Romeo and Juliet -The Friars responsibility

The Friar’s actions and involvement did contribute to Romeo and Juliet’s deaths. I believe that it wasn’t just his actions alone that contributed to the tragedy. The Nurse, Tybalt, ‘Fate and Fortune’, the feuding families of Montague and Capulet and Romeo and Juliet themselves all had parts to play in the tragedy.

The Friar could have done, or not done, a number of things to prevent the deaths of Romeo and Juliet. He should have told the parents about the marriage because he says that “… this alliance may so happily prove to turn your households’ rancour to pure love.” He should have told the parents so that the feud could turn to friendship if his statement was truthful. He should not have given Juliet the potion to make her appear dead. On the other hand Juliet was threatening to kill herself if the problem of her marriage to Paris wasn’t solved,so this haste excuses his actions to some extent. When sending word of his plan to Romeo explaining Juliet’s ‘death’, he should have at least have told Balthazar about the plan. If he had done this, the unfortunate mix up mightn’t have happened. Although these things are valid, I b

Romeo and Juliet are both very young, Juliet not yet fourteen. This affects their actions greatly. Romeo is very impulsive, he falls in love with Juliet the first moment he sees her and they marry within twenty-four hours of knowing one another. Juliet is also impulsive: she asks Romeo to prove his love through marriage. Later she contrasts her attitude with the thought of the marriage plans being “ too rash, too unadvis’d, too sudden.” Romeo shouldn’t have killed Tybalt, even though it was provoked. If he had stayed calm and not picked up his sword and killed he would not have been banished. Romeo confides in the Friar about most things, but when he comes racing to Juliet’s grave with the poison the bought from the Apothecary, he does not consult the Friar.

Considering all the actions taken by the Friar, Nurse, Tybalt, fate and fortune and the feuding families, it is still both Romeo and Juliet’s choice to die. It can be said that all the other actions contributed to the building up of the tension that occurs in the tragedy but in the end it is Romeo who chooses to swallow the poison and it is Juliet who decides to join her Romeo by stabbing herself. The Friar is responsible for contributing in the build up of the tragedy but is certainly not the only person who does.

Alongside the influence of these characters, t

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