"These violent delights have violent ends and in their triumph die, like fire and powder..." With these words, moments before he married Romeo and Juliet, Friar Laurence unknowingly foretold what would eventually happen to them. The Friar was a religious man, with a deep understanding of herbs and potions. From agreeing to marry the immature couple, to leaving Juliet in the tomb, Friar Laurence was blind. Intelligent as he was, he continued to ignore the dangers and he acted hastily. Many times, he was driven by selfish motives. Hoping to end the feud between the Capulets and the Montagues, the Friar set into motion a chain of events that led to tragedy and death.

Exercising poor judgment, the Friar married Romeo and Juliet when they were clearly not ready. Acting on his own desire to be a hero, he hoped to rid Verona of the violent feud between...