Friar Lawrence Essay

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Examine how Shakespeare presents the character of Friar Lawrence in the play, Romeo and Juliet. In Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, Friar Lawrence doesn’t appear a massive amount but he is a vital part of the play. His willingness to take risks ultimately contributes largely to the death of lovers, Romeo and Juliet. This essay explores his role, his character and the way William Shakespeare presents him in the famous tragedy. Friar Lawrence first makes an appearance in Act 2 Scene 3. He is alone in the church garden picking herbs, while doing so he has a soliloquy where he speaks about the feud between the Capulet and the Montague households. He does this by using metaphors of the plants. “Two such opposed kings encamp them still/ In man as well as herbs”. He speaks of how it is taking over the city of Verona. “Full soon the canker death eats up the plant. His smart metaphors influence the audience into thinking he is intelligent, good-willed and a responsible character. In his opening speech, he foreshadows the play without realising it. He says that the plants used to cure and also kill if they are misused. This represents and foreshadows the way Juliet uses the plant mixture to fake her death whereas Romeo uses it to commit suicide. “Nor aught so good but, strained from that fair use/Revolts from true birth, stumbling on abuse./Virtue itself turns vice, being misapplied,/And vice sometime by action dignified.” Shakespeare uses foreshadowing to make the Friar seem very wise. When Romeo asks the Friar to marry him and Juliet, the audience realises that Friar Lawrence is a fatherly figure to Romeo; giving him advice that Romeo appreciates and values. “God pardon sin! Wast thou with Rosaline?” This shows that the Friar knows about Rosaline. A main event in the play is when Friar Lawrence marries Romeo and Juliet – in his speech when he agrees to marry them

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