Examples Of Friar Lawrence In Romeo And Juliet

“For never was a story of more woe than this of Juliet and her Romeo.” The tragic story of Romeo and Juliet was caused by the mistakes of Friar Laurence. Friar Laurence developed a plan that would allow Romeo and Juliet to be together. However, Friar Laurence did not realize that his plan would have to go perfectly in order to be effective in a positive way. Friar Laurence made four crucial mistakes in his plan that would lead to the death of Romeo and Juliet. These mistakes included marrying Romeo and Juliet, not telling anyone about the marriage, his inattentiveness to the immaturity of Romeo and Juliet, and agreeing to move up a day Juliet’s marriage to Paris. However, his first major mistake was marrying Romeo and Juliet. The first vital

Friar Laurence could have told Capulet he wanted the marriage to remain on Thursday, yet the friar agreed to reschedule the marriage. This would be a major flaw in Friar Laurence’s plan for Juliet. By having the marriage a day earlier, Juliet would have to take the vial twenty-four hours earlier than expected. The time factor should have alerted the friar that the plan wouldn’t be perfect. By moving the wedding, the letter to Romeo that explained what was going to happen to Juliet became much more urgent. The letter needed to get to Romeo so he would be aware that Juliet was not actually dead. By this point, Friar Laurence should be expecting the unexpected. Romeo’s and Juliet’s threats of suicide if they couldn’t be together should alert the friar that the flaws in his plan could lead to death for Romeo or Juliet or both. Subsequently after Juliet drank the vial, Friar Laurence made three lesser mistakes; yet, these mistakes would still lead to the deaths of Romeo and Juliet. Friar Laurence made his first mistake when he encountered Friar John, who was sent to Mantua to deliver the message to Romeo that Juliet was indeed alive. Friar John told Friar Laurence, “I could not send it [the letter] - here it is again - nor get a messenger to bring it to thee, so fearful were they of infection.” Romeo did not receive the letter, which was vital to the plan. Without the letter, Romeo would think that Juliet was truly dead. At this point, Friar Laurence should be rushing to the cemetery because Romeo could be there, yet he waited hours before going to the cemetery.“Now must I to the monument alone; within three hours will fair Juliet wake.” Friar Laurence’s second mistake occurred in the churchyard. At the cemetery, Friar Laurence stumbled across Balthasar, Romeo’s servant. Discovering Balthasar should alert the friar to the