Evidence (quotes and examples) of how friar Lawrence was the main cause for the deaths in Romeo and Juliet
1. "Young men's love then lies not truly in their hearts, but in their eyes". (Act 2, Scene 3) - This was said by the Friar in an attempt to dissuade Romeo from his infatuation with Rosaline. However, this advice led to Romeo meeting Juliet and quickly falling in love with her, which ultimately led to the tragic events that unfolded.
2. "Those who have the power to hurt us, also have the power to heal us." (Act 2, Scene 3) - This statement suggests that the Friar had the power to prevent the tragedy from happening. Unfortunately, he did not realize the extent of the young lovers' rash decisions and did not take appropriate action to stop their tragic fate.
3. "Take thou this vial, being then in bed, and this distilled liquor drink thou off; when presently through all thy veins shall run a cold and drowsy humour". (Act 4, Scene 1) - This is a quote from the Friar, where he gives Juliet a potion to fake her death. This plan failed, and the tragic events that followed could have been avoided if the Friar had better thought through his actions.
4. "And here I stand, both to impeach and purge, myself condemned and myself excused." (Act 5, Scene 3) - This confession from the Friar towards the end of the play highlights that he feels guilty for his actions. He acknowledges that he was partly responsible for the tragic deaths of Romeo and Juliet, but also tries to justify his own actions as being made with good intentions.
In conclusion, Friar Lawrence played a crucial role in the tragedy of Romeo and Juliet. His advice to Romeo, the plan to fake Juliet's death, and his inability to act when the situation was escalating were all contributing factors that led to the untimely deaths of the young lovers.