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

What is the meaning of "juggling fiends" in Macbeth?

Macbeth is beginning to realize that the three witches have been deceiving him since he first encountered them. Like jugglers, they have kept changing their forecasts in order create confusion. This is particularly apparent when the Second Apparition they raise in Act IV,   Scene 1 tells him that no man of woman born can overcome him in hand-to-hand battle--and then Macbeth finds himself confronted by the one man he has been avoiding out of a... Macbeth is beginning to realize that the three witches have been deceiving him since he first encountered them. Like jugglers, they have kept changing their forecasts in order create confusion. This is particularly apparent when the Second Apparition they raise in Act IV,   Scene 1 tells him that no man of woman born can overcome him in hand-to-hand battle--and then Macbeth finds himself confronted by the one man he has been avoiding out of a sense of guilt, and that man tells him: Despair thy charm. And let the angel whom thou still hast serve...
Post a Comment
Read more

Discuss movements that were inspired by the Civil Rights Movement and list one success for each group.

African-Americans contributed in a very big way during World War II. These contributions were demonstrated at home and on the battlefield. After the war, African-Americans properly felt it was time for them to achieve equality with white Americans. During the 1950's, the modern Civil Rights Movement was born and it had a number of successes (integration of the military and Brown vs. Board of Education as examples.) This success inspired other activists to demand change... African-Americans contributed in a very big way during World War II. These contributions were demonstrated at home and on the battlefield. After the war, African-Americans properly felt it was time for them to achieve equality with white Americans. During the 1950's, the modern Civil Rights Movement was born and it had a number of successes (integration of the military and Brown vs. Board of Education as examples.) This success inspired other activists to demand change for their agendas. Two examples of moveme...
Post a Comment
Read more

Follow the relationship between Pi and Richard Parker. They endure over two hundred days of hardship together, but in the end Richard Parker leaves...

When Pi and Richard Parker are at the beginning of their journey, after Pi's family is killed in the shipwreck, Pi fears Richard Parker, but he is forced to find a way to co-exist with him in order to survive.  Over time the two develop a somewhat co-dependent relationship.  Richard Parker depends on Pi to feed him by catching fish, while Pi's will to live is bolstered by Richard Parker's presence.  Richard Parker recognizes that... When Pi and Richard Parker are at the beginning of their journey, after Pi's family is killed in the shipwreck, Pi fears Richard Parker, but he is forced to find a way to co-exist with him in order to survive.  Over time the two develop a somewhat co-dependent relationship.  Richard Parker depends on Pi to feed him by catching fish, while Pi's will to live is bolstered by Richard Parker's presence.  Richard Parker recognizes that he also needs Pi to survive.  At one point in the book, Pi's starvation and thirst reduce him to a st...
Post a Comment
Read more