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RoMeO & JuLiEt BeNvOlIo


✓ Peacemaker ✓ Honest ✓ Caring ✓ A foil (contrast) to Romeo and Juliet


PoRtFoLiO Deepen your understanding of Benvolio by completing your Character Log, p.110.


FrIaR LaUrEnCe


WeLl-InTeNtIoNeD Friar Laurence is a well-intentioned character who does all he can to promote peace and help Romeo and Juliet. Even though he feels that Romeo is fickle in love, he agrees to marry Romeo and Juliet in the hope that it will unite the feuding families: ‘For this alliance may so happy prove, / To turn your households’ rancour to pure love.’ Throughout the play he tries to help the young lovers: he hides Romeo after he is banished


and he tries to avert Juliet’s suicide by proposing a scheme that will allow her to avoid marrying Paris. In the final scene he rushes to the Capulets’ tomb in the hope of rescuing both Romeo and Juliet. However, despite his best intentions he is unable to prevent the disastrous ending and arguably contributes to it (see ‘Flawed’ below).


A ReSpEcTeD AdViSoR As an educated man, Friar Laurence enjoys the respect of Verona’s citizens and is often sought after for advice. Romeo has clearly confided in Friar Laurence about his feelings for Rosaline, even though he hasn’t spoken to his parents about them. When Romeo first falls in love with Juliet, he goes immediately to Friar Laurence. Similarly, after Romeo kills Tybalt, he rushes to Friar Laurence’s cell for advice. Friar Laurence also acts as an advisor to Juliet. After the Capulets insist that Juliet marry


Paris, Juliet goes immediately to Friar Laurence. She also seeks his advice via the Nurse when she learns that Romeo has been banished. The respect given to Friar Laurence is reflected in the Nurse’s words: ‘O Lord, I could have stayed here all the night / To hear good counsel. O, what learning is!’ This idea is carried through to the final scene. Even after Friar Laurence is implicated in the deaths of Romeo and Juliet, the high esteem he enjoys as a holy man helps to remove the suspicion of guilt. As an advisor to the young protagonists, Friar Laurence occupies a central role in the


drama. However, the wisdom of some of his advice can be questioned. It is perhaps naïve of him to think that he can unite the feuding families with the hasty marriage of their children. Furthermore, his schemes are not without their flaws (see ‘Flawed’ below).


PhIlOsOpHiCaL AnD OfTeN WiSe As a holy man it is unsurprising that Friar Laurence often speaks philosophically and reflects on human nature. This is evident from the first moment he appears on stage. Friar Laurence ponders the plants he is collecting and sees them as a metaphor for human nature: ‘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.’


Friar Laurence recognises that people have the capacity to do good and act with ‘grace’ 208


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