Friar Lawrence

• Friar Lawrence: 'Wisely and slow, they stumble that run fast.'

  Here, Friar Laurence is advising Romeo to think carefully and wisely about his decision to marry Juliet. This shows that Friar Laurence is wise because he is aware of what could happen. This is an example of dramatic irony, as the audience is aware that Romeo will 'stumble' and this will have tragic consequences, resulting in their deaths as the prologue to the play states.
• Friar Lawrence: "Till holy church incorporate two in one."

  This shows Friar Laurence's religious views and how he believes that through marriage the Montague and Capulet households will be united by God. (Good intentions.)
• "These violent delights have violent ends"FRIAR (Act 2 Scene 6)Warning them to love each other moderately and not madly - otherwise the consequences will be grave - foreshadowing
• "Young men's love then lies not truly in their hearts, but in their eyes."FRIAR(Act 2 Scene 2)Mere days ago Romeo was in a depressive emotional state having been rejected by Rosaline, and the fact that he falls in love with Juliet so easily could infer that he's immature. Shows the Friar's scepticism about his genuine feelings for Juliet.
• "So smile the heavens...chide us not."FRIAR(Act 2 Scene 6)Hopes that the heavens will be happy with his decision to marry Romeo and Juliet and nothing will happen in the future to cause him to regret marrying them "chide us not" - dramatic irony - audience knows that they die so he will regret marrying them from the prologue - builds tension
• Describe Friar's personality

  Friar Lawrence is a wise character who provides others with guidance. Romeo, Juliet, and even the Nurse turn to him when things turn sour, and all other characters trust him, even when he is found by the Capulet tomb at the end of the play with three people dead
• "O Lord, I could have stayed here all night to listen to good counsel. Oh what learning is!"

  (Act 3, Scene 3) - said by the Nurse, it highlights the Friar's wisdom and how he is admired and held in high regards
• "Peace ho, for shame! Confusion's cure lies not in these confusions" (Act 4, Scene 5) - the Friar is calm and reasonable, but is also listened to by the Capulets, one of the most powerful families in Verona; he is respected
• "And if aught in this miscarried by my fault, let my old life be sacrific'd "

  (Act 5, Scene 3) - Friar Lawrence is willing to accept responsibility for what happened
• "O deadly sin! O rude unthankfulness!"

  (Act 3, Scene 3) - Friar Lawrence is very critical of Romeo, often lambasting him for his stupid actions. He is wise and wishes to help Romeo for his misdoings
• "For this alliance may so happy prove to turn your households' rancour to pure love"

  (Act 2, Scene 3) - Friar Lawrence hopes by marrying Romeo and Juliet, he can end the "rancour" (hatred) between the families
• The way the Friar addresses Romeo and Juliet shows that he has a compassionate, loving, and paternal relationship with them: "daughter" "son"
• Friar Lawrence 2.6

  "These violent delights have violent ends"
• “These violent delights have violent ends” Friar Laurence, Act II, Scene VI

  friar uses oxymorons here, and throughout the play, to show the relationship between opposites

  • alludes to the opposing forces in all things: “violent” opposes the idea of “delight”
  • repetition of “violence” emphasises the tragic consequences of the feud
  • dark imagery foreshadows the marriage’s tragic outcome 
  • Shakespeare uses the friar’s character to present opposing forces in nature, a theme prevalent in the play
• “O deadly sin! O rude unthankfulness!”
• ”For this alliance may so prove to turn your households’ rancour to pure love”
• “daughter” “son”
• ”O Lord, I could have stayed here all night to listen to good counsel. Oh what learning is!”
• ”Pease ho, for shame! Confusion’s cure lies not in these confusions”
• ”And if I aught in this miscarried by my fault, let my old life be sacrific’d”
• ”Young men’s love then lies not truly in their hearts, but in their eyes”
• ”So smile the heavens … chide us not”
• ”Wisley and slow, they stumble that run fast”
• ”Till holy church incorporate two in one”
• “These violent nights have violent ends”