Friar Lawrence Responsible For The Death Of Romeo And Juliet Essay Example

The choice between family and love is complicated but not as complicated as the choice between life and death. Romeo and Juliet is about two teenagers from feuding families that fall in love, they both are very emotional and willing to do anything for each other. Things get complicated when Romeo kills Juliet’s cousin and is banished from their city. The only two adults that know about their relationship are the nurse who is Juliet’s mentor and Friar Laurence who is Romeo’s mentor. When Juliet feels betrayed by the nurse Frair Laurence is left to pick up the pieces of their complicated and deadly marriage. In Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare, Friar Laurence is responsible for Romeo and Juliet’s death because he married the couple, he came up with the plan to reunite them, and he ran away from Juliet in the tomb.

Friar Laurence is most responsible for Romeo and Juliet’s death because he is the one who married the couple even though he knew about the family feud. For example, Romeo explained how in love with Juliet he was even though he recently did the same thing with Rosaline. Friar Laurence expresses his concerns that he is moving too quickly and letting his emotions get the best of him; however, towards the end of their conversation, Friar Laurence becomes more lenient. Friar Laurence says, “In one respect I’ll thy assistant be; For this alliance may so happily prove To turn your household’s rancor to pure love.” (Shakespeare 2.3 90-92). Even after expressing concern that their relationship was moving too fast, he agrees to marry the couple. The main reason he expressed interest in their marriage is he hopes to lower the tension between the two families. He wasn’t focused on Romeo and Juliet’s well-being but rather on ending a feud between their families. Their marriage was the main conflict and everything went downhill after they were married. With the conflict that their marriage caused, Friar Laurence had to make many decisions and plans to overcome it and help guide Juliet.

Another reason Friar Laurence is responsible for Romeo and Juliet’s death is he came up with an elaborate plan to reunite Romeo and Juliet, without thinking through the consequences. Juliet goes to Friar Laurence for advice after hearing about her arranged marriage with Paris. The nurse has lost Juliets’ trust and Friar Laurence is the only other adult that knows about her situation. Friar Laurence comes up with an elaborate plan and as he is explaining it to Juliet he says, “Take thou this vial, being then in bed; And this distilled liquor drink thou off; When presently through all thy veins shall run a cold and drowsy humor;” (Shakespeare 4.1 93-96). Friar Laurence comes up with a plan that includes Juliet drinking a sleeping potion while she waits for Romeo to come and rescue her. The sleeping potion makes a person appear dead for around two days. Because he is the only one who knows she drank the potion it leads other people to think that she was dead. When Romeo heard about the news before Friar Laurence could inform him of the plan he was overcome with emotions. He travels to Verona and kills himself with poison next to Juliet in the tomb. Without the knowledge of the plan, Romeo’s emotions get the best of him and it leaves a heartbreak for Juliet to wake up to.

Furthermore, Friar Laurence is responsible for Romeo and Juliet’s death because he ran away from Juliet in the tomb instead of convincing her to go with him. Once Friar Laurence realizes that Romeo is not going to make it in time to rescue Juliet, he decides to go to the tomb and get Juliet to hide her until Romeo gets to Verona. Once he arrives at the tomb he discovers Romeo and Paris dead inside the tomb with Juliet. After Juliet wakes up and Friar Laurence explains the situation to her he says, “Stay not to question, for the watch is coming, Come, go, good Juliet. I dare no longer stay.” (Shakespeare 5.3 158-159). When Friar Laurence heard the watch coming he left Juliet alone in the tomb even after she woke up and realized her husband was dead. Friar Laurence knew that Juliet was not in a proper emotional state and that she had threatened suicide earlier in the play. He left her alone because he was scared he was going to get in trouble which meant no one was there to stop her from killing herself. Friar Laurence left Juliet alone in the tomb while she was in a fragile state which is one of many reasons he is responsible for Romeo and Juliet’s death.

Friar Laurence is responsible for Romeo and Juliet’s death because he encouraged rash decisions, didn’t think about the consequences of his actions and was selfish. Friar Laurence married the couple even though he knew Romeo was very emotional and did the same thing with Rosaline a couple of days earlier. He also came up with an elaborate plan to reunite the couple after Romeo got banished from Verona. Yet, he failed to notify Romeo which lead him to kill himself. Friar Laurence didn’t take into consideration Juliet or her feelings when he left only the fact that he was scared he would get blamed for the death of Paris and Romeo if he stayed. Romeo saw Friar Laurence as a person he trusted and looked up to, however in the time that Romeo was in a vulnerable position the person he trusted most betrayed him and the love of his life.