Character Analysis Of 'Friar Lawrence In Romeo And Juliet'

Friar Lawrence is a Murderer Teenagers usually have a trusted adult in their lives, a person they go to for guidance and support. In William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, the starring couple is in dire need of help. Friar Lawrence becomes their advisor, but unfortunately he fails. Friar Lawrence’s actions lead to their untimely death. Friar Lawrence’s selfishness, childish actions, and poor decision-making doom Romeo and Juliet. The Friar’s role turned a happy love story into a tragedy and should be held responsible for their deaths. Throughout the play, Romeo and Juliet rely on Friar Lawrence’s advice to help them, but instead he helps himself. The Friar’s selfish thinking affects his judgment, and creates more problems for the young couple. His first selfish act is agreeing to marry Romeo and Juliet. Friar Lawrence knows that Romeo is rushing into marriage and tells him, “Is Rosaline, whom …show more content…
Young men’s love then lies/ Not truly in their hearts, but in their eyes.” (Shakespeare II, iii 66-68). Then, Friar changes his advice after learning Juliet is a Capulet. He no longer cares how marriage could hurt Romeo and Juliet or their families. Instead, the Friar is obsessed with the glory he will receive when the feud resolves, and says, “In one respect I’ll thy assistant be,/ For this alliance may so happy prove/ To turn your households' rancor to pure love.” (Shakespeare II, ii 90-92). This selfish decision creates a domino effect leading up to their deaths. Another selfish decision occurs in act five of Romeo and Juliet. In this act Juliet awakens from her unnatural sleep and is filled with emotions after seeing her husband dead. However, the watch is approaching and there is no time