Is Friar Laurence the one to blame for Romeo and Juliet’s deaths? He certainly blames himself, but finds it important to explain his reasons: “And here I stand, both to impeach and purge / Myself condemned and myself excused.” The prince seems to absolve the friar, telling him they “still have known thee for a holy man.” Some actors have said that the friar tells everyone what happened as a kind of confession, telling the...
Is Friar Laurence the one to blame for Romeo and Juliet’s deaths? He certainly blames himself, but finds it important to explain his reasons: “And here I stand, both to impeach and purge / Myself condemned and myself excused.” The prince seems to absolve the friar, telling him they “still have known thee for a holy man.” Some actors have said that the friar tells everyone what happened as a kind of confession, telling the story to work through his personal guilt.
Whatever his reasons, Friar Laurence is the most knowledgeable about why Romeo and Juliet committed suicide. He describes the reasons for their actions. Unlike Romeo and Juliet, the friar is not an impetuous youth. He is known as a wise “holy man.” Therefore the friar would be listened to much more than Romeo and Juliet.
Friar Laurence describes how desperately in love Romeo and Juliet were. His report makes it clear that the two killed themselves because they knew they could never be together, only because their families warred. The prince believes him, and the parents do not contradict the respectable friar. They must face the fact that they partially contributed to the deaths of their children. Lord Montague and Lord Capulet make a treaty, referring to Romeo and Juliet as “Poor sacrifices of our enmity!” Through the friar’s testimony and a few other forms of proof, the Montagues and Capulets can finally make peace.
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