"In one respect I'll thy assistant be, that this alliance may so happy prove, to turn thy households' rancor to pure love" (2.4, 93-95). With these words, Friar Lawrence begins a long chain of events that eventually leads to the deaths of the star-crossed lovers in one of the most celebrated love stories of all time: Romeo and Juliet, by William Shakespeare. Friar Lawrence formulates a plan to save the love between Romeo and Juliet, but tragically, it all was to no avail. Although Friar Lawrence exhibits the best of intentions in his actions, his naivety, manipulation, and recklessness ultimately labels him as a classic tragic hero.

Our first encounter with Friar Lawrence is in the monastery gardens, with the friar carrying a basket of herbs. The words he says there gave the audience a quick insight as to the role he is going to, however unconsciously, play, "Nor...