In Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare and The Sound of Waves by Yukio Mishima, secondary characters play an essential role in the book. In Romeo and Juliet by English playwright and poet William Shakespeare, Friar Lawrence is an important secondary character who engineers solutions for Romeo and Juliet and brings the play to dramatic results. The failure of his plan results in the tragedy of the deaths of both main characters at the end of the story. In The Sound of the Waves, Shinji Kubo, a young and poor fisherman from Uta-Jima, falls in love with Hatuse, the daughter of a rich man. Shinji and Hatsue try to stay together throughout the book, but encounter many difficulties with their neighbors. Shinji's mother tries to help Shinji and Hatsue by asking many people and going to shrines to beg the gods for help in reuniting them. In Romeo and Juliet, Friar Lawrence greatly influences Romeo and Juliet and brings the plots to dramatic results. Without the presence of Friar Laurence the story would not be so unpredictable and the tragedy perhaps would not have happened. Initially, when Romeo goes to Friar Lawrence and asks for marriage, Friar suspects Romeo's rapid changes, but is reluctant to help Romeo for this marriage. Since Romeo sincerely asks for his help, Friar finally agrees to Romeo's plan and says “In a sense I will be your assistant; / Why this alliance can prove so happy, / To transform your families' resentment into pure love” (2.3.98-99). According to the Friar, this marriage should be a benefit for the city of Vernoa. Frate hopes that this marriage will calm the two feuding families and allow them to reunite again. This action seems not to be right for Friar, because he is trying to solve a bigger problem... middle of paper... according to their ancient tradition. In Romeo and Juliet, Friar Laurence believes that people should learn lessons from mistakes made previously. In the final resolution, Fate makes its statement again, getting the two main characters killed. Because they learned the lesson from their many years of disagreement, the hatred between the Montagues and Capulets was finally resolved through this tragic event. On the other hand, in The Sound of Waves, Shinji's mother is fundamental from the beginning of the story to the final conclusion. He tries his best to bring a happy marriage to his son, even if he doesn't have one for himself. She is insulted by Hutsue's father but Hutsue's kindness wins her heart again. Through a series of tragic events, Terukichi Miyata, Hutesu's father, accepts Shinji and Hutsue's marriage as the final decision..