Romeo And Juliet
...on your life. William Shakespeare’s, Romeo and Juliet is a very famous play about the tragedy of Romeo Montague and Juliet Capulet. When they first meet, it is love at first sight, but they cannot be with each other because of their long lasting family feud. They have no choice but to kill themselves and sacrifice everything to be with one another. Though protagonists are the main focus of the story, secondary characters are just as important. Friar Lawrence is an essential character to the story as seen through his influence on the action, effect on character development, and importance to the theme, “fate is inevitable.”
Friar Lawrence’s involvement in the plot makes him an important cause to the action. Everything begins when he agrees to marry Romeo and Juliet because it will “turn [their] household’s hate to love” (II.ii.99). Friar Lawrence thinks an alliance will end the family’s feud once and for all. In the end of the play after Romeo and Juliet murder themselves, everyone comes together and discovers what has happened. Friar Lawrence takes the blame “to impeach and purge [himself] condemned and [himself] excused” (V.iii.235-236). He realizes that it is his fault for the tragic death of Romeo and Juliet and offers to sacrifice his life for his fault. The action in the play is greatly affected by Friar Lawrence and implies he is essential to the play.
Friar Lawrence’s contribution to the story also reveals different traits of Romeo and Juliet. When Romeo finds out his punishment for killing Tybalt is banishment, not death, he is surprised and thinks it is no big deal. The Friar is upset and tells Romeo, “this is dear mercy, and thou seest not” (III.iii.30). The Friar’s role reveals Romeo is
unthankful to the Prince’s decision to banish him instead of exile him. This crime is punishable under the law, but the Prince was kind enough to banish him....
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