Shakespeare wrote during the period of the Renaissance known as the Elizabethan Period,
when Queen Elizabeth I ruled. A Protestant like her (deceased) mother, she forced her subjects
to worship in Anglican churches and forbade Catholic worship; those who chose to do so faced
possible death sentences.
It is known that Queen Elizabeth enjoyed
Shakespeare's work and had him visit her at court several times for various performances. It is
interesting, then, that Shakespeare pens into this script a particular confidant for : , a man
of Catholicism.
Shakespeare certainly knew he was walking a fine line here
with his Queen. He therefore creates a man of duality. The friar is both trusted byas they seek
his advice, and he is the man who carries significant blame for their
deaths. He is the one who provides the potion toto fake her own death. He is the one whose
leadership fails to deliver the important message to Romeo which would have saved them
both.
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