Friar Lawrence

Question 1

“Young men’s love then lies not truly in their hearts but in their eyes

Answer 1

1 - juxtaposition of heart and eyes - deliberate juxtaposition between emotional sincerity and physical lust - Friar is criticising the nature of the relationship, callow, Romeo can only see and not truly feel

2 - friar’s didactic nature serves as a foil to Romeo - he is calm and composed like a paternal figure. Showcases the true impetious nature of romeo, perhaps stemming from his age

3 - Romeo does not listen to the advice , he sees Juliet fit in his own heart - undertone of his nature

LINK - “I never saw true beauty till tonight” - he views Juliet with her physical agency not the consequences of their love

Question 2

“The earth, that’s nature’s mother, is her tomb […] her burying grave is her womb”

Answer 2

1 - natural metaphor - envisions the Earth nurturing life while also claiming it , the ground they live on has no escape to fate.

2 - showcases escaping from fate is inevitable, Friar uses the cycle of life and death to show there is no escape to the natural order, so there is no escape to fate - intertwines fate and life as one tangible being.

3 - LINK - Romeo’s and Juliet’s death in a tomb mark the birth of something - a new light, perhaps a rebirth of their family and an end to the family feud

Question 3

“Good morrow, father”

Answer 3

1 - Romeo’s use of vocative address “father” showcases he views the Friar as not just religious figure but a paternal figure he looks up to - LINK - the only interaction we see is at the start of the play with Romeo’s father, where he struggles to understand Romeo due to their distant connection - Romeo refuses to share the reason

2 - causes the Friar to be part of their family, and thus part of their familial feud - loses his impartial wisdom from being a religious figure and instead is broken by Familial feuds