Friar Laurence
Friar Laurence | |
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Romeo and Juliet character | |
Created by | William Shakespeare |
Friar Laurence or Friar Lawrence is a character in William Shakespeare's play Romeo and Juliet.
Role in the play
Friar Laurence is a friar who plays the part of a wise adviser to Romeo and Juliet, along with aiding in major plot developments.
Alone, he foreshadows the later, tragic events of the play with his soliloquy about plants and their similarities to humans.[1] When Romeo requests the Friar marry him to Juliet, he is shocked, because only days before, Romeo had been infatuated with Rosaline,[2] a woman who did not return his love. Nevertheless, Friar Laurence decides to marry Romeo and Juliet in the attempt to stop the civil feud between the Capulets and the Montagues.[3]
When Romeo is banished for killing
Metre
Shakespeare uses a variety of poetic forms throughout the play. He begins with a 14-line
Portrayals
In 1968 the part of Friar Lawrence was played by Milo O'Shea in Romeo and Juliet. In 1996, the role was played by Pete Postlethwaite in Romeo + Juliet.
The West Side Story (1961) character Doc fills a similar role to Friar Lawrence; Doc was played by Ned Glass. In the 2021 version, that role was rewritten for Rita Moreno as Doc's widow.
References
- ^ Romeo and Juliet 2.3/1–22, Folger Shakespeare Library
- ^ Romeo and Juliet 2.3/69–85
- ^ Romeo and Juliet 2.3/28–31, Romeo and Juliet 2.3/98–99
- ^ Romeo and Juliet 4.1/69–77, Romeo and Juliet 4.1/91–122
- ^ Romeo and Juliet 5.2/5–12
- ^ Romeo and Juliet 5.3/72–73
- ^ Romeo and Juliet 5.3/119–120
- ^ Romeo and Juliet 4.5/62–79
- ^ Romeo and Juliet 5.3/145–152
- ^ Romeo and Juliet 5.3/161–162
- ^ a b Halio 1998, p. 51.
Sources
- Halio, Jay (1998). Romeo and Juliet: A Guide to the Play. Westport: ISBN 0-313-30089-5 – via Internet Archive.