William Shakespeare Quotes

Romeo and Juliet, Act 2, Scene 3. The wise Friar Laurence makes his appearance with a soliloquy about the power of herbs and flowers to both heal and poison. He says that he must fill up his basket with poisonous herbs and flowers with precious juices. This is so that he can make up medicines that will help to heal people. The flowers and herbs represent the good and evil in the world, including the love between Romeo and Juliet and the poisonous feud between their warring families. Foreshadowed here are Juliet later drinking a sleeping potion to fake her own death, and Romeo taking poison.