To what extent do you believe that Friar Laurence is responsible for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet^ I think that Friar Laurence was to a large extent responsible for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet. However, several other factors contributed and we can not solely blame one person. The circumstances, time period and characters need to be taken into consideration.
The Friar is introduced half way through the play, and his role is a vital one. In his first scene we see him with the poison, and this scene links up with his last two scenes and the consequences of that same poison. His entrance breaks the pace of the previous balcony scene, and gives the audience time to absorb what has occurred between Romeo and Juliet.
Juliet has an almost non-existent relationship with Capulet. Friar Laurence fills this void by portraying a ^father^ figure in Juliet^s life. She trusts him and confides in him regularly. ^Hold daughter. I do spy a kind of hope^^ In addition the Friar is also Romeo^s confident and tries to find solutions to their overwhelming problems. He also breaks the terrible news to Romeo about his banishment, and he tries to do so in a humane way. He comforts the distraught Romeo, and when potential danger lurks, offers him a shelter under the desk! Friar Laurence tries to dissuade Pairs from marrying Juliet. This could be selfish behavior on his part, as the Friar knows he would be committing a sin if he married Juliet to Paris, when she was already married to Romeo.
Another example of the Friar^s selfish intentions, is the tomb scene, whereupon finding Juliet in there, and two dead bodies lying on the floor, he needs no persuasion to leave, which he does so in immense haste! The following incident is an example of how the Friar contributed to the deaths of the star-crossed lovers. He marries Romeo and Juliet, fully aware that they do not have their parents consent. He should have refused to marry...