Good Intensions Equals Bad Planning

Many characteristics in the play of Romeo & Juliet by William Shakespeare play a role of some sort that in the end contribute to the overall outcome. Some of Friar Laurence's choices had influenced the final outcome of the play in a number of ways whether it is the marriage, or faking of Juliet's death to the tragedy itself is very influential. But do to some errors in planning by the Friar lead to the inevitable tragedy of Romeo and Juliet.

The Friar's choice to wed the young couple was of good intension. Friar warns Romeo about consequence of rushing into love. "O, she knew well/ Thy love did read by rote and could not spell." (ii, iii, 90-91). He knew that rushing into something such as marriage could be subsequent. However, the existing feud between Capulet and Montague, in Friar's ego, looked to have a chance at diminishing the feud. "Come, come with me, and we will make short work;/ For, by you leaves, you shall not stay alone/ Till Holy Church incorporate two in one." (ii, vi, 35-37). By marrying one of the Montague's with one that of the Capulet's, the friar could envisioned a chance. What the Friar did not account for was that by marrying Romeo of Montague and Juliet of Capulet, a sequence of events, would lead to Romeo's banishment resulting from this marriage. His first major decision to marry the young couple is one that triggers to the eventual final outcome of Romeo and Juliet death.

Friar Laurence's next choice was to fake Juliet's death so that she could avert the marriage with Paris and allow her to live happily with Romeo in Mantua. The Friar devised a plan so that Juliet could ran away with Romeo and not have to marry Paris, she would have to drink a potion in her in complete secrecy. ""...Go home, be merry, give consent/ To marry Paris: Wednesday is to-morrow;/ To-morrow night look that thou lie alone;/ Let not thy nurse lie with thee in thy chamber;/ Take thou this vial, being then in bed, / And this distilled drink thou off." (iv, I, 90-94). The Friar did not count on the letter, which informed Romeo of the plan to fail. "I could not send it. / Nor get a messenger to bring thee, / So fearful; were they of infection." (v, ii, 14-16) Friar Lawrence did not stress the importance of the letter. As a result, Friar John did not see that it was delivered to Romeo while under quarantine. Another fault in his plan was informing Romeo of who was delivering the letter. "I'll find out your man,/ and he shall signify from time to time/ every good hap to your chances here". (iii, iii, 173-175). Friar Laurence has not considered carefully his course of action, and because of this he setting off the second trigger that leads to the final outcome.

The Friar plays a crucial role in the actual deaths of Romeo and