“Within the infant rind of this weak
flower, poison hath residence and medicine power.”
Pivotal character - his belief in
balance foreshadows the effect of his actions against his intentions – Friar
Lawrence is a man who believes in virtue and vice – wants to heal the rift – dual
nature within his plants suggest coexistence of good and evil – strong
undercurrent – his intentions of ending the feud are good but his plans lead
the two lovers awry and precipitate the tragic ending
“For this alliance may so happy prove to
turn your households’ rancour to pure love”
Friar Lawrence believes that this holy
marriage would bring the Capulet family and Montague family closer together,
for he anticipates that the families will stop hating each other and be peaceful
- antithesis between rancor and love show his awareness of the extremity of the
feud – this serves as justification for his reasons for being so desperate to
end it - admirable but poorly planned and executed attempts to reconcile the
rivalling families – good intentions but short-sighted
“A cold and drowsy humor” “shall free
thee from thy present shame”
Driven by his overeagerness to pacify
the two rival families – perilous and risky plan and manipulates Juliet into
doing so – through verbal sleight – by presenting the situation as an
imprisoning, shameful one then presenting his solution of “death” as sleepy,
tranquil, peaceful – liberating “free” – subliminally ease Juliet to agree to
his plan – catalyst – “shall” = imperative – highlights sense of finality
“If no inconstant toy nor womanish fear
should abate thy valour in the acting it”
Unnecessary nature of this remark –
manipulative side – direct contrast to the devout, righteous and holy
characters that readers would expect a priest or religious figure to posses –
provoke Juliet – elicits a defiant response – “O tell me not of fear” – cunning
and desperate to resolve the feud
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