The Nurse
Extended Character Analysis
Juliet’s nurse is a servant in the Capulet family who wet nursed Juliet as an infant and has raised her ever since. After the death of her infant daughter, Susan, the Nurse treats Juliet as her own daughter. She serves as Juliet’s main confidante and companion; Juliet trusts her nurse with her most intimate secrets. After the ball, Juliet recruits her nurse for help and asks her to meet Romeo and discover his intentions. Later, the Nurse brings Romeo to Juliet and helps the two consummate their marriage. She even warns the two lovers after their night together that Lady Capulet is approaching Juliet’s bedroom. She supports Juliet after the fiery Lord Capulet scolds Juliet for refusing to marry Paris. Although Lord Capulet verbally assaults the Nurse, she still defends and consoles Juliet.
In contrast to Juliet, who is contemplative, intense, and practical, the Nurse is talkative, bawdy, and vulgar. Her sexually suggestive humor provides comic relief throughout the tragedy. When she is first seen on stage, she talks at length and in detail about nursing the infant Juliet, and both Juliet and Lady Capulet tell her to stop. She often scrambles her words, such as when she reports the brawl in the Verona marketplace, which briefly leads Juliet to believe that Romeo is dead.
While Juliet and her Nurse are very close, their relationship becomes strained toward the end of the play. After Romeo’s banishment, the nurse tells Juliet to marry Paris—a message Juliet interprets as a sign of betrayal, even if the nurse meant it with goodwill. Juliet feels she can no longer confide in the nurse. Nevertheless, the nurse remains devoted to Juliet and helps in the preparation for Juliet and Paris’s wedding. On the morning of the wedding, the nurse is devastated to find Juliet’s “dead” body.
Expert Q&A
What message did the nurse deliver to Juliet in Act 2 of Romeo and Juliet?
In Act 2, the nurse tells Juliet that Romeo wants to marry her that afternoon. Although the nurse initially teases Juliet by delaying the news, she eventually instructs Juliet to go to Friar Laurence's cell under the pretense of taking communion, where the marriage will take place. Additionally, Romeo plans to use a rope ladder to visit Juliet's chamber that evening.
What two stories does the nurse tell about Juliet's childhood in Romeo and Juliet?
In Romeo and Juliet, the Nurse tells one story about how and when she weaned Juliet from breastfeeding. In the other story, the Nurse's then-husband made a joke about how, one day, Juliet would not fall forward on her face, but, rather, she will fall purposely onto her back because she would be eager to have sex. The Nurse finds it especially humorous that Juliet, as a small child, replied in the affirmative to this statement.
How are malapropisms used to characterize the nurse in Romeo and Juliet? Does any other character use them?
Malapropisms are used to characterize the Nurse in Romeo and Juliet as uneducated and comical, often misusing words to humorous effect, such as confusing "sentient" with "sentence." This misuse of words highlights her social status and lack of education. While other characters use wordplay, the Nurse is the primary character known for malapropisms in the play.
What is Shakespeare's purpose for the Nurse's delaying tactics in Romeo and Juliet?
Shakespeare uses the Nurse's delaying tactics to serve several purposes. She acts as a secondary narrator and adviser, offering common-sense advice and adding humor with her long-winded speeches. Her delays assert her authority, elevate her status, and emphasize her close relationship with Juliet. The Nurse's humor and clumsy remarks provide comic relief and tension, enhancing audience engagement and enjoyment, especially for those who could relate to her social background.
The Nurse's Attitude Toward Love and Marriage in Romeo and Juliet
The Nurse's attitude toward love and marriage in Romeo and Juliet is pragmatic and somewhat cynical. She views love as a physical and social necessity rather than a romantic ideal. The Nurse supports Juliet's marriage to Romeo but also encourages her to consider Paris, showing her belief in security and social standing over passionate love.
Examining the Nurse as a foil to Juliet and identifying her foil in the Capulet family
The Nurse serves as a foil to Juliet by highlighting Juliet's youthful innocence and idealism through her own pragmatic and earthy perspective. Within the Capulet family, Lady Capulet acts as the Nurse's foil, contrasting the Nurse's nurturing and affectionate nature with her own distant and formal demeanor.
The Nurse as a Maternal Mentor to Juliet in Romeo and Juliet
In Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, the Nurse serves as a maternal figure and mentor to Juliet, having raised her from infancy. Her deep affection is evident as she remembers Juliet's childhood vividly, contrasting with Lady Capulet's emotional distance. The Nurse's advice, although pragmatic, often prioritizes Juliet's happiness, such as facilitating her secret marriage to Romeo. However, her guidance falters when she suggests Juliet marry Paris after Romeo's banishment, leading Juliet to realize she must make decisions independently.
Reasons for the nurse's delay in delivering Romeo's message to Juliet
The nurse delays delivering Romeo's message to Juliet because she is tired and out of breath from her journey. Additionally, she teases Juliet by complaining about her aches and pains, prolonging the suspense and excitement for Juliet. This playful behavior highlights her affectionate relationship with Juliet and adds a moment of comic relief to the story.
Character Analysis of the Nurse in Romeo and Juliet
In Romeo and Juliet, the Nurse is a vivid and multifaceted character. She is depicted as loving, humorous, and talkative, with a deep devotion to Juliet, having raised her since infancy. Her recollections reveal her affectionate nature, bawdy humor, and tendency to ramble. She acts as a confidante and facilitator of Juliet's romance with Romeo, prioritizing Juliet's happiness. Despite her well-meaning intentions, her actions sometimes reflect her naivety and lack of foresight, contributing to the play's tragic events.
The Nurse's delayed delivery of Romeo's response reveals nuances in her relationship with Juliet
The Nurse's delayed delivery of Romeo's response illustrates a teasing, almost maternal relationship with Juliet. This delay heightens Juliet's anxiety and excitement, showcasing the Nurse's playful but affectionate nature, while also emphasizing her role as a confidante and intermediary in Juliet's romantic affairs.
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