Choose one of the following essay prompts.
I. In Act IV, Scene 1 of Romeo and Juliet, Juliet cries, “O, bid me leap, rather than marry Paris . . . And I will do it without fear or doubt.”
Both Romeo and Juliet seek out Friar Lawrence for counsel during their difficulties. How does he affect their decisions, and eventually, the outcome of the play? Write an essay analyzing the cause-and-effect relationship between the two lovers and Friar Lawrence. You may want to address why Friar Lawrence marries the two in the first place, and the results of his advice throughout the story. The introduction of your essay should include an attention-getter and thesis statement. The body of your essay should explore how and why Friar Lawrence orchestrates many of the developments in the plot. Close your essay with an overall conclusion, including a restatement of the thesis.
II. By the end of Romeo and Juliet, Paris and Romeo, both of whom loved Juliet, are dead. The two characters, however, are very different. Write an essay comparing and contrasting the two men. The introduction of your essay should include an attention-getter and thesis statement. The body of your essay should provide examples of similarities and differences regarding their attitudes toward love, traditions, and fidelity, as well as their actions. Close your essay with an overall conclusion, including a restatement of the thesis.
Select the link to access the English Essay Rubric.
mouse icon English Rubric Essay
(16 points)
I. In Act IV, Scene 1 of Romeo and Juliet, Juliet cries, “O, bid me leap, rather than marry Paris . . . And I will do it without fear or doubt.” Both Romeo and Juliet seek out Friar Lawrence for counsel during their difficulties. How does he affect their decisions, and eventually, the outcome of the play? Write an essay analyzing the cause-and-effect relationship between the two lovers and Friar Lawrence. You may want to address why Friar Lawrence marries the two in the first place, and the results of his advice throughout the story. The introduction of your essay should include an attention-getter and thesis statement. The body of your essay should explore how and why Friar Lawrence orchestrates many of the developments in the plot. Close your essay with an overall conclusion, including a restatement of the thesis.
Friar Lawrence plays a crucial role in the tragic outcome of Romeo and Juliet by offering advice and taking actions that ultimately lead to their deaths. From the beginning of the play, Friar Lawrence is presented as a trusted advisor and confidant to both Romeo and Juliet. He is the one who agrees to marry them in secret, hoping that their union will help to end the feud between their families. However, it is Friar Lawrence's questionable decisions and misguided interventions that contribute to the disastrous events that unfold.
One of the most pivotal moments in the play is when Friar Lawrence devises a plan for Juliet to fake her own death in order to avoid marrying Paris. He gives her a potion that will make her appear dead for 42 hours, with the intention that she will be reunited with Romeo once she wakes up. However, due to a series of unfortunate events and miscommunications, Romeo believes Juliet is truly dead and takes his own life. When Juliet awakens and discovers Romeo's lifeless body, she also chooses to end her own life, leading to a tragic double suicide.
Throughout the play, Friar Lawrence's advice and actions have a direct impact on the decisions made by Romeo and Juliet. His well-intentioned but ultimately misguided efforts to help the young lovers ultimately lead to their untimely deaths. In the end, Friar Lawrence's involvement in the lives of Romeo and Juliet serves as a cautionary tale about the consequences of acting hastily and without considering the full ramifications of one's actions. The tragic outcome of the play serves as a reminder of the destructive power of unchecked emotions and the importance of thoughtful, wise counsel. Friar Lawrence's influence on Romeo and Juliet's decisions ultimately seals their fate and brings about the heartbreaking conclusion of the play.