Friar Lawrence In Shakespeare's Romeo And Juliet

Gus Williams
4/3/2011
Mrs. Renahan
Secondary Character Essay

The role of secondary characters in works is to support and influence the protagonist and also to symbolically reveal behavioral patterns in human nature. Friar Lawrence in William Shakespeare's play, Romeo and Juliet, is an important secondary character and it is shown by how he influences the plot, the development of the main characters, and the play's theme.

Friar Lawrence's influence on the play brings the action to the dramatic end. Without the presence of Friar Lawrence in the play, tragedy would not have occurred. By marrying Juliet and Romeo, the Friar can be blamed for the two deaths in the end of the play; "But come, young waverer, come... for this alliance may
When Romeo first talks of his newfound love (Juliet), the Friar responds with "Is Rosaline, that thou didst love so dear, so soon forsaken? Young men's love then lies not truly in their hearts, but in their eyes"(II.iii.71). The Friar shows how Romeo does not love truly, but believes that
One major theme is the inevitability of fate, which the characters blame for the death of Romeo and Juliet. He mentions how fate itself is becoming angry, and thus the outcome of the play is tragedy; "Unhappy fortune!"(V.iii.17). The fact of violence being ineffective is shown also through Friar Lawrence. Friar Lawrence is a man who loves too much, and because he loves too much he helps out. Because of this a lot of useless violence is brought up in the play. "Violent delights have violent ends"(II.vi.9), the Friar foreshadows the final outcome of Romeo's already fated death. Another theme is that love can end hate. Friar Lawrence believes in this because he wants to marry Romeo and Juliet so that the two families will end their grudge. Again love is shown as a powerful force when Juliet finds the courage to drink the