Conflict in RandJ

One conflict that isn't present until later in the play, but is just as important is Friar Lawrence's internal conflict. The Friar struggles with the decision to marry Romeo and Juliet because one one hand, it may bring the families closer together as he points out when he mentions that such a marriage would get rid of the rancor between the two houses. On the other hand, Romeo has just come out of a relationship and thrown himself headlong into a brand new one without any rational thought concerning where it might lead. The Friar makes up his mind to marry the two teens and that decision influences his actions throughout the rest of the play.
   This influence can be seen when the Friar gives the "poison" to Juliet to assist her in both getting out of her planned marriage to Paris and getting her back together with Romeo. Indeed, the Friar throws himself wholeheartedly into the task, personally carrying out the bulk of the work involved. As we know, the union between Romeo and Juliet has tragic consequences, but at the time, the Friar was unaware of these and his actions shape the path that the play travels from the beginning of his commitment to the very end, while the repercussions grow with every page.