Friar Lawrence Role In Romeo And Juliet

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In William Shakespeare’s play, Romeo and Juliet, Friar Lawrence’s efforts to try and help Romeo and Juliet through their situations reveal his good intentions, but his intervention ultimately leads to the demise of the couple. Although attempting to help Romeo and Juliet, Friar Lawrence’s actions of support, his miscommunication in sending someone to Romeo and giving Juliet the vial, are the true assassins of the star-crossed lovers. Friar Lawrence’s willingness to help Romeo propel him down a wayward path, and eventually kill him. Friar Lawrence is so willing to help Romeo that he ends up doing more harm than good. Friar Lawrence volunteers to Romeo to send a servant to Romeo in Mantua after his banishment. However, to Juliet, he contradicts …show more content…
Friar Lawrence’s seemingly helpful actions appear to be assisting Juliet but in the end, destroy any chances at a happy life for her. Friar Lawrence’s well-intentioned efforts to help Juliet are again revealed, “If, rather than marry County Paris / Thou hast the strength to slay thyself / … I’ll give thee thy remedy” (4.1.21-74). The friar’s desperate attempt to help Juliet is again exemplified. Friar Lawrence’s alternative solution of having Juliet appear dead to miss her wedding with Paris appears sound at first, “No warmth, no breath... / The roses in thy lips and cheeks shall fade / Shall, stiff and..cold, appear like death” (4.1.99-103). Juliet’s state causes her to appear dead to Romeo who kills himself, not wanting to live without his wife. Juliet kills herself as an effect of his suicide, “This is thy sheath, there rust, and let me die” (5.3.170). She impales herself with Romeo’s dagger as she is so devastated by his death. In short, Friar Lawrence’s good intentions actually kill Romeo and Juliet because of his miscommunication in sending someone to Romeo in Mantua and giving the vial to