What point does friar make in his soliloquy when Romeo approaches him?

The tragedy of

Romeo and Julietis an eloquently written play by

William Shakespeare. In this play, Shakespeare used his talent to make his characters come alive with poetic soliloquies that pack much meaning into each of their lines. One character that has caught the attention of many readers is Friar Lawrence. In the play, Friar Lawrence serves as somewhat of a mentor to

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Romeo and Julietand attempts to give the young couple Words of wisdom, although the couple may not have chosen to follow it. Shakespeare chose to introduce Friar Lawrence with an opening soliloquy in Act 2, Scene 3. Every Word of Friar Lawrence’s soliloquy is essential to giving the audience a sense of what his character is like, although many members may have found the language to be a little confusing and missed the meaning hidden between the lines. This essay will unpack the meaning behind Friar Lawrence’s soliloquy and discuss the friar’s character in the play as a hard-working, appreciative, and wise man.

The friar opens Act 2, Scene 3 with these lines:

The gray-eyed morn smiles on the frowning night,/Check’ring the eastern clouds with streaks of light,/And fleckled darkness like a drunkard reels/From forth day’s path and Titan’s firey wheels./Now,ere the sun advance his burningeye

,/The day to cheer and night’s dank dew to dry. (3.2.1-6)

These lines take us to a scene early in the morning, perhaps in the gardens outside of the monastery where the friar may reside in. The friar gives us a sense that he enjoys the early morning when sun is just beginning to rise, since he uses the Word “smiles” when referring to the morning and “frowning” when he refers to the night. He is in awe of the beauty of the morning light on the clouds and is eager to start his day with the lines, “Now, ere the sun advance his burning eye, the day to cheer and night’s dank dew to dry”, his eagerness to begin his day so early in the morning shows how he is a hard worker since many people would not be awake at the crack of dawn.

Hope this helps! :D

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