Romeo and Juliet by Wiliam Shakespeare - 698 Words

In William Shakespeare’s, Romeo and Juliet, there are numerous of dramatic purposes that the characters serve in the building of the story. One major character that stands out is Friar Laurence who is a wise and holy man respected by everyone in Verona. However, you should not let that presentation of him fool you. There are a variety of times Friar Laurence has committed sins of dishonesty and deception. The few but many dramatic purposes Friar Laurence has in Romeo and Juliet include: being a mastermind with medicine, peacemaker, and the main reason for Romeo and Juliet’s death. One of Friar Laurence’s major dramatic purposes in Romeo and Juliet is being a peacemaker. â€Å"For this alliance may so happy prove, to turn your households rancor to pure love (2.3.90-92).† Friar Laurence makes this statement thinking that if he married Romeo and Juliet, there would be peace between their families. However, the Friar already knew that Romeo and Juliet are not really in love with each other, but merely charmed by each other’s lust. â€Å"So smile the heavens upon this holy act that after hours with sorrow chide us not (2.6.1-2)!† Since Friar Laurence is known in Verona as being a holy man, he takes this marriage proposal as being a message sent from the heavens, and hopes that nothing unfortunate happens later. Soon after the marriage, Friar Laurence takes into consideration that the marriage he officiated between Romeo and Juliet was his own foolish idea and not a message sent from the