3.4.1
The Nurse
Role of the Nurse
Role of the Nurse
The Nurse is a lower-class servant of the Capulet family. She acts as Juliet’s maternal figure and messenger. She reminds the audience of Juliet's youth and her role as the tragic heroine.
Maternal figure
Maternal figure
- The Nurse likely would have cared for Juliet from infancy, perhaps even breastfeeding her as a baby.
- Juliet does not seem to be particularly close to her mother; instead, she is much closer to the woman who raised her – the Nurse.
- This is fundamental to the story, as Juliet trusts the Nurse a lot more than she trusts Lady Capulet. The Nurse is the only other character, apart from Friar Laurence, who knows about her relationship with (and marriage to) Romeo.
Reminds audience - Juliet's youth
Reminds audience - Juliet's youth
- In Act 1, the Nurse’s function in the play is to remind the audience of Juliet’s youthful state – she constantly mentions that Juliet has not yet turned 14, and reminisces about Juliet as a baby.
Messenger
Messenger
- Another main function of the Nurse is to act as a messenger between Romeo and Juliet.
- It is the Nurse who meets with Romeo in Act 2 and then tells Juliet: 'hie you hence to Friar Laurence’s cell; there stays a husband to make you a wife'.
- Later in the play, when Romeo has killed Tybalt, it is the Nurse again who goes to Romeo. She even talks him out of killing himself, telling him, 'For Juliet’s sake, for her sake, rise and stand'. She is reminding him to think of Juliet.
Emphasises Juliet as the tragic heroine
Emphasises Juliet as the tragic heroine
- It might shock the audience when the Nurse (in A3 S5) withdraws this relationship suddenly.
- Lord Capulet arranges for Juliet to marry Paris on Thursday and, although Juliet opposes this strongly, Lady Capulet refuses to help her – shockingly, the Nurse also pulls her support away, telling Juliet, 'I think it best you married with the County'.
- This moment is significant in the story, as it marks the real beginning of Juliet feeling completely isolated and without any support, emphasising her role as the tragic heroine with fewer and fewer options.
Characterisation of the Nurse
Characterisation of the Nurse
The Nurse is a comical and sexual character.
Sexual references
Sexual references
- The Nurse makes a lot of references to sex and the sexual side of love.
- In fact, she (like Mercutio) feels that love is more of a physical, sexual relationship than a loving one – an idea she shares with Juliet.
Encourages consummation
Encourages consummation
- She is also the character who arranges to 'fetch a ladder' for Romeo to use to climb into Juliet’s bedchamber on their wedding night so they can consummate their wedding.
Key Quotes - Nurse
Key Quotes - Nurse
Here are key quotes from the Nurse in the play:
Act 2, Scene 5
Act 2, Scene 5
- 'hie you hence to Friar Laurence’s cell. / There stays a husband to make you a wife.'
- The Nurse knows that Juliet’s parents would definitely have forbidden Juliet’s relationship with Romeo. But the Nurse seems to only care about Juliet’s happiness. This supports the idea that she has a closer relationship with Juliet than her own mother does.
- Although the Nurse does not understand Juliet’s feeling of romantic love, she supports her desire to be with Romeo as his wife.
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Act 3, Scene 3
Act 3, Scene 3
- 'For Juliet’s sake, for her sake, rise and stand'.
- The Nurse plays an important role in Act 3. She talks Romeo out of killing himself when he is very upset. She reminds him to think about Juliet and to live for her.
- This is futile (has no effect) as both characters commit suicide in Act 5. But the Nurse makes sure that they have the opportunity to spend their wedding night together before their untimely (happening early) deaths.
Act 3, Scene 5
Act 3, Scene 5
- 'I think it best you married with the County'.
- This simple statement is complete betrayal in Juliet’s mind. The Nurse, who had worked so hard to help Romeo and Juliet be together, seems to have changed her mind.
- But this emphasises Juliet as a heroine - she doesn’t listen to the advice as she refuses to commit bigamy (marry someone new while already being married to someone).
- This increases sympathy for Juliet because it is when Juliet loses her only real support.
1Context
2Plot Summary
2.1Prologue
2.2Act 1
2.5Act 4
3Key Characters
3.1Romeo
3.2Juliet
3.3Mercutio
3.4The Nurse, Benvolio & Tybalt
3.5Friar Laurence
3.6Grade 9 - Key Characters
4Key Themes & Concepts
4.1Power & Danger of Love
5Writing Techniques
Jump to other topics
1Context
2Plot Summary
2.1Prologue
2.2Act 1
2.5Act 4
3Key Characters
3.1Romeo
3.2Juliet
3.3Mercutio
3.4The Nurse, Benvolio & Tybalt
3.5Friar Laurence
3.6Grade 9 - Key Characters
4Key Themes & Concepts
4.1Power & Danger of Love
5Writing Techniques
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