There are two instances in which Friar Laurence acts upon
his own judgments in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. The first, of course, is in
marrying Romeo and Juliet; the second is providing Juliet the vial to drink that will
induce a death-like state. By giving Juliet the potion, the Friar hopes to (a) gain
some time for the parents to calm down and prevent Juliet from killing herself in
desperation by giving her an alternative choice:
If rather than marry Count
Paris
You have the strength of will to kill
yourself,
Then it is likely you will
try
Something like death to chase this shame
away
Something that will cover you with death himself to
escape from it?
And, if you will take the dare, I'll give
you the solution.
(2.1.70-75)
The Friar also
hopes to (b) force the parents to realize how much they love their daughter as they
believe her dead. Friar Laurence hopes that when Juliet is "returned to life" Lord and
Lady Capulet will be so overjoyed that she is alive that they will be reasonable about
her marriage and seek to ameliorate their relationship with the Montagues. He promises
Juliet that he will send for Romeo that she may return to Mantua with him when she
awakens.
Now,
to return to the first interference of Friar Laurence. It is stated by him that the
Friar does, indeed, not want the couple to commit mortal sins by having sexual relations
outside of marriage--
Come, come with me, and we will make short
work,
For, by your leaves, you shall not stay
alond
Till Holy Church incorporate two in one.
(2.6.35-37)
However, it also
stands to reason and is consistent with his thinking in the second situation that the
Friar also hopes that if the chldren of the feuding families marry, then the parents may
feel compelled to live amicably for the sake of their children's happiness as well as
for that of possible grandchildren. He tells Romeo,
So smile the Heavens upon this holy
act
That afterhours with sorrow chide us not!
(2.6.1-2)
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