Question

What is Friar Lawrence's basic advice to Romeo in these lines?

These violent delights have violent ends
And in their triumph die, like fire and powder,
Which as they kiss, consume. The sweetest honey
Is loathsome in his own deliciousness
And in the taste confounds the appetite.
Therefore love moderately. Long love doth so.
Too swift arrives as tardy as too slow.
-William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet, Act II, scene vi,
lines 9-15.
A. If Juliet does not love Romeo back, he will suffer just like he did
with Rosaline.
B. If their families find out about the marriage, there will be violence
in the streets.
C. If a situation seems impossible, trust in love to provide guidance.
D. If Romeo wants a long-lasting love, he needs to slow down.

Answer 1

Friar Lawrence advises Romeo to love moderately to ensure a lasting relationship, using strong metaphors to illustrate the dangers of excessive passion.

Step-by-step explanation:

Friar Lawrence's basic advice to Romeo in the provided lines from Romeo and Juliet is to approach love with moderation to ensure its longevity. He uses vivid metaphors, comparing the intensity of Romeo's passion to a fire that consumes itself, and too much sweetness that makes honey repulsive. Therefore, he advises Romeo that to sustain love, he must allow it to grow gently, encapsulated in the line 'Therefore love moderately. Long love doth so.'