Final answer:
In Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet', Friar Laurence uses the herbs, plants, and stones he gathers as medicinal remedies and reflects on their dual properties of healing and harm. These elements also hold metaphorical significance and are intertwined with the superstitious beliefs of the era, setting the tone for the play's tragic events.
Step-by-step explanation:
In Act 2 of Romeo and Juliet, Friar Laurence has several uses for the herbs, plants, and stones he gathers in his basket. He understands the dual nature of their properties, as medicines and poisons. Friar Laurence reflects on the potential of plants to heal and harm, metaphorically linking this to the nature of humans. These gathered items are also used for medicinal remedies, considering that during Shakespeare's time, clergymen often served the additional role of physician to their community.
Moreover, the text indulges in the Elizabethan belief of the mystical properties of certain herbs and plants, which could be used in various rites and rituals. The reference to rank herbs with milky venom and the talisman sought from the forehead of a foal indicates a belief in the supernatural or magical influence of these natural elements, which were common in the context of the play's setting.
Furthermore, these elements set the stage for the ultimate tragedy that unfolds later in the play, emphasizing the theme that the line between benefit and harm can be incredibly fine—an idea encapsulated by these natural substances in Friar Laurence's care. Their gathering and use are central not only to Friar Laurence's character but also to the development of the plot, foreshadowing the tragic end of the story.