes his own life be consuming poison to join her and when Juliet at last awakens upon finding Romeo dead, she takes her own life by plunging Romeos dagger, Such a tragic twist circumstances the Friar could never have foreseen. He had intended only good and had viewed his herbs as a valuable means of delivering that ‘good’. From the start he had moralised about it’s application for the good of men: ‘two such apposed kings encamp and them still, in man as well as well as herbs: grace and rude well’
Undoubtedly well meaning in every way so the friear is now left devastated, his optimism in hoping the marriage of Romeo and Juliet the two families together were for no avail. A serious of unlucky accidents has not only frustrated his plans but also seen them end in tragedy. But ironically, that tragedy chose to be the means in bringing about the two families, who are left soon grief stricken and ashamed of their hate that brought it about.
Amongst all feuding fraction, Friar Lawrence as priest was the single do-gooder who wished only well to all. As a holy man with a reputation to uphold, he was trusted, kind and well respected. His influence on events was therefore a curious one for despite his expression of good will he was power less of the face of the intense hate that the raged between the Montagues and the Capuletes; he could not uniquely use any influence to bring about a peaceful understanding between them – no one could do that – so plying a positive rule required him to accept the unhelpfulness of it all and operate alongside it. His well – meaning involvement was thereby from the start, fraught with risk. But his instance bid to force good out of bad, seemed justification enough to persist. It is an irony of the whole story, that as a priest with on his side, that he was none – the – less reduced to a mare mortal, when his plans ultimately turn inwards and tragedy befalls.
Friear Lawrence‘s first involvement with Romeo and Juliet is to marry them – which are carried out in secret. His introduction into the play is in act 2 scene 3 where he delivers a long speech in concentrated rhyme. He tells us: “ the earth is natures mother and her tomb and we are sucking on her natural bossm’. He adds to this: ”poison health residence and medicine power’…and for this being small chess each part….’ We can read into this, that he is telling us that the love of Romeo and Juliet can spring from the hatred of their families and their deaths will end the feud. This ironically proves to be correct.
The friear’s influence on events is herby apparent. His determination to do well however sees that influence grow as hi doomed plans begin to unfold. It would be easy to dismiss his involvement as dangerous and foolish meddling. But on the other hand, that role has to bee seen and judged in context to the passion, hate and disorder that was so intensely prevalent (raging all round) as an ‘accomplice to be the disorder’ he was invariably struggling against all odds in his bid as a priest, to do good. And those odds were proving too great – even for him, as a priest, to overcome. Somewhere along the line he seemed destined to foil.
The argument itself; the intense unfriendliness that simmered- would thereby appear to be the prime means that triggered events- leading to the tragic outcome. The argument itself could never shed the guilt that cast its dark shadow over events; its stain, in blood, was always to the fore. And it was going to be those who ‘dared defy,’ who’s blood would be first to spill in-as-much, the arguments itself must stand trial as avalanche that gave rise to the disorder; poison; anger; hate, hostility and violence that erupted so senselessly and with such tragic consequence. The strength of hate knows no boundary. In putting wits against such force. Friar Lawrence proved destined to fail. But the deaths of Romeo and Juliet in end brought the Montagues and Capulets to their senses. And the Friar who is revealed at the end as a nervous man who runs away leaving Juliet alone in the tomb – can be none-the-less to have played a vital role in bringing both families to there senses.
Against the background of all this, so the role of friear Lawrence can be more fairly judged. Yes, his plans did backfire, but if fate had moved differently then just maybe we might instead be now applauding him as the hero.
