In Shakespeare’s play Romeo and Juliet the characters Nurse and Friar Laurence are responsible for Romeo and Juliet’s troubles and miseries.
The way Friar Laurence supported Romeo and Juliet to get Married, The way the Nurse is opposing in her regards of Romeo and Paris, When Friar Laurence clandestinely married them, the way the Nurse is enigmatic about the matter and does not tell the Capulet’s or the Montague’s, when Laurence gave Juliet the sleeping mixture, the way Laurence considered he was making the right thing without taking into account the probable outcomes, and the way Laurence departs Juliet’s Tomb when he heeds the watch coming, all coalesce to result in the devotees bereavement.
In act II scene III, Romeo goes to meet Friar Laurence to tell that he no longer adores Rosaline, but has fallen in love with Juliet. This astonishes Friar Laurence, but he undertakes to marry them,
“O, she knew well
Thy love did read by rote, that could not spell.
But come, young waverer, come, go with me.
In one respect I’ll assistant be.
For this alliance may so happy prove
To turn your household’s rancour to pure love.”
Lady Capulet suggests the reason of marriage into the discussion, but Juliet does not desire to get married. Lady Capulet then mentions Paris’s name and the Nurse states he is a ‘man of wax’, which denotes a perfect man.
“Well, you have made a simple choice. You
Know not how to choose a man. Romeo? No, not he.
Though his face be better than any man’s, yet his leg
Excels all men’s; and for a hand and a foot, and a
Body, though they be not to be talked on, yet they
Are past compare. He is not the flower of courtesy,
But, I’ll warrant him, as gentle as a lamb. Go thy
Ways, wench. Serve God. What, have you dined
At home?” (Nurse, Act II Scene V, sentence 38-46)
In this quotation, The Nurse notifies Juliet that she considers Juliet is in love with Romeo for his appearance only, and also herself considers Romeo is attractive herself, though she does not condemn of Juliet’s feelings towards him.
Romeo has just murdered Tybalt. The Nurse is offering her suggestion on all men. In her last decree “Shame come to Romeo”, The Nurse is revealing her newest feeling she has for Romeo. As the Nurse has these assorted feeling about Romeo and Paris all through the play, She is unintentionally sending mixed letters to Juliet and puzzling her, further influencing on the lover’s troubles.
In Act II Scene VI, Friar Laurence secretly marries Romeo and Juliet without knowledge of the consequences
Romeo
“Ah, Juliet, if the measure of thy joy
Be heaped like mine, and that thy skill be more
To blazon it, then sweeten with thy breath
This neighbour air, and let rich music’s tongue
Unfold the imagined happiness that both
Receive in either by this dear encounter.”
Juliet
“Conceit, more rich in matter than in words,
Brags of this substance, not of ornament.
They are but beggars that can count their worth
But my true love has grown to such excess
I can not sum up half my sum of wealth.”
Friar Laurence
“Come, come with me, and we will make short work.
For by your leaves, you shall not stay alone
Till Holy Church incorporate two in one.”
(Act II Scene VI, sentence 24-37)