I am Friar Laurence, standing humbly before you today, acknowledging my involvement in the recent tragedy of Romeo Montague and Juliet Capulet. While I can see now that I have made some regrettable decisions over the past week, I strenuously deny that I am responsible for the deaths of the star-crossed lovers. Members of the tribunal, I have been falsely accused of causing their deaths, when all my actions were done to try and save the couple and to bring the best outcome for everyone.
It is true that I performed the rites of marriage for Romeo and Juliet, which were not consented to by their parents. It all happened so quickly, with Romeo falling in love with Juliet so soon after abandoning Rosaline. At first, I was hesitant about the idea of marrying them as I knew their households were in dispute, and if their families had found out about the secret marriage, I would be in serious trouble. Romeo and Juliet begged me numerous times and I agreed to marry them in hope that their union would settle the long-standing feud between the Montagues and Capulets, which has plagued fair Verona for years. Looking back at my actions, I realize that I should not have agreed to marry them so soon and I definitely would not have if I had known that Paris was to marry Juliet. I realize that I deceived the community of Verona, but all I wanted to do was to help the young lovers.
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I have been accused of assisting a convicted criminal, Romeo. When the brawl between Romeo and Tybalt ended, Romeo hid in my cell. I may not be very good at giving advice, but I tried to get Romeo to see that he was lucky that he was only to be banished to Mantua. Poor Romeo did not cope well with hearing this news and I found it extremely hard to calm him down. I tried also to have Romeo understand that it was so fortunate that he and Juliet were both alive. Poor fair Romeo remained desperate to see his Juliet, so I felt that I had to come up with a plan. I made a bargain with the Nurse for Romeo to see Juliet one last night before he was to leave for Mantua. If I hadn’t made this plan, then Romeo would have remained tremendously upset, and who knows what he would have done! I was afraid that he was desperate enough to end his own life.
My noble lords and ladies, I have been accused of causing this tremendous pain and suffering by giving Juliet the potion. When Juliet came to me explaining that her father, Lord Capulet, had ordered her to marry Paris the following day, I felt extremely guilty as I had already married Romeo and Juliet. Juliet was brandishing a knife and said “I long to die if what thous speakest speak not of remedy”. I was afraid that she then would take her own life if I didn’t help somehow. Using my knowledge of plants I came up with a potion that would put Juliet to sleep, but to others, no pulse, no breath, no warmth [would] testify [she] lives. She was then to be placed into the family tomb, then escape to Mantua at night to be with Romeo. At the time, I thought this plan would be successful and I was doing what I thought was best for Romeo and Juliet. I sent a letter outlining the plan to Friar John, who was to deliver it straight away to Romeo. I could never have foreseen that the letter would not reach Romeo in time, although now I do feel as though I should have told him in person or perhaps sent multiple servants.
I have been accused of fleeing a crime scene. When I arrived at the Capulet tomb I had no idea of the events that were about to unfold. As I appeared in the Capulet tomb, Juliet woke up but I was shocked to see Romeo lying beside her, dead. It all happened too quickly. Before I knew it I heard guards approaching and my heart began to race. I begged Juliet to run away with me but she refused to. I certainly never told Juliet or Romeo to kill themselves, and I wish with all my heart that they hadn’t. But it was them, and them alone, who decided their own fates.
Most noble lords and ladies of the tribunal, I have been accused of contributing to the deaths of Romeo Montague and Juliet Capulet. I may be guilty of making bad decisions, but I am innocent of killing Romeo and Juliet, who brought about their own deaths in this disastrous accident. From this day forward, I will devote myself to prayer before making decisions. I beg your pardon and rely on the mercy of thy blessed Lord in passing judgment over me, and I thank you for your time today.
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