Pete Postlethwaite portrays Friar Lawrence in Baz Luhrmann's 1996 film version of Romeo and Juliet. No stranger to the Bard, Postlethwaite is a veteran of England's Royal Shakespeare Company.

The Friar, a Franciscan monk in Verona, is a priest who has taken the vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. As the confidante and confessor to both Romeo and Juliet, he is privy to their innermost thoughts and desires.

It is the Friar who agrees to marry Romeo and Juliet in secrecy, though he knows their parents would not consent. He also concocts the plan for Juliet to play dead and is supposed to get the word out to Romeo. He fails.

Nothing that Friar Lawrence touches turns out right. What are his motivations for getting so deeply involved with the star-crossed lovers?

Friar Lawrence's first appearance onstage suggests a framework for understanding his character. While gardening, he contemplates the coexistence of good and evil in nature and in people.

Friar Lawrence would have worn something similar to this plain brown robe commonly worn by Franciscans.

Romeo greets the Friar "Good morrow, father" (2.3.31), and Friar Lawrence responds by calling Romeo "young son" (2.3.33). Though these appellations are appropriate because of the religious context, this interchange has greater resonance. It is not just the exchange between the priest and the penitent. The Friar also stands in for Romeo's own father since there are no scenes between Romeo and his parents. The Friar is the only person to whom Romeo turns for advice, and he is the last person to whom Juliet turns after all others have forsaken her. In this sense, he is father to them both and responsible for upholding order.

The Friar is suspicious of Romeo's sudden change of heart. He knows that Romeo has been pining for Rosaline and he tells Romeo that Rosaline did not return his love because she could tell that it "did read by rote, that could not spell" (2.3.88). Basically, he tells Romeo that he was never really in love with Rosaline and that he was just repeating empty words he didn't really understand. After such a quick turnabout, the Friar has good reason to be suspicious of Romeo's new love.

Perhaps the Friar is right. But why does he agree to help Romeo?

He consents to be a conspirator in the strange alliance because he thinks it might end the feud between the brawling households. That's a pretty bad plan and a lot to ask of a marriage — particularly a hasty and secretive one. Yet in the framework that Shakespeare has erected, the Friar's motivation might be "action dignified" (2.3.22) and can perhaps be understood as balancing vice and virtue. Obviously, he hopes that this bad plan will work out.

At the same time, the Friar recognizes that the use of the sacrament of matrimony in such a stealthy manner may very well have terrible consequences. He worries that a sad ending will result.

The Friar tries to act as a voice of reason to temper the mounting hysteria as the tragedy unfolds. After slaying Tybalt, Romeo flees to the relative safety of the Friar Lawrence's cell. When Romeo bemoans his banishment and refers to it as a fate less merciful than death, the Friar seems irritated.

Translation: "Pull yourself together, Romeo. You're lucky you haven't been sentenced to death."

The priest admonishes Romeo for behaving so melodramatically. He wants Romeo to pull himself together and behave rationally. He also tells Romeo to stop crying, to stop acting like a girl, and to count his blessings.

St. Francis of Assisi founded of the monastic order to which Shakespeare's placed Friar Lawrence belonged.

This advice is a marked difference from the advice the Nurse gives to Juliet. The Nurse counsels Juliet to give up Romeo and go for Paris instead. She thinks it is a safer and better choice for Juliet.

But the Friar tells Romeo to consummate the marriage before leaving for Mantua. Going to the Capulet home was risky before Tybalt's death. After his banishment, being discovered at the Capulet home is a certain death sentence for Romeo. The Friar's advice leaves the audience wondering whose interest he is watching at this point. Is he looking out for Romeo, Juliet, or himself? Does he want to make sure this union is consummated so the two feuding households must unite?

Friar Lawrence	Hold, daughter. I do spy a kind of hope, Which craves as desperate an execution As that is desperate which we would prevent. If, rather than to marry County Paris, Thou hast the strength of will to slay thyself, Then is it likely thou wilt undertake A thing like death to chide away this shame, That cop'st with Death himself to 'scape from it; And, if thou dar'st, I'll give thee remedy.
(4.1.68-76)

Like the herb that Friar Lawrence gave Juliet, the mandrake has a powerful narcotic effect. It attracted the attention and superstition of several writers during Shakespeare's time.

Is faking death a "vice sometime by action dignified" (2.3.22)? How can the Friar believe that this sort of deception is a good idea? He suggests that Juliet lie to her parents by consenting to marry Paris and then drink the sleeping potion.

It gets worse.

Friar Lawrence	I hear some noise. Lady, come from that nest Of death, contagion, and unnatural sleep. A greater power than we can contradict Hath thwarted our intents. Come, come away. Thy husband in thy bosom there lies dead; And Paris too. Come, I'll dispose of thee Among a sisterhood of holy nuns. Stay not to question, for the watch is coming. Come, go, good Juliet. [Noise again.] I dare no longer stay. Exit
(5.3.151-59)

Friar Lawrence	All this I know, and to the marriage Her nurse is privy; and, if aught in this Miscarried by my fault, let my old life Be sacrific'd, some hour before his time, Unto the rigour of severest law.
(5.3.265-69)

The Friar tells the whole sad tale and concludes by implicating the Nurse and himself in the debacle. He does not apologize for his role, but says that if anything that has transpired is his fault, he should be punished. If? That's a big question. Though Prince Escalus does not punish the Friar, the audience must decide whether such leniency is appropriate. Apparently, the Friar still believes that his actions were justified.

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