Sleeping Juliet

I think one of Friar Lawrence's reasons for requesting Juliet to carry out a dangerous plan instead of just going to her parents, was because of the reaction they would have.  It's bad enough Tybaly has died, and to hear Juliet confess to the Capulets about her real love for Romeo, is the last thing they want to hear. Therefore, she feels the need to confide in Friar Lawrence for help with her family tragedies. With the position Juliet is in at this point, there is nothing left to do but what Friar has for her. When Juliet goes to visit Friar she begins pouring her heart out although it's clear he knows what she's going through when he says,  "O Juliet, I already know thy grief; It strains me past the compass of my wits. I hear thou must, and nothing may prorogue it, On Thursday next be married to this county" (Shakespeare 232). Friar Lawrence already knows and sees Juliets pain, what he does to her, will change not only her life, but her family's lives also.

Another reason for Friar Lawrence's decision, is that he realizes the anguish, and melancholy it will bring among not only the Capulets, but the people of Verona in general, including the Montagues. He wants to do this so that hopefully, the two families feel somewhat guilty because of what they have put they're daughter through in forcing her to marry someone she couldn't stand. Being that Friar Lawrence is a priest, he understands the Families hate towards each other, and it's already noticable when he expresses,

                                     "Hold, daughter! I do spy a kind of hope,

                                     Which craves as deperate an execution

                                     As that is desperate which we would prevent.               

                                     If, rather than to marry County Paris,                            

                                     Thou hast the strength of will to slay thyself,"

That being said, Friar has been aware of the past events that have happened in Verona, an not only does this plan involve Juliet, but her one an only love Romeo. I do believe Friar Lawrence's intentions in doing this plan were good. He was trying to help both Romeo and Juliet.  But this so called "dreadful" plan might not last.

Arbitrating: deciding;judging
Distraught: upset;distressed
Immoderately: wastefully;extravagantly
Inundation: flood;outpouring
Resolution: solution to a problem
Spited: acted maluciously or with ill will
Supple: flexible;pliant