Who Is Friar Lawrence To Blame

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When tragedy strikes, something or someone is blamed because society feels the need to place responsibility in order to find closure. In William Shakespeare’s play, Romeo and Juliet, the character of Friar Lawrence is a major role. This is because Friar Lawrence is a confidant to Romeo and Juliet throughout the play, offering them both guidance and support. Friar Lawrence’s recklessness, poor judgement, and inability to plan ahead leads to their demise. Not only is Friar Lawrence a friend to Romeo and Juliet, but “[t]he blame for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet ultimately rests with Friar Lawrence.”

Friar Lawrence's decision to marry Romeo and Juliet is the first of his many mistakes. Friar Lawrence is very aware that it is too sudden and even says “Young men’s love often lies/ Not truly in their hearts, but in their eyes.” (Shakespeare 2.3.71-72). Despite that fact, Friar Lawrence still marries Romeo and Juliet “For, by your leaves, you shall not stay alone/Till holy church incorporate
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By the time Friar John returns to Verona and tells Friar Lawrence it is just a few hours before Juliet is to awaken. Earlier that morning Romeo had already been visited by his servant (man?), Balthasar and told that Juliet has died. That day, Romeo goes to a apothecary and bribes the man to give him poison before he returns to Verona that night and finds Juliet in the Capulets tomb. He sees her laying there, unaware that she's not truly dead and kisses Juliet before he drinks the poison, killing himself. Soon after, Friar Lawrence arrives at the tomb, and Juliet wakes up and finds Romeo dead beside her. Friar Lawrence exits the Tomb, knowing the poor state Juliet is in, and leaves Juliet to stab herself with Romeo's dagger. If Friar Lawrence would have fulfilled his plan and ensured Romeo got the letter, Romeo never would have thought Juliet was dead, which leads to them both ending their