How is Friar Lawrence presented in Romeo and Juliet?

When starting to consider a character or theme a good starting point is to write down your first impressions you had of this person when consider the text as a whole. We may wish to readjust these when we conduct a close reading, looking at specific passages. For example, you might initially think of Friar Lawrence as a benevolent old man trying to help the lovers, however consider whether this is simply because you have seen one of the films in which he is presented in this way. Firstly, take account of how a character or theme can be seen in a broader sense therefore, in their relations to the text as a whole. Friar Lawrence appears in Act 2 and remains an important structural presence throughout the text as often we see either of the lovers alone with him. A spider diagram is a good idea in approaching this, connecting themes, other characters, and significant points in the plot through arrows and lines and using different colours to differentiate these. Then when looking at the text in detail, take each scene at a time. Throughout your analysis of a quotation you should ensure that you are not only identifying techniques like metaphor, repetition etc but identifies its specific effect on you as a reader or on an audience, considering where it comes in the plot and what else this technique might relate to either within or outside of the text. When considering his speech, analyse and assess both his motives behind what he is saying and also Shakespere’s - how is he serving the plot. For example, when in Act 3 Scene 3 he criticises Romeo’s tears as ‘wommanish’ what is he trying to do and what might the effect of this be? Also remember to consider context in relation to his speech - how does he uphold or subvert expectations of priests during this period? Research this if you are not confident enough to comment on this.