There are many complex themes and emotions in William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet that lead to certain events. There are also characters that aren’t exactly two-dimensional and don’t have just one constant emotion, showing that they change as the story moves on. This play has a storyline that changes dramatically and shows how life back then could have been. Many actions that were considered alright back then can be considered terrible and even unethical these days, though, which brings up Friar Lawrence’s decisions in the play to marry Romeo and Juliet. As said before, times have changed, so young people marrying was common, but now is not considered normal. Friar Lawrence’s actions, however, are still ethical in my opinion, as he does not force Romeo and Juliet to marry each other.
Whether or not it’s right or moral to marry two kids, one of them not yet 14, is a debate that has changed over the course of time, as things that used to be normal centuries ago are not anymore. Friar Lawrence, however, did not rush to marry them, and did not force Romeo nor Juliet to go along with the marriage. All he wanted to do was have the rivalry end between the Montagues and the Capulets. For example, he says, “Holy Saint Francis, what a change is here! Is Rosaline, that thou didst love so dear so soon forgotten?” (2.3.69-70) Friar Lawrence did mention that Romeo’s love is being paced too fast, and even tries to restrain him from going into things too fast. He does not force Romeo to marry as quickly as Romeo wanted to, and reminded him constantly of his unrequited love with Rosaline. Friar Lawrence did marry Romeo and Juliet, but they both agreed to it and asked him for it. This would help him with ending the rivalry as well, but it was still ethical as he did remind Romeo many times of how he was rushing into this situation. He also told Romeo, “Wisely and slow. They stumble that run fast.” (2.3.101) He is once again trying to remind Romeo to take his whole marriage business slowly as it will not end well later on, and it seems like this is foreshadowing. Friar Lawrence married them, however, under their pressing requests. He did not force them at all and him agreeing to marry them was ethical.
His actions were ethical in that time. Today, marrying two young kids would be immoral and completely wrong, but, back then, that was an extremely common occurrence. However, he did not do anything that Romeo nor Juliet didn’t want to, and was actually reluctant and hesitant to marry these two as they were rushing into their marriage. He only thought of the impact that their marriage would have on the rivalry between the Montague’s and the Capulet’s, hoping that the union concerning their love for one another would end the fighting and let Verona be in peace. He just wanted everything to have a positive end and did not want anything to go wrong.
In conclusion, Friar Lawrence’s decision to marry Romeo and Juliet was ethical in my opinion. He did it upon request from Romeo and Juliet, even hesitant to marry them at first, and realized that this marriage would help end the rivalry between the two households. Times have also changed, so marrying children today is immoral, but back then, it would have been normal. Other than the age, the marriage was ethical and was only meant to do good for everyone.
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