Blame for Romeo and Juliet

In William Shakespeare’s play, Romeo and Juliet, Friar Lawrence should be blamed for the death of the two main characters. The first mistake Friar Lawrence does, is secretly marry the two lovers. Then, he agrees, to the Capulet’s, to marry Paris and Juliet. Lastly, he gives Juliet the sleeping potion. All of his actions combined lead to the main character’s suicidal action.

When Friar Lawrence secretly marries the Romeo and Juliet, it caused more stress for the two. Although the marriage stopped Romeo’s first impulse to fight Tybalt, it leaded to the Capulet’s misunderstanding of their mourning daughter. “Romeo: ‘Tybalt, the reason that I have to love thee Doth much excuse the appertaining rage To such a greeting. Villain am I none. Therefore farewell. I see thou knowest me not.’ ” (Act III, sc i, l 58-61) In addition, because the families are enemies, the couples find it hard to see each other and spend quality time. The Friar married the two in hopes that the Capulet and Montague would discover the love between their children and stop their feuding. Despite the Friar’s plans, the families feuding only worsened.

Secondly, when the Friar agrees to marry Paris and Juliet, knowing that she was already married to Romeo, this causes Juliet to become very distraught. “Juliet: ‘Is there no pity sitting in the clouds That sees into the bottom of my grief? O sweet my mother, cast me not away! Delay this marriage for a month, a week; Or if you do not, make the bridal bed In that dim monument where Tybalt lies.’ ” (Act III, sc V, l 198-203) The Friar knew that Romeo and Juliet were married, and therefore should not have agreed to marry



her to Paris. Instead, he could have taken the opportunity to notify the two families of the previous marriage and try to establish peace between them. No positive outcomes were apparent from this action, it only greater induced problems for both Romeo and Juliet.

Lastly, the biggest mistake the Friar...