“The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet” written by William Shakespeare is a popular, well known play. Shakespeare includes a variety of different themes in this play; whether if they are minor or major. One of the presented themes is; there is good and evil within everybody, some more than others. Something to take into consideration is; innocent kind people may be portrayed as evil and likewise. A handful of deaths occurred in Romeo and Juliet, people are questioning whether or not to pardon or punish those who are possibly responsible for tragedy. The Prince of Verona announced, “Some shall be pardon’d, and some punished.” (5.3.333) A majority of the audience may think the two confidants and Lord Capulet should be punished, but …show more content…
The characters that should be pardoned are; Friar Laurence, Lord Capulet, and the Nurse: their true intentions are good.
Friar Laurence should have the most leeway and should be pardoned the most. He is Romeo’s confidant and would support him in any way. Not only did Friar Laurence agree to help Romeo marry Juliet to make him happy, but he also had the hopes of ending the Capulet and the Montague Family Feud. If Friar Laurence is willing to go behind Lord Montague’s back to attempt to bring peace to Verona, that says a lot about his character. When Romeo goes to him for someone to confide into, Friar Laurence is always honest with him no matter how much the truth could hurt. For example, when Prince Escalus told Romeo he was banished. Crestfallen and depressed, Romeo went to Friar Laurence’s cell to vent and rage. Disappointed and frustrated, Friar Laurence explained to him he should count his blessings. “Since birth and heaven and earth, all three do meet in thee at once; which thou at once wouldst lose.” [3.3.137] In addition, Friar Laurence also prevented Romeo and Juliet from killing themselves over each other. If his intention of making Romeo happy and bringing peace upon Verona weren’t true, he would have let them commit suicide. He also has taken responsibility for the death of Romeo and