In Shakespeare's play Romeo and Juliet, Brother Laurence plays a major role. As a member of the Order of Saint Francis, a group of wise and generous priests, Romeo and Juliet trusted Friar Laurence completely, turning to him for advice and solutions. He was there throughout the lives of Romeo and Juliet; he married them, hatched a plan to keep them together, and was a friend throughout their tragedies. However, Friar Laurence's rash action in marrying Romeo and Juliet, his short-sighted plan to save Juliet from an unwanted marriage to Paris, and his fear of committing a sin all contributed to the deaths of Romeo and Juliet. Brother Laurence, by his lack of good judgment. , is largely responsible for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet. Rather than supporting them and helping them reveal their romantic situation, Brother Laurence chose the “easy” solution. He succumbed to their desire to escape. He secretly married Romeo and Juliet instead of supporting and encouraging them to confront their families with the facts about their commitment and love for each other. As a result, an even stronger bond between them was created through marriage: "For by your leaves ye shall not stand alone / Till the holy church shall incorporate two into one" (2.6.36-37). Friar Laurence married Romeo and Juliet, hoping that their union would end the constant feuding between their two families, the Montagues and the Capulets. Even if the brother's intentions were good and impeccable, they were certainly missteps on the path to tragedy. None of these tragedies would have happened if Romeo and Juliet were not married. When Tybalt challenged Romeo... middle of paper ... is to blame, his haste and incompetence were driven by his incapacity and impure motives. The deaths of Romeo and Juliet were the result of Friar Laurence's shortcomings, his predisposition to act hastily, his short-sightedness and his fear of sin. He set the wheel of disaster in motion, mixed with a bit of recklessness and haste and topped it off with a few bad decisions. By trying to please everyone, he pleased no one. “Those who run quickly stumble” (2.3.101); it is strange that someone cannot apply their own wisdom to their own actions. “Virtue itself becomes vice, being poorly applied” (2.3.17). Brother Laurence's own advice would suit him best and God help the rest. Works Cited Shakespeare, William. Romeo and Juliet. New York: University Press, 1992.