Romeo And Juliet The Friar
Romeo And Juliet - The FriarThe Friar plays an important role in Romeo and Juliet. He is in the center of a plot that has many twists and turns. But do his actions make him a meddler or a helpful person? When looking deeper into the issue, you will see that despite the tragic ending to the story, his intentions were good.
The Friar makes his first appearance in the play at the beginning of Act Two, Scene 3. During this scene feelings about his personality are developed. Sayings such as,
“O, mickle is the powerful grace that lies
In plants, herbs, stones, and their true qualities.
For naught so vile that on earth doth live
But to the earth some special good doth give;
Nor aught so good but, strained from that fair use,
Revolts from true birth, stumbling on abuse.”
-lines 15 – 20
and
“Wisely, and slow. They stumble that run fast.”
-line 97
give the impression that he is a wise, yet kind man. The Friar’s close relationship with Romeo is also revealed in this scene.
“Holy Saint Francis! What a change is here!
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.”
-lines 66 – 69
His knowledge of Romeo’s life builds the reputation that he is a man of trust – not one that would deceive a true friend. Although other parts of the speech indicate slight foreshadowing of the incidents that will occur,
“Within the infant rind of this small flower
Poison hath residence, and medicine power;
For this, being smelt, with that part cheers each part;
Being tasted, stays all senses with the heart.
Two such opposed kings encamp them still
In man as well as herbs – grace and rude will;
And where the worser is predominant,
Full soon the canker death eats up that plant”
-lines 23 – 30
none of these examples imply that The Friar has a naturally meddling personality, or any ideas concerning the future.
The Friar also proves to be an important character in Act Four, Scene 1. When Juliet comes running to his cell in despair, once again The Friar takes on an almost father-like role and calms her down. He also tells her of a plan that will help re-unite the two lovers. Quotes like,
“Hold, daughter. I do spy a kind of hope,
Which craves as desperate an execution
As that is desperate which we would prevent.”
-lines 69 – 71
make the Friar seem almost nervous in the situation he is suddenly placed in. If he was a man that intentionally wanted to ruin the lives of two young people, would he not hastily give Juliet the potion? His decision to carry out the plan, although thought of quickly, was merely an attempt to improve Juliet’s dire situation. Certainly he could not predict the events that would occur in the days to come.
Another viewpoint of Friar can be found in Act Four, Scene 3, just before Juliet decides to take the potion.
“What if it be a poison which the Friar
Subtly hath ministered to have me dead,
Lest in this marriage he should be dishonoured,
Because he married me before to Romeo?
I fear it is. And yet methinks it should not,
For he hath still been tried a holy man.”
-lines 25 – 30
She is scared, and all the reasons that she pointed out in the beginning of the speech are justified reasons to be scared of her uncertain future. In the end however, her conscience wins out, and because of her friendship with the Friar, she trusts him not to harm her at all, let alone intentionally.
It seems difficult to say that a man with good intentions is meddling with two peoples’ lives. A person that wants to help improve something or someone for the better is usually a good person at heart. In the Friars’ case, this is true. At many points in the play he did not want to interfere, and eventually only did so because Romeo and Juliet seemed desperate to find help. The Friar is not a meddling man – nor a man that had any intentions to hurt someone. He says this himself in Act Five, Scene 3,
“I am the greatest, able to do the least,
Yet most suspected, as the time and place
Doth make against me, of this direful murder.
And here I stand, both to impeach and purge
Myself condemned and myself excused.”
-lines 229 – 230
He is asking to be excused of those charges of which he is innocent, therefore proving that he never wanted the events that took place in Romeo and Juliet to turn out the way that they did.