Discussion Topic
Reactions of Nurse, Lord Capulet, Lady Capulet, Paris, and Friar Laurence to Juliet's death
Summary:
The Nurse is devastated and heartbroken by Juliet's death. Lord Capulet is grief-stricken and laments the loss of his daughter. Lady Capulet is also deeply sorrowful and mourns Juliet. Paris is shocked and mourns the loss of his intended bride. Friar Laurence is saddened but knows the truth behind Juliet's apparent death, feeling guilty and anxious about the unfolding events.
How do Nurse, Lord Capulet, Lady Capulet, Paris, and Friar Laurence react to Juliet's death in Romeo and Juliet?
The reactions of the characters of the Nurse, Lord Capulet, Lady Capulet, Paris, and Friar Laurence to the apparent death of Juliet in Act IV after she consumes the vial given her by Friar Laurence are as follows:
- Nurse
In Scene 5, the Nurse goes into Juliet's chamber to awaken her for her wedding day, but instead finds an unresponsive Juliet.
I must needs wake you: Lady! lady! lady!
Alas! alas! Help! help! my lady's dead!
Oh, well a-day, that ever I was born!
Knowing that Juliet was distraught about being told she must marry Paris when she is already married, the Nurse blames herself for Juliet's death as she made light of her marriage to Romeo and urged Juliet to marry Paris; she refused to acknowledge the depth of Juliet's love for Romeo.
After hearing the Nurse, Lady Capulet enters, crying out,
O me, O me!...
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My child, my only life.
Revive, look up, or I will die with thee.
This reaction is deeper than one would expect as Lady Capulet has displayed little affection in the play for Juliet, instead insisting that she marry Paris. Later, she says that this is the most "miserable hour that e'er time saw."
- Lord Capulet
The selfish father, too, is silenced by the apparent loss of his child. At first stunned, he soon realizes that she is stiff and cold. He, too, is terribly moved by this loss when heretofore he has threatened to send her to a nunnery if she refused to obey him.
Death lies on her like an untimely frost
Upon the sweetest flower of all the field.
Indeed, Lord Capulet is greatly moved by his loss. Lady Capulet notes that they were able to miss her death and spared that misery while the Nurse cannot cease exclaiming:"O day!" rueing that this has happened.
- Paris
When Paris arrives, he is overcome. Having a light heart and hoping to soon be joined with his bride in matrimony, now, he is told that Juliet has died.
Have I thought long to see this morning’s face,
And doth it give me such a sight as this?
The heavens do lour upon you for some ill.
Move them no more by crossing their high will.