Paragraph Revision of Written Task 1

Friar Lawrence is a controlling factor in the relationship of Romeo and Juliet and in many ways causes their relationship to fall apart and what causes their deaths. He tries to build a sense of calm into a buzzing, nervous and desperate Romeo by attempting to manipulate him into finding a new home and subsequently a new bride when he says “Here from Verona art thou banished, the world is broad and wide for you Romeo”. This is the first sign of manipulation from Friar Lawrence to Romeo and really the only one worth mentioning, although small and subtle it is there. It becomes more noticeable when he is talking to Juliet about Romeo’s banishment and this is really where Friar Lawrence tries to bend the branches of fate into his favor. He says to Juliet after she threatens suicide “Hold, daughter! I do spy a kind of hope, which craves as desperate an execution as that is desperate which we would prevent. If rather than to marry County Paris, thou hast the strength of will to slay thyself, then is it likely thou wilt undertake a thing like death to chide away this shame, that cop’st with Death himself to scape from it; and if thou darest, I’ll give thee remedy.”. This is basically telling Juliet that he has an idea and that since you have the guts to kill yourself you’ll have the guts to do this and if you do I’ll help you. This is when Juliet takes the potion that will fake her death and was supposed to reunite her with Romeo, and did, not in life, but in death.