Romeo and Juliet First Impression Friar
First Impression Friar Laurence, a holy man and healer, is a troublesome man to characterize right away. When giving advice to Romeo, a lovesick Montague about love and relationships, he appears clever and powerful, chiding Romeo “Young men’s love then lies not truly in their hearts, but in their eyes”(2,3,67-68). Friar Laurence is greatly shocked by Romeo’s quickly changing love. He seems to know the best for Romeo, swiftly stating that Romeo’s love for Juliet is not from the heart, but rather from her looks alone. Appearing to want the best for Romeo, Friar is like the young lover’s mentor, giving him fatherly advice on love. Later in the scene, however, Friar Laurence’s own ideals begin to waver. After Romeo confesses to his love for “rich Capulet’s daughter,” Friar Laurence declares, “For this alliance may so happy prove to turn your households’ rancor to pure love” (2,3,91-92). Despite the advice Friar Laurence previously gave to Romeo moments ago, he agrees to marry Romeo and Juliet for the sake of ending the feud between the Montagues and Capulets. He cannot support his own decision, changing it in an instant. This portrays that the Friar likes to shift his opinions just as often as Romeo shifts his passions. Similarly to how Romeo moves his feelings from one woman to the next, the Friar switches his opinions constantly. Because of the two character’s hastiness, they both play important roles in the outcome of the play. With his constantly changing decisions and pompous trait, Friar Laurence seems untrustworthy. Although he means well, wanting to end the feud and help Romeo, his unpredictable nature makes his motives and ideas questionable, his personality rubbing off as