Blog #6 Friar Lawrence is a peacekeeper

I agree that Friar Lawrence is a peacekeeper. He never presents in any family conflict so far. He is also a monk that generally promotes peace on the land. However, strong evidence that indicates him as a peacekeeper is mostly shown in his conversations between Romeo and Juliet. By using controversial prove method, we can see that Friar Lawrence is a peacekeeper. This blog will discuss Friar Lawrence's action by order as the play progresses.

Friar Lawrence first appears in the Act 2 Scene 3. He talks about the power of nature and how controversial it is. There is an important foreshadowing in his speech about “Within the infant rind of this weak flower Poison hath residence and medicine power.” It foreshadows the love that leads Romeo and Juliet’s death and consequently leads the Montague and the Capulet’s reconciliation. The speech also indicates that he believes that hatred can be reversed by love and no more conflicts will occur. Under this consideration, Friar Lawrence tends to create peace.

In the Act 2 Scene 3, Friar Lawrence does not believe Romeo’s feeling towards to Juliet. He thinks Romeo changes too fast. He also states that Romeo loves only on Juliet’s appearance as saying “Not truly in their hearts, hunt in their eyes.” Friar Lawrence does not believe Romeo and Juliet’s burst of love would propel the marriage until their lives cease. However, even though Friar Lawrence knows the consequent might have between Romeo and Juliet’s future relationship, he agrees with the marriage. Later in the scene, himself states his wish to use Romeo and Juliet’s marriage to turn the “ households’ rancor to pure love.” Although we can see Friar Lawrence is usually as an advisor to Romeo, in this event, he puts his sight a step further, gives Romeo advise that based on reconciling the households rather than Romeo’s profit.

In the Act 2 Scene 4, the theory that Friar Lawrence does not put good faith on the lovers originally is reinforced. He although being surprised by their close relationship, he acts conservatively on their kisses and hugs. By saying “we will make short work,” Friar Lawrence tends to make the marriage simple and short because he is afraid that the lovers will change their minds. He fastens the marriage process seems like helping Romeo and Juliet to accomplish their goal of marriage. However, Friar Lawrence himself thought the marriage is not appropriate for the two. He makes the marriage in a hurry thus the couples are tied and be incorporated into one. His words “incorporate two in one” can also mean incorporate the two families in one. The conflicts between two families had been long, thus he has to make the incorporation as fast as possible. From his eagerness of reconciling the families, Friar Lawrence is no doubt a peacekeeper.

In conclusion, Friar Lawrence is a peacekeeper. His role as a peacekeeper can be seen mostly from his attitude towards Romeo and Juliet’s relationship. Although he usually provides suggestions for Romeo based on what he thinks is good for Romeo, he does not do so because he thinks Romeo’s benefit is inferior to the reconciliation of the two families.