To what extent do you consider Friar Laurence to be responsible for the tragedy in Romeo and Juliet?

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Grace Landergan

Romeo & Juliet analytical essay

To what extent do you consider Friar Laurence to be responsible for the tragedy in Romeo and Juliet?

I consider Friar Laurence to be quite heavily responsible for the tragedy in Romeo and Juliet, however I do not think that he is solely responsible.  Other foremost causes which are of equal accountability, are the quarrel between the families and fate.  There are numerous other reasons such as other characters, the Nurse, Lord and Lady Capulet, and Romeo and Juliet.  Finally, the period of the play including the male dominant society as well as other roles and stereotypical characters should accept some liability.  In particular the factor-involving fate can be linked to the function that minor characters play and how this correlates with misinterpretations.  

Friar Laurence speaks in blank verse (used to heighten severe emotions) and this demonstrates that he is a well-respected man with prestige.  Although other key characters use blank verse, it is most concentrated here and this helps to set the Friar apart.  This is evident when the Friar speaks in his soliloquy in Act two scene three.  This scene creates a sense of foreboding and has a portentous effect.  Within this soliloquy is a significant amount of symbolism as it accentuates the extreme opposites with references to virtue and vice amongst others.  Further symbolism is evident when the Friar places flowers and weeds in the same basket, which is symbolic of the Montague’s and Capulet’s mixing together.  It is made apparent to the audience that he is a herbalist, when he says “O, mickle is the powerful grace that lies in plants, herbs, stones and their true qualities.”  This means that it is great the medicinal powers there are in plants, herbs, stones and their essences.  This is a suggestion of the friar appreciating the herbs and plants and implies that he is conversant with them.  In this play, the Friar is a respected figure and Romeo, Juliet  and the Nurse visit the Friar to gain his advice.  Since his guidance and consultation is so sought over, this further has the implication that he is a wise person, but it also elevates his character- placing him in a pivotal position.  Several of his speeches contain philosophical content and this further portrays him as a theoretical and reasonable man.  An example of this is in his soliloquy when the Friar has been collecting herbs and he is portrayed as a perceptive and intuitive character as he is aware that there is good and bad in people, similar to the poisonous part of a plant.  

Friar Laurence does not adhere to his duties as a monk. He does not consult either Romeo or Juliet’s parents, which shows disregard for them.  As a Friar he would have been expected to set an example and demonstrate what was moral.  He is depicted as hypocritical and there is irony in what he says as he tells Romeo “Wisely and slowly; they stumble that run fast.”  Those who run, trip and this piece of advice is ironic as it would appear that the Friar has made a rash decision and he is the one swiftly making plans.  In retrospect it can be seen that his hasty plans bring about the stumbling of Romeo and Juliet in the sense they both die.   A man that speaks so blindly unaware of irony exemplifies that he should not have been trusted to make such important plans, because it is these reckless plans that he makes that bring about the demise.   Conversely, this illustrates his acumen and shows that he cares for Romeo’s well being, and this also could be perceived as him having genuine intentions, since he was imparting advice.  With Friar Laurence’s hypocrisy it could be argued that he did not provide a role model for Romeo as his pretence would have been confusing.  Friar Laurence in some respects is illustrated as an inconsistent character as when Romeo initially goes to him to inform him of who he has set his heart on; the rich daughter of Capulet- Juliet. The Friar responds by examining Romeo’s reasons for discarding Rosaline in favour of Juliet, but then decides in haste to marry them.  The irregularity develops when he is very quick to highlight the inconsistencies of Romeo’s behaviour, yet he too acts irregularly.  Furthermore, I think that this suggests he is quite a pompous man, who criticizes others and is ignorant as he fails to notice his own faults, and superciliously uses his wisdom.

In this scene the Friar comes to a decision that he will marry Romeo and Juliet and he justifies his actions “ in one respect I’ll thy assistant be; for this alliance may so prove to turn your households’ rancour to pure love.  “  Here there is evidence of the friar reasoning why he will conduct the marriage, in the hope that it will turn the enmity between the two households into true love.  This, suggests that Friar had true intentions, showing that he is a selfless and a sincere character.  

On the other hand, if the Friar had not agreed to conduct the marriage, then nothing as a consequence would have occurred as the wedding could be perceived as a major factor and catalyst.  When Friar Laurence seeks to justify his reasons for agreeing to the marriage, an alternative interpretation might be that he was trying to ease his conscience.  An implication may be that he is a selfish character who is worrying about self-preservation, which explains his endeavoured reasoning.  If this was the case then this may be a sign of doubt in the Friar’s mind, yet this does not diminish the blame.  His hastiness could be interpreted as foolishness as he has only just scorned Romeo for doting.  When Romeo tells the Friar his feelings for Juliet, his indecisive affections provide ample opportunity for the Friar to make moral points about the fickleness of men, as revealed by saying “…young men’s love, then, lies not truly in their hearts, but in their eyes.”  The Friar is criticising young men here, intimating that young men love with their eyes and in this case it could illustrate an ostentatious character.  The Friar’s impetuous nature is partially to blame as he shows a high level of thoughtlessness and irresponsibility.  This is demonstrated throughout the play with various plans he makes.  Regardless of his prophetic reservation that “these violent delights have violent ends” he does unite the pair through marriage which is why he still must accept some blame.  Additionally, there is no insinuation that the Friar knew that it was true love between Romeo and Juliet, which may suggest that he agreed to marry them for the sake of the Capulet’s and Montague’s reconciliation.  If this was the case, his motivation could be for the personal rewards he anticipated.

In the play, the impression is that his concern for himself and lack of contemplation for others was palpable.  His ostensible absence of deliberation for others is partly to blame, because if he had acted differently then the tragedy may not have occurred.  To blame him could be credible, as since he is a monk who’s obligation is to serve God, this should have compelled him to put others first, however he abandoned his duties.  This can be seen when Juliet wakes up in the burial tombs, to discover that Romeo has killed himself and the Friar feebly attempts to get Juliet to come and retire to a convent“ Come, I’ll dispose of thee, among a sisterhood of holy nuns.”  This appears to be extremely cowardly, as he is still not taking charge of a situation he has caused.  At this point in the play there is the opportunity for the Friar to save Juliet, yet when he hears footsteps, in a panic he takes flight leaving Juliet to herself.  It would be quite difficult to argue that he was not highly accountable for the decease of Juliet.  This scene does not portray him only as selfish, but also that he is a very pusillanimous man who forgets his duties to God to save himself.  He does not offer any comfort when she sees her love dead, he also does not fill her with hope for the future.  Although he later offers his life to the prince ...” let my old life be sacrific’d some hour before his time…” he does not tell the whole truth; even if he had done this it would not have excused the part that he played in the death of Juliet.  Before the marriage the Friar does not show any uncertainty about marrying a Capulet and Montague without their parents’ consent, which may be viewed as a lack of care and consideration for the sanctity of marriage.

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It could be deduced that the Friar had ulterior motives; such as when he suggested the poison to Juliet.  It could be thought that in this scene Friar is a manipulating character, who takes advantage of Juliet’s state of anguish.  She makes it evident that she will do anything to avoid marriage to County Paris and she feels suicidal.  When the friar hears this, it gives him an idea that he could minister a remedy if she is willingly to undergo a dangerous course of action.  At this point in the play, it is questionable whether the Friar is ...

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