Friar Laurence
A Person Should Not Help Two People Rush Into a Relationship
Act 3, Scene 3
In Act 3, Scene 3, Romeo is banished from Verona. Romeo, all depressed, says to Friar Laurence, "'Is death misterned. Calling death 'banishment,' Thou cutt'st my head off with a golden ax. And smilest upon the stroke that murders me'" (p. 1056, lines 21-23). This scene relates to the theme, because Friar Laurence has built up Romeo and Juliet's love too much. The relationship has gotten to the point where Romeo actually goes insane, when he finds out that he can't be near Juliet anymore. His insanity is shown when he says he'd rather die than stay away from her.
Act 4, Scene 1
In this scene, Friar Laurence comes up with a plan to help Juliet run away with Romeo. As Juliet cries over Romeo, Friar Laurence says to her, "'Hold, daughter. I do spy a kind of hope, which craves as desperate an execution'" (p. 1074, lines 75-77). This scene relates to the theme, because when relationships are rushed into, so are the decisions made. This being said, Friar Laurence did not have enough time to think if giving the sleeping potion to Juliet was the best idea. In the end, it was not the best decision, for Romeo arrived at an unexpected time, unaware of the plan.
Act 4, Scene 5
In this scene, Friar Laurence is speaking to the Capulets, and he pretends to mourn over Juliet's death, for he knows she isn't really dead. He says to Juliet's parents, "'Your part in her could not keep from death, but heaven keeps his part in eternal life'" (p. 1083, lines 79-80). This ties back to the theme, because Friar Laurence did not tell the Capulets that Juliet is not really dead. If he had told them, Paris wouldn't have visited her grave, and he would not have died in the final fight. The relevance to the theme is that, when relationships happen too quickly, we tend to keep secrets for those in love, when, really, it's best to tell those secrets.
Act 5, Scene 3
At the end of the play, the Prince lectures all of the Capulets, and Montagues, letting them know that their feud has ended the lives of two people, who died for love. He says to the crowd, "'-Capulet! Montague! See what scourge is laid upon your hate, that heavens finds means to kill your joys with love! And I, for winking at your discords, too have lost a brace of kinsmen. All are punished!'"( p.1101, lines 315-319). This last text basically sums up the idea of the theme, because Romeo and Juliet's relationship was doomed from the start. If they would have taken time to realize how difficult it would be to be together, perhaps not as many people would have died. These relationships should not be encouraged by peers. In this case, Friar Laurence represents the encouraging peer.