friar lawrence

• Friar Lawrence


  A franciscan monk who lives in a humble shack on the outskirts of Verona, performs priestly duties like marrying people, helping absolve sins, and making medicines
• Friar Lawrence


  • He is the play's primary religious character and represents the Catholic Church
  • He advances the plot through the assistance and plans he offers Romeo and Juliet
• Friar Lawrence: 'Within the infant rind of this weak flower, poison half residence and medicine power'
• Friar Lawrence's wisdom


  He is knowledgeable about plants and aware of their harmful and healing potential
• Juliet goes to Friar Lawrence


  To seek his remedy for her troubles
• Friar Lawrence: 'I'll thy assistant be, for this alliance may so happy prove to turn your household's ranker to pure love'
• Friar Lawrence's response to Romeo's request

  He offers to help and marry Romeo and Juliet in the hope of ending the feud between the families
• Friar Lawrence's advice to Romeo

  Love moderately, not too swift nor too slow
• Friar Lawrence attempts to console Romeo


  Reminds him that his punishment of banishment is less harsh than death
• Friar Lawrence responds harshly to Romeo's devastation


  Questions Romeo's masculinity, telling him his tears are "womanish"