After we studied and viewed a clip of the raucous street scene featuring Mercutio's bawdy wit, we addressed Friar Lawrence's role in the play as a vehicle to assess the character flaw of both Romeo and Juliet. We specifically studied Friar Lawrence's warnings to the young couple that "violent delights have violent ends" and noted his advice to love "moderately" -again raising a theory of tragedy based on character flaw, here impulsive haste, rather than fate. We further noted the influence of Petrarch on Romeo's speeches wherein he grandly announces his deep love for Juliet.