...In Shakespeare's play, Romeo and Juliet, two "star crossed lovers" (Romeo and Juliet) kill themselves because of many actions of the people around them. Friar Lawrence is most at fault for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet. Throughout the play, Friar Lawrence's plans all seem to fail: he married Romeo and Juliet even though the families hate each other, he didn't tell Romeo about the plan to rescue Juliet, but he went through with it anyways and, finally, he did nothing to prevent Juliet's death. As the audience can see, his plans were flawed. Friar Lawrence's first big mistake happened early in the play. The Friar married Romeo and Juliet, even though the families hated each other. He said that he wanted the families to get along: "I'll thy assistant be; For this alliance may so happy prove, To turn your households' rancour to pure love." (Act 2, scene 3). If...
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...William Shakespeare's play "Romeo and Juliet" contains a religious figure, Friar Lawrence, who is to blame for the tragedy of Romeo and Juliet. His actions throughout the play as a friar are debateable, even with many years of experience. He is expected to help the town and prevent any kind of trouble, however, he has created plans that has made room for more trouble. The Friar's first mistake which leads to the tragedy is allowing the marriage of the "star cross'd lovers" without the permission of the parent Montague and Capulet. In addition, Friar Lawrence had to deliver a message to Romeo which was vital to their plan, but he did not take good care of it. Finally, he designed a plan which involved faking the death of Juliet, deceiving to honourable families and disturbing the dead. Friar Lawrence giving permission to Romeo and Juliet to marry without their parent's consent has led to their death. The Friar...
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...William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, is a tragedy about two star crossed lovers and their sudden deaths. In Romeo and Juliet there are many misconceptions and misconstrued actions that are used to drive the story along, such as Mercutio and Tybalt's deaths, the untimeliness of Friar John, and the false death of Juliet. These misconceptions are detrimental in the deaths of many characters and without them the story would not be the same. If characters have misconceptions, disastrous events may occur and these events are crucial in the plot of the story. Early in the tragedy Romeo and Juliet Mercutio and Tybalt die because of the misconstrued actions of Romeo. Mercutio and Tybalt are having a slight fully serious and slight fully playful...
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...Friar Lawrence: Not a Killer but a Good Man Friar Lawrence, the honest and good-willed man in William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, certainly can not be blamed for the tragedy that befalls the young lovers. Upon countless occasions throughout the play, Friar goes out of his way to ensure the well-being of his blind lovebirds Romeo and Juliet. A man with such concern and selflessness should not be construed as an unintentional murderer. Friar Lawrence simply should not be blamed for the tragedy in Romeo and Juliet because he acted with the intentions of making everyone happy, married Romeo and Juliet in an attempt to end the feud between the Montagues and Capulets, and only gave Juliet the potion because Juliet had no other resolve and had even threatened to kill herself. Friar Lawrence is an innocent old man who only wanted to help the young lovers Romeo and Juliet. All of his actions during the play were done with the best of intentions;at no point did Friar Lawrence have any intentions of causing any harm. As a dedicated man of the church, Friar Lawrence is a holy figure that is always depicted in good ways during the play: I’ll give thee armor to keep off that word, Adversity’s sweet milk, philosophy, To comfort thee, though thou art banishèd. (III.iii. 57-59) When Juliet is forced by her parents to marry Paris, Friar is the only person in Verona that she could turn to for help. Juliet knows that Friar will do what is in his power to help her because Friar is...
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...Throughout the tragedy of William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, many readers may have controversial views towards many different characters. While viewers may dislike the priest, Friar Lawrence in Romeo and Juliet, the play would not have been possible without his role. Friar Lawrence is notorious for his reckless and harmful decisions, but it is his actions that ultimately move the play along and result in Romeo’s and Juliet’s death. Without Friar Lawrence’s actions in the play, such as marrying Romeo and Juliet, telling Juliet what to do, and leaving Juliet alone after Romeo dies, there would have been very little conflict in the plot, which would have resulted in a very different conclusion. The first time Friar Lawrence’s importance to the play is shown is when he agrees to marry Romeo and Juliet. He says that he will be “thy assistant” (II, iii, 97) to Romeo and marry him and Juliet, along with keeping it a secret from their parents in an attempt to “turn your households’ rancor to pure love” (II, iii, 99). Without Friar Lawrence, Romeo and Juliet...
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...Romeo and Juliet, one of Shakespeare’s most notable works in history, depicts an infamous love story that ended in tragedy - specifically, with both of them committing suicide. When their bodies were discovered, several questions arose. Who was to blame for this tragedy? Or, was there really anyone to blame? The Prince, appalled by what had happened, had this to say: “Some shall be pardoned, and some punished” (Romeo and Juliet. 5.3.322). Although it is not directly said who he is referring to, the events throughout the play paint a clear picture of whom he holds accountable and why. This includes the Capulet’s and Montague’s endless feud, the Friar’s plan, and his own hesitation to act. Although there are several people that were responsible for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet, two that stand out were the Capulets and the Montagues -notably, their hatred towards one another. Their feud, one that lasted throughout...
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...is the case in William Shakespeare’s drama The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet. Throughout the play, Romeo and Juliet are met with countless opposition, from feuding families to failed plans, and it seems they are doomed by fate. What began as an innocent romance between two young lovers slowly turns towards a bitter ending and both of their deaths’. Although Fate and Friar Lawrence are partially to blame for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet, because the families cause the initial conflict, they deserve the most blame for the deaths of the star crossed lovers, Romeo...
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...Romeo Montague, a character in William Shakespeare’s The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet, is the most impulsive and irrational person in all of literary history. In the beginning, he seems like a desperate lover who is trying to find a way to remain in his lover’s presence, but ultimately his irrational thinking brings death to him and his beloved. He shows his haste when he kills Tybalt to avenge Mercutio, and it is also displayed when he rushes to take his own life after hearing the news of Juliet’s death. Romeo is at fault for his and Juliet’s death, because he rushes into decisions too quickly, whether it be taking the life of another, or taking his own life. At first, Romeo appears to be a soft, love-struck man, but he becomes very rash and foolish. Romeo and Juliet were going were going to get married, and all would be swell. Then, Tybalt kills Mercutio, who is very dear to him. Out of pure rage, Romeo avenges his friend, but it results in him being torn away from his lover by becoming banished. After hearing of Mercutio's death, he says: Alive in triumph, and Mercutio slain? Away to heaven respective lenity, And...
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...Friar at Fault “These violent delights have violent ends and in their triumph die, like fire and powder, which as they kiss, consume. The sweetest honey is loathsome in his own deliciousness and in the taste confounds the appetite.” (Act 2 ,Scene 6, Lines 10-13). In Shakespeare’s play, Friar Lawrence takes an immense part in many suspicious ways. Friar was at fault in three major reasons, one being a huge role in Romeo and Juliet's marriage, secondly, he gave Juliet the sleeping potion and lastly, he didn’t give the important message to Romeo on time. The major fault with Friar Lawrence is being such a huge role in the marriage of the young couple. The Friar’s understanding was that if Romeo and Juliet got married it would someday end the family feud, however was not the case. The dispute with this was that it would cause an even larger feud between the Montague and Capulets, than if Friar would have helped the couple clarify to their families. This major fault lead by Friar began the next two faults in the play. Next, when Juliet's parents...
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...swoon as they read Romeo and Juliet for the first time. The girls wish for a boy like Romeo to spot them in a crowded room and instantly fall in love, and even though they would never admit it, young men probably wish for the same. Even the students who scoff at Romeo’s flowery language and the dramatic irony secretly wish for the kind of overwhelming passion Romeo and Juliet share. However, the same students tend to overlook the warning Shakespeare has within the first page of the play. In the prologue, Shakespeare writes that Romeo and Juliet tells the tale of two families with such an intense hatred toward each other that it takes a child from each of the families committing suicide for the...
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...of Romeo and Juliet? (do not plagiarize please!!!!!!!!! it is illegal to do so thank you) Essay: For hundreds of years people have argued over the reason for the tragic and fatal deaths of the young lovers, ‘Romeo and Juliet’. Audiences are greatly impacted by the fatality of Romeo and Juliet and it makes us consider who was most to blame for this tragic event. Shakespeare’s play presents a variety of characters, which some may have been responsible for this sudden event to transpire. The characters that contribute most dramatically to the deaths are Friar Lawrence, Tybalt and Juliet’s father Lord Capulet. It is clear that the irresponsibility and foolishness from Friar Lawrence was partially to blame for the lover’s tragic death. Although he clearly cares and is empathetic towards the lovers, many of his decisions lead to their fatalities. Friar Lawrence marries Romeo and Juliet in secret, hoping that he would bring peace to the two feuding families, "For this alliance may so happy prove to turn your households' rancour to pure love." As well as this, Friar Lawrence devises a dangerous and risky plan to have Juliet fake her death by drinking a poisonous vile, so she can be with lover Romeo. What he does not take into account though is how hastily Romeo might respond to the news of Juliet’s death. With Romeo not receiving the plan due to the delayed delivery, he is distraught and depressed that his lover has “died”, therefore killing himself to be with her. The friar had...
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...William Shakespeare: Love and Tragedy The Elizabethan era (1500-1600) was a great age fro poets, artists, and writers to become illustrious around the country and be fortunate enough to entertain Queen Elizabeth. A man from a family of farmers and glove makers didn’t know that his entertain plays for Elizabeth I would one day become a masterpiece in English literature. It was in the 1500 when the Renaissance was in its initiation. The entire world was going through this moment where the rebirth of cultural ideas such as the study of literature and ancient values brought interest to the people living in this era. William Shakespeare became one of the most respected playwrights for his famous plays such as Romeo and Juliet and Macbeth among other respected and famous works. (www.britannica.com/ebc/article-9376718, www.britannica.com/shakespeare) Born the 23rd of April 1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon, England, Shakespeare has captivated reader’s hearts by his romantic, humerous, and historic plays. During the 1500s, the Renaissance was a massive curiosity for everyone. Renaissance era was a period where everyone was interested in the affairs of the Greek and Roman cultures and when William Shakespeare was born. Being the middle brother of the Shakespeare’s, William son of John Shakespeare and Mary Arden was interested in writing since he was a child. Baptized in the Holy Trinity Church, William was raised in a family of seven children in the town of...
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...Romeo and Juliet Fate or Free-Will Fate is defined as “a powerful force that is believed to control what happens in the future.” In William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet we are able to see how the theme of fate is cleverly infiltrated through events and dialogue throughout the play. Fate is mainly evident through the actions of Lord Capulet’s Servingman, Friar John, the timing of Romeo and Juliet’s death, and how the Montague’s and Capulet’s feud and been put to rest due to the tragedy in their lives. The first fated event was introduced to us in Act I Scene II, when Lord Capulet after finishing his conversation with Paris, regarding his request to marry Juliet, handed over a list of names to the Servingman and orders him to: [Rom....
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...The soliloquy of Friar Laurence and how it predicts the story to follow The soliloquy of Friar Laurence plays a huge role in the story to come. He is Romeo's mentor and confidante. His soliloquy gives us better insight to his character and we get to know just what kind of person the Friar is. We learn that Friar meant well but nonetheless he created many disasters which could have been avoided. Romeo trusts the Friar because the Friar is Romeo’s mentor and confidant. He tells him almost everything including his love for Juliet. The Friar wants nothing more than then for rivalry between the Capulet and the Montague families to end so he agrees to marry Romeo and Juliet as he feels that the feud will end once the two families are united. Sadly however, he does it in such a secret manner that it caused more harm than good. He talks about the healing power of herbs but also how poisonous those same herbs could be. The soliloquy foreshadows and acts as an omen for the tragic events to come. The earth and all its creatures have a lot of good qualities and uses but if they are used inappropriately then the outcomes could be unwanted or even dangerous. That is why the same plant or herb that is used to heal could also kill if not used correctly. The Friar is also comparing the plants to humans saying that we can be both good and bad. When we read the following lines that the Friar Lawrence says, “The gray-eyed morn smiles on the frowning night,/Check’ring the eastern...
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...ROMEO & JULIET Prologue (ACT 1) As a prologue to the play, the Chorus enters. In a fourteen-line sonnet, the Chorus describes two noble households (called “houses”) in the city of Verona. The houses hold an “ancient grudge” (Prologue.2) against each other that remains a source of violent and bloody conflict. The Chorus states that from these two houses, two “star-crossed” (Prologue.6) lovers will appear. These lovers will mend the quarrel between their families by dying. The story of these two lovers, and of the terrible strife between their families, will be the topic of this play. ANALYSIS This opening speech by the Chorus serves as an introduction to Romeo and Juliet. We are provided with information about where the play takes place, and given some background information about its principal characters. The obvious function of the Prologue as introduction to the Verona of Romeo and Juliet can obscure its deeper, more important function. The Prologue does not merely set the scene of Romeo and Juliet, it tells the audience exactly what is going to happen in the play. The Prologue refers to an ill-fated couple with its use of the word “star-crossed,” which means, literally, against the stars. Stars were thought to control people’s destinies. But the Prologue itself creates this sense of fate by providing the audience with the knowledge that Romeo and Juliet will die even before the play has begun. The audience therefore watches the play with the expectation that it must...
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