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Timothy Dull

Ms. Woelke

Pre-AP English 9A

13 December 2018

Friar Lawrence’s Interventions

The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare describes the events involving

two star-crossed lovers in 1300’s Verona, Italy, and the progression towards their eventual

suicide. Throughout the story, Romeo and Juliet are affected by outside forces such as their

family ties and other people's advice. One character who largely influences the lives of both

Romeo and Juliet is Friar Lawrence. Acting as a father figure to Romeo, the Friar intervenes to

motivate Romeo's actions many times, leading to disastrous consequences. Romeo and the

Friar’s interactions affect themselves, other characters, and the future by initiating Romeo’s

banishment, causing the death of both Romeo and Juliet, and bringing together the two

households.

Romeo and Friar Lawrence's discussions ultimately lead to the banishment of Romeo.

After discovering Romeo's new love, and afraid that Romeo will act foolishly, the Friar advises

him to be “wisely and slow” because “they stumble that run fast”(Shakespeare 2.4.101). The

Friar hopes that by advising caution he will help Romeo, but instead this advice only speeds

events into action. After Mercutio takes up Tybalt's offer to duel, Romeo orders them to “beat

down their weapons” trying to be wise and use Friar Lawrence's advice because not fighting is

“all for the best” (Shakespeare 3.1.87-109). This one piece of advice causes Romeo to hesitate

when challenged by Tybalt, leading to Mercutio's death, which finally provokes Romeo to killing
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Tybalt. Romeo’s banishment is then ordered as a result. This tragic series of events is all started

by the initial conversation between Romeo and the Friar where caution is recommended.

Romeo and Juliet’s death can be directly blamed on the Friar and Romeo's interactions.

After Tybalt is slain by Romeo, Friar Lawrence tells Romeo to “ascend her chamber” to let Juliet

know that Romeo has to leave, giving him the time to “comfort her”(Shakespeare 3.3.158). The

Friar hopes that their meeting will calm Juliet, but it only makes her more emotional. Though

Juliet is happy when Romeo is there she begins to “weep for such a feeling loss” as soon as he

leaves creating more agony than she originally had(Shakespeare 3.5.77). The encounter causes

her to feel the need to visit Friar Lawrence, threatening to kill herself if she can not see Romeo

again. In the confusion, the Friar is forced to devise a strategy to bring Romeo back to Verona.

The Friar’s plan, which is discussed in the letter meant for Romeo, explains how after Juliet

“appears like death”, Romeo will “bear thee hence to Mantua” (Shakespeare 4.1.105-116). This

idea constructed by Friar Lawrence causes the entire climax of the story, where Romeo’s

confusion leads to both his and Juliet’s deaths. If this plan had not been conceived by Friar

Lawrence, all the agony may have been prevented. The plans that Friar Laurence and Romeo

came up with undoubtedly altered all the other characters in the play.

Romeo and Friar Lawrence’s conversations about the future lead to the combination of

the two rival families. In Romeo’s haste, he comes to Friar Lawrence wanting him “to marry us

today”. Not understanding the repercussions, and believing that the marriage can bring the two

families together, the Friar agrees “to turn your households rancor to pure love”(Shakespeare

2.3.68-99). This decision causes almost every failure in the play, as their premature marriage sets

in motion even more confrontation between the two families, leading to fighting and death. Near

the end of the story, however, Friar Lawrence’s plan to unite the families does finally
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materialize. Though there “was never a story of more woe” the suicides brought “glooming

peace this morning”(Shakespeare 5.3.316-320). Only after they see the tragedy of the double

suicides do they finally call a truce.

In Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare's expert writing drives every event into the next

through the use of the many interactions of the characters. The deliberations between Romeo and

Friar Lawrence set in motion events that change their character’s lives, the lives of others, and

the future in multiple ways. The Friar’s intervention in Romeo’s life helps lead to banishment,

death, and ultimately to peace through the bitter end of the love story.