Who Is The Friar Responsible For Romeo And Juliet's Downfall

While many took part in the events that led to Romeo and Juliet's Demise, I believe Friar Lawrence to have played the biggest role. He was supposed to act as a responsible, caring third party, but fails to do so. While his intentions are righteous, his results and methods were anything but. Friar Lawrence himself even doubts his own actions several times throughout the tragedy, questioning his own motives.

Friar Lawrence first comes to know of the couple through the hot headed Romeo. Friar Lawrence, being a citizen Verona, knows too well of the feud between the Montagues and the Capulets. The Friar sees Romeo's feelings for Juliet as a possible way to end the feud. While this is righteous thing to do, and would indeed benefit all parties, Friar Lawrence does show to be a bit self interested at times. His hasty and radical methods, including having Juliet play dead, are done so as opposed to more conservative methods all in the hopes of ending the feud and the possible rewards to his reputation and his spiritual afterlife.

He knows Romeo to be a love struck fool, as Romeo has told the Friar of his past lover, Roasline, before Juliet. The Friar even admits that Romeo's love for Juliet, and the haste in which to marry the couple could be dangerous. He says to Romeo, "These violent delights have violent ends / And in their triumph die, like fire and powder" ( Act II Scene VI 9-10), meaning this passionate love and hasty marriage could have a volatile and tumultuous