Skip to main content

Is Friar Lawrence a doctor?

Friar Laurence is a priest (a Friar is another term for a Catholic holy man) and not labeled as a doctor in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. It is likely, however, that, like other religious men of his day, he dabbled in chemistry and the creation of herbal mixtures like the one he gives Juliet. Science was often a natural pastime of religious men who were prohibited from marrying and raising a family. Some of...

Friar Laurence is a priest (a Friar is another term for a Catholic holy man) and not labeled as a doctor in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. It is likely, however, that, like other religious men of his day, he dabbled in chemistry and the creation of herbal mixtures like the one he gives Juliet. Science was often a natural pastime of religious men who were prohibited from marrying and raising a family. Some of the greatest scientists in history, including Albertus Magnus (described the qualities of arsenic), Gregor Mendel (genetics), and Roger Bacon (scientific method) were monks or priests. The fact that Friar Laurence is somewhat of a scientist is revealed in Act II, Scene 3 as he is in his garden gathering weeds and flowers. He describes how herbs can be used as both medicine and poison. In the following lines he tells how one such flower, if smelled, provides pleasure, but if tasted could cause death:



Within the infant rind of this weak flower
Poison hath residence and medicine power:
For this, being smelt, with that part cheers each
part;
Being tasted, stays all senses with the heart.



It is perfectly plausible, then, that Friar Laurence should be able to create a potion which will render Juliet in a death like state for almost two days. Indeed, this mixture does work although circumstances, which are out of his control, work against the Friar's plan.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

How and why does James Gatz become Jay Gatsby? Describe the young Gatsby/Gatz.

James Gatz, a poor Midwestern boy of probable Jewish lineage, becomes Jay Gatsby, a presumed WASP and wealthy socialite, when he moves to New York City and acquires his fortune. It is wealth that has allowed Gatz to transform himself into Gatsby. However, those who know his background (e.g., Daisy and Tom Buchanan) never allow him to forget that he is nouveau riche -- that is, an upstart who has just recently made his fortune,... James Gatz, a poor Midwestern boy of probable Jewish lineage, becomes Jay Gatsby, a presumed WASP and wealthy socialite, when he moves to New York City and acquires his fortune. It is wealth that has allowed Gatz to transform himself into Gatsby. However, those who know his background (e.g., Daisy and Tom Buchanan) never allow him to forget that he is nouveau riche -- that is, an upstart who has just recently made his fortune, whereas they arose from well-to-do families. Gatz became Gatsby through determination and discipline. At the end of the novel, the narr...
Post a Comment
Read more

What gift did Della buy for Jim and why in "The Gift of the Magi" by O. Henry?

Della buys Jim a watch fob because his watch is his most prized possession. Della and Jim Young do not have much money. Despite this, Della really wants to buy Jim a good Christmas present. She is even willing to sell her hair to get him a nice gift. This is ironic because we learn Della and Jim both highly prize her hair. Now, there were two possessions of the James Dillingham Youngs in which... Della buys Jim a watch fob because his watch is his most prized possession. Della and Jim Young do not have much money. Despite this, Della really wants to buy Jim a good Christmas present. She is even willing to sell her hair to get him a nice gift. This is ironic because we learn Della and Jim both highly prize her hair. Now, there were two possessions of the James Dillingham Youngs in which they both took a mighty pride. One was Jim's gold watch that had been his father's and his grandfather's. The other was Della's hair.  Della is still willing to sell her hair so she can b...
Post a Comment
Read more

Explain and discuss how the definitions of freedom change for the nation, for the freedmen and for southern whites after the Civil War.

After the Civil War, the definition of freedom changed in the nation, as slavery was ended with the 13th Amendment to the Constitution in 1865. The practice of slavery was disallowed, but definition of the freedom that would take its place was a subject of controversy, ongoing debate, and even violence in the decades to come.  For freedmen, freedom often meant reconciling with their families, who were broken up by slavery; choosing which church to... After the Civil War, the definition of freedom changed in the nation, as slavery was ended with the 13th Amendment to the Constitution in 1865. The practice of slavery was disallowed, but definition of the freedom that would take its place was a subject of controversy, ongoing debate, and even violence in the decades to come.  For freedmen, freedom often meant reconciling with their families, who were broken up by slavery; choosing which church to belong to without being ordered to attend religious services (or not to attend) by their mast...
Post a Comment
Read more