Friar Laurence knows just as well as anyone else the great tension between the Montagues and the Capulets. When Romeo, a Montague, comes to the friar asking if he would help him marry Juliet, a Capulet, the friar should have counseled Romeo to take his time. The friar however, seems just as eager as Romeo to rush into things, but his intentions are not bad. In the friars mind, he thinks marriage will bring about an “alliance [that] may so happy prove to turn [their] households' rancor to pure love” (2.3.91-92). He sees Romeo and Juliet’s love as the rope that can bring these families closer together. Maybe their love can outshine the hatred. The Friar though was not living in a fantasy world. He knows that “these violent delights have violent ends and in their triumph die, like fire and powder” (2.6.9-10). He knows that no matter how much he wants this to work, there is always something that might go wrong. He explains that this beautiful plan may blow up and cause more destruction and divide, but to him, the little glimmer of hope is worth it. He is thinking of the big picture and forgets the effects this covenant of marriage may have on the lovers …show more content…
It is a story of love at first sight and unfortunately it was a love that was fated to die. As soon as Juliet finds out who the mysterious boy is, she is heartbroken. She finally found someone she, not her parents love, and all she wants to do is to be with him. She knows however that he is her “only love sprung from [her] only hate! Too early seen unknown, and known too late! (1.5.138-139). She wishes it could be different but the heart wants what it wants. Now, feeling more pressure to defy her parents forcing of marriage, she is determined for this forbidden love to work. Romeo, having just gotten over the breakup with another girl, is desperately looking for something to take his mind off it. Juliet is the answer. He sees her beauty, and from that moment on, does not care that she is his enemy. As their love for each other grows, they realize it is getting harder to keep it a secret. They know however that they can not openly love each other because of the great divide in their families. Romeo then goes as far as to tell juliet “let me be ta'en. Let me be put to death. I am content, so thou wilt have it so” (3.5.17-18). He expresses that even if their love working out means death, he would go to that extreme without hesitation. His love for her is so great, he would rather die than live without her. Both of them used the other as a means to get their