Everybody needs a father figure to look up to and get advice from. In the romantic
tragedy play, Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare, Friar Laurence acts as father to Romeo.
Friar Laurence is a father-figure to Romeo because Montague isn’t as good as a father to Romeo
as Friar is, Friar helps Romeo in his times of need even when doing so is against the rules, and
Friar always tries to act in Romeo’s best interest.
Some people argue that Friar never actually helped Romeo because they believe that
Friar’s actions eventually resulted in Romeo and his lover’s deaths. Friar does make a few bad
decisions, such as when he sent a subordinate, Friar John, to deliver the vital message that Juliet
had a fake death which ultimately ends up causing the death of both lovers.
Despite this, he values Romeo’s happiness and wellbeing more than Romeo’s actual
father. Instead of going to Montague for advice, Romeo oftentimes goes to Friar instead, as
shown when Romeo goes to Friar for advice about his forbidden love for Juliet when Romeo
says to Friar, “I have been feasting with mine enemy” (2.3.53). This shows that Romeo trusts
Friar Laurence with his secrets more than his own father.
When Romeo is in need of guidance or help, Friar is always there to assist him. There are
many cases in the play where Friar goes against the legislation of the town to aid Romeo in his
endeavors. One time when Friar helped Romeo is when he married Juliet and Romeo, as shown
when Friar tells Romeo, “In one respect I’ll thy assistant be; For this alliance may so happy
prove, To turn your households’ rancour to pure love” (2.3.97-99). This shows that Friar is aware
that Romeo and Juliet’s households are enemies but...
