Friar Lawrence Flashcards
With baleful weeds and precious-juiced flowers
The Friar comments on the duality of nature and how it can be used for both good (medicines) and bad (poisons). He is likely collecting plants for medicines as religious figures at the time were often also the doctors due to their high levels of education. The entire monologue contains rhyming couplets showing its importance
The earth that’s nature’s mother is her tomb;
What is her burying grave that is her womb
The Friar also comments on the duality of life and death. Death is inevitably part of the life cycle that no-one can avoid. It is important to note that throughout the Friar’s long monologue he never mentions love, suggesting a limitation in his knowledge, leading to misguided advice. The entire monologue contains rhyming couplets showing its importance
Within the infant rind of this small flower / Poison hath residence and medicine power:
This further emphasises the duality in nature and in life. It also foreshadows the ending when Romeo poisons himself
Our Romeo hath not been in bed to-night.
Romeo and the Friar are shown to be really close and have a familial relationship as he immediately knows where Romeo has been unlike his own parents
Be plain, good son, and homely in thy drift;
The Friar asks Romeo to speak more simply using less metaphors, perhaps again showing a lack in intelligence
For this alliance may so happy prove, / To turn your households’ rancour to pure love.
Friar Laurence agrees to marry Romeo and Juliet because he thinks that it will bring about a reconciliation between the two families, highlighting his cunning and calculating nature. It also does display his good intentions towards the couple however in the end it causes their downfall but also the end of the feud.
Hence from Verona art thou banished:
Be patient, for the world is broad and wide.
Friar Lawrence is actually shown to be quite pragmatic as he is saying that even though Romeo is banished from Verona there are so many other places he can go and its not worth dying over. He is one of a few in the play to put the situation into perspective
This is dear mercy, and thou sees it not
The Friar again shows his pragmatism as he realises how lucky Romeo is that the punishment was banishment and not his death, but Romeo refuses to realise that
Tybalt would kill thee,
But thou slew’st Tybalt; there are thou happy too:
The law that threaten’d death becomes thy friend
And turns it to exile; there art thou happy:
The Friar is again shown as rational as he matches Juliet’s argument that if he didn’t kill Tybalt, Tybalt was going to kill him.
It strains me past the compass of my wits
The quote shows that the Friar is struggling with the confliction between religion, family, loyalty and love. The verb ‘strains’ shows how uncomfortable he is with it yet as a religious figure, he is bound to help those in need. The Friar feels unable to navigate Romeo and Juliet out the treacherous situation and feels really bad for it
The most you sought was her promotion;
For ’twas your heaven she should be advanced:
The Friar’s saying that Capulet’s emotions are misplaced, that Juliet is in a better place now (heaven), highlighting his position as a religious figure above all. He is the only other character to know that she isn’t actually dead
Come, I’ll dispose of thee
Among a sisterhood of holy nuns
The Friar could perhaps be trying to cover his tracks and rid himself of any guilt, as he did marry Romeo and Juliet without their parent’s permissions
I am the greatest, able to do least,
Yet most suspected, as the time and place
Doth make against me of this direful murder;
Friar Lawrence expresses a great deal of guilt for his role in the tragedy. He knows he is the ‘greatest’, have done the most to cause this tragedy and is able to do the ‘least’ to convince everyone else of his innocence
For by your leaves, you shall not stay alone, Til the Holy Church incorporate two in one
Romeo and Juliet solidify their bond as the central pairing in the play and highlights the Friar as a key catalyst in their relationship
