Friar Lawrence To Blame In Romeo And Juliet

The magnificent play written by Shakespeare called Romeo and Juliet sends a wave of emotions throughout the entire play. It begins with the hope and prosperity of the two “star-crossed lovers’ of overcoming their fate of potentially dying to the despair and sorrow of tragic death. But what is debated among many is the question of why had it ended in such a way. It is argued in this speech that the counsellor, Friar Lawrence, takes full responsibility of the deaths of Romeo and Juliet. Presented as a holy man, he was trusted by them to be the most responsible. Ever since the beginning, Lawrence has a huge impact on both of their lives as he was present in both Romeo and Juliet’s entire life. He planned their secret marriage, came up with plans …show more content…
Even after the death of Mercutio and the banishment of Romeo to Mantua, he discovers ways to secure their relationship. However, his plans weren’t well thought out, risky and narrow minded. In the scene including Juliet’s desperation for a way out of her arranged marriage to County Paris threatening suicide, in haste he devised a plan without giving her better advice. “Unless thou tell me how I may prevent it. / If, in thy wisdom thou canst give no help, / Do but call my resolution wise, / And with this knife I'll help it presently" (4.1.51-54). His plan including the delivering of a letter to Romeo, unfortunately, revealed by Friar John, it hadn’t arrived: " I could not send it, here it is again" (5.2.14-15). With Friar Lawrence’s poor way of describing the letter as urgent, Friar John was unable to deliver it quickly. If Lawrence was to stick to his true words with Romeo, Balthasar could have delivered the message successfully. "Sojourn in Mantua; I'll find out your man, / Every good hap to you that chances have" (3.3.168-170). The character Friar Lawrence along with his hasty and short sighted plans had effected the ones he tried to help with doom.

It was better off in the play if both Romeo and Juliet hadn’t known Friar Lawrence at all. His childish, cowardice actions and desperate attempts have resulted in the suicidal deaths of these two characters. At the end of the play, he does admit of the responsibility of such tragic deaths himself, "Miscarried by my fault, let my old life / Be sacrific'd, some hour before this time, / Unto the rigour of severest law" (5.3.266- 268). It is odd for a person with such wisdom couldn’t be applied to his own actions. "Virtue itself turns vice, being misapplied"

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