Friar Lawrence Flashcards
3 adjectives to describe the friar
Pseudo-paternal
Hasty
Seemingly Remorseful
Overview Paragraph
Shakespeare uses the character of the Friar as a vehicle to bring attention to the morally ambiguous nature of some religious individuals who fail to prioritise or adhere to the teachings of the Church. The Friar acts as a pseudo paternal figure to Romeo yet, in his genuine keenness to assist him, the Friar makes arguably hasty decisions. Such choices eventually leads to the death of Romeo and Juliet, leaving the Friar feeling remorseful for his involvement in their demise.
Opening
Quote 1
‘ The earth that’s nature’s mother is the tomb’
• The ‘earth’, the source of life, is also the ‘tomb’, the place of death (juxtaposition) - foreshadows the life Juliet brings into Romeo ends up killing him
Also Dramatic Irony
Quote 2
‘These violet delights have violent ends’
• Strongly focused on the potential disaster which accompanied this union -> high level of insight. Repetition of ‘violent’ -> extent of potential tragedy, the decision to still marry them shows his Moral Ambiguity
Quote 3
‘Come, come with me and we will make short work’
• Though given all his warnings, he still commits to joining the couple together in marriage whereas he should have believed in the sanctity of marriage instead of rushing the ceremony himself, since being a holy figure who society would look up to for doing the right thing
• Adjective ‘short’ refers again to the speed and hastiness of the process, bringing attention to the morally ambiguous nature of the Friar who overlooks his own warnings in order to appease Romeo
Middle
Quote 1
“On Thursday, sir? the time is very short”
• This shows how the timing is speeding up as the play is ending. Friar Lawrence uses words connected with speed at the opening of the play, such as ‘very short’, showing how quickly events are now occurring.
• Ironic as he previously married Romeo and Juliet quickly some time ago.
Quote 2
“O Juliet, I already know thy grief, it strains me past the compass of my wit.”
• The friar feels partially responsible for the situation as he married Romeo and Juliet, therefore can’t let Juliet marry Paris.
• He starts feeling guilty, however previously, although he knew the consequences, he still decided to proceed with the marriage but now he is regretting his decision showing his morally ambiguous nature.
Quote 3
“Hold daughter I do spy a kind of hope”
• “Hold” is an imperative word that urges Juliet to have faith in himself: the Friar comes across as a figure of authority and trust.
• This slows down the pace of the play, but this is ironic as he conducted the marriage of Romeo and Juliet with a great deal of haste and everything has happened so rapidly.
• “Daughter” - addresses her with affection showing his pseudo paternal role.
End
Quote 1
“Come, is the bride ready to go to church?”
• This again highlights the Friars morally ambiguous nature. The Friar is already aware of Juliet’s marriage to Romeo however still proceeds with her marriage to Paris.
• This was deemed as a sin during the Renaissance era and it was extremely shocking to have come from a religious figure like the friar at the time.
Quote 2
‘Poor living corse, clos’d in a dead man’s tomb!’
• Oxymoronic language in ‘living corse’ could be to show how conflicted the Friar is in this moment of realisation, and how his attempt to help is only in vain
• Again links to the encompassing effects of pre-determined fate, as we see everything unfold.
• Also a sense of dramatic irony, given the reader knew this would happen from The Prologue.
Quote 3
‘Come, I’ll dispose of thee /Among a sisterhood of holy nuns.’
• Throughout this part from the Friar, we see repetition of imperatives, such as ‘come’
• Could be to show a sense of urgency to remove Juliet from the situation here, given that she is now his problem, and as a Friar, previously regarded as a high-status religious figure, he panics as he attempts to salvage his reputation here, rather than Juliet.
• the verb ‘dispose’ dehumanises Juliet as she is likened to an object or even rubbish directly contrasting his previous treatment of her
