Topic Question: To what extent is Friar Lawrence responsible for the deaths of Romeo & Juliet?

William Shakespeare’s 1595 play Romeo & Juliet shows us that the, Friar Lawrence could be held responsible to a significant extent, for the deaths of Romeo & Juliet. However we cannot accuse the Friar of playing the only part in this catastrophe, for many other people and various factors have contributed to the death of the two lovers. Whether it be plain bad luck, that coincidently made Romeo meet Juliet, or perhaps Romeo & Juliet themselves, for their hastiness in marriage. It is the affect of each of these factors, played out in sequence, which has lead to the death of the two ‘star-cross’d’ lovers.

Although it was luck that acted first, making Romeo coincidently meet Juliet, it was also the decisions made by Friar Lawrence, which led to Romeo & Juliet’s death. Being a holy man, the Friar should have never given consent to marry Romeo & Juliet in secret, even if he though ‘this alliance may so happy prove, To turn your households’ rancour to pure love’ If the Friar had never given consent to marry the two lovers, this tragedy might have never occurred. It would be inhumane to risk the life of any human being, and it was certainly inhumane of the Friar to offer Juliet a sleeping potion that made her ‘appear like death’ Further more, after marriage; the Friar should have had the courage to report the marriage to the Capulets and Montagues, after all, how could Romeo & Juliet’s marriage restore peace between the two households, if their marriage was never known? It is these decisions, made by Friar Lawrence that played a part in the lead up to Romeo & Juliets tragedy.       

Romeo & Juliet were termed, by the choir, as ‘star cross’d’ lovers from the beginning of the play. It was due to their bad luck, and a slight factor of Benvolio’s care, that Benvolio persuaded Romeo to attend the Capulet’s ball. There he coincidently met Juliet. However, it does not end there, if Tybalt had not seen Romeo at the ball, he would have not held a grudge to fight Romeo, ‘tis he, that villain Romeo’. Since that is not the case, since Romeo killed Tybalt in the fight, Romeo was ‘banished’ from Verona. However, reluctant as it was, the Friar’s plan to reunite Romeo & Juliet was foiled by bad luck, for Friar John, who was meant to deliver the letter to Romeo, which explained Juliets fake death, was bought to a halt by an ‘infectious pestilence’ Therefore, causing Romeo to think that Juliet was dead, and illegally buy poison, then kill himself at Juliets tomb, causing Juliet (after she had woken up) to commit suicide. Thus, we can see that the Friar is not the only one responsible for the death of the two lovers; for the affects of bad luck, played out in sequence, have also played a part in Romeo & Juliet’s death.

Romeo, at first, had an unrequited love for Rosaline, however Romeo being a young man, loves “not truly in their hearts, but in their eyes” Once he sees Juliet at the Capulet ball, it turns into love at first sight. However, “she hath not seen the change of fourteen years” yet Juliet is as eager to marry Romeo as he is to her, “as mine on hers, so hers is set on mine” We can see that, had Romeo not loved with eyes, he would have never loved Juliet in the first place, further more, had this marriage not been set upon haste, “O let us hence, I stand on sudden haste” Romeo & Juliet would have never married. If Romeo had given their marriage more time, possibly, it would have not ended in this catastrophe. However, Juliet too, acted hastily, for she agreed to marry Romeo, when she should have considered the marriage thoughtfully. Further more, acting hastily, she should have denied Romeo any chance of an affair, as she was already engaged to marry Paris at the time of the ball. Therefore, we can see that, not only the Friar, but Romeo & Juliet’s hastiness also played a part in their death.

            In Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet, the Friar himself, Friar Lawrence, can be accounted for Romeo & Juliets death. However, he is not the only one who is responsible for their deaths, for many other factors, e.g. bad luck, Romeo and Juliet themselves can also be held responsible. The Friar, who made crucial decisions, bad luck, which caused Romeo & Juliet to meet, and corrupted their love life and the lovers themselves, for acting to hastily, all had affects, that when played in sequence, caused the death of these ‘star cross’d’ lovers. After all,