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Free Will In Romeo And Juliet

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“Free Will” as defined by Merriam Webster’s Dictionary is “The ability to choose how to act.” The tragedy at the end of Romeo and Juliet is closely related to the free will of Friar Lawrence. The Friar consistently choose to act without thinking of the consequences, or not act at all. If Friar Lawrence had notified the families once the plan started to fail, or if he’d been more stubborn with Juliet requiring her to leave the tomb their lives might’ve been saved. This is why Friar Lawrence’s judgment or lack thereof caused the tragedy at the end, and why the tragedy was a result of free will.

Friar Lawrence’s decision of free will to marry Romeo and Juliet was the one of the reasons behind the tragedy at the end. On the wedding day both Romeo and Juliet are at Friar Lawrence’s cells and The Friar says “Come, come with me and we will make short work, / For, by you leaves, you shall not stay alone / till holy church incorporate two into one.” (2.6.35-38) If The Friar hadn’t married these two young lovers this would have stopped the chain of events that lead to their death. The …show more content…
Would you go try to find him, hang out in your church, or go to the place where his “dead” wife is? Well if you are Friar Lawrence the best choice is obviously to go hang out in your cell. While Friar Lawrence is talking to Friar John about his plan of action he says “I will write again to mantua, / and keep her at my cell till Romeo come…” (5.3.28-29) After he says this he writes another letter and goes back to doing what Friar’s do. Sure enough Romeo is at The Capulet Tomb and about to kill himself. Because of Friar Lawrence’s judgment to just stay put and not go looking for Romeo he ended up killing himself. This is yet another reason as to why The Friar's free will is closely related to the tragedy at the end of the

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