Romeo & Juliet: Friar Lawrence
...about tragedy. It is
about two lovers who commit suicide when their feuding famillies prevent them
from being together. The play has many characters, each with its own role in
keeping the plot line. Some characters have very little to do with the plot but
some have the plot revolving around them. Friar Lawrence does not have very
much time on stage but the time he does have is crucial to the plot line.
Through his words Friar Lawrence demonstrates the he is a good intentioned, yet
sometimes short-sighted, man who is not afraid to take risks to help others
One of Friar Lawrences 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 thy
assistant be; for this alliance may so happy prove, to turn your households
rancour to pure love."(Act 2, Scene 3), he is saying that the only reason he
will marry Romeo and Juliet is because he hopes that the marriage will end the
hostilities between the two houses. When he says "Shall Romeo by my letters
know our drift, and hither shall he come; and he and I shall watch thy waking,
and that very night shall Romeo bear thee to Mantua." (Act 4, Scene 1), he tells
Juliet how everything will be all right. Unfortunately, for all his good
intentions the play still ends in tragedy.
Friar Lawrence is a man who is not afraid to take risks when he feels it is
neccesary to help someone. For example in Act 2, Scene 6, when he marries Romeo
and Juliet, he is risking his reputation as a Friar so he can help the two
lovers. Also, when he says "Take thou this vial, being then in bed, and this
distilled liquor drink though off;" (Act 4, Scene 1), he is suggesting that
Juliet drink a potion so that she might feighn her own death and avoid marrying
Paris. This is an extremely risky thing...
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