Who Is Friar Lawrence To Blame

Romeo and Juliet is a popular but tragic love story written by poet and playwright William Shakespeare. There are many different versions of the tale; some are modernized plays and movies, or renditions of the same midieval play. In the name of love and with the help of Friar Lawrence, Romeo Montague and Juliet Capulet- two households that have a deeprunning hatred for one another-marry one another but later take their lives. Due to the many different roles in Romeo and Juliet, it can be hard to determine who exactly is to blame. But, if one looks deeper into the text and the underlying truths of this classic story, the answer becomes evidents. Friar Lawrence is truly to blame for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet due to his role in not only their marriage and honeymoon, but their plan to evade the truth and run away together. After Romeo and Juliet meet for the first time they are soon convinced that their love is true. Romeo seeks help from his old friend, the priest Friar Lawrence. Lawrence begrudgingly agrees to help the two in marrying-in secret of course- because he believes that the young couple’s love may pull the Capulet’s and the Montague’s out of their long-running feud. This action alone goes to show that despite his god intentions, Friar Lawrence is not only a bad role model and mentor for the two teenagers, he is irresponsible. …show more content…
Were it not for the friar’s irresponsible hopes, the pair would have never beem married in the first place, preventing the whole ordeal. Even after this, the deaths could have been prevented if the friar were just a little more mature, or ready to realize his mistakes. Instead, he continues to hold on to his childish ways. Overall, if Friar Lawrence would have grown up some, or at least recognized his mistake in marrying two teenagers of rival familes, Romeo and Juliet’s deaths would never have taken