Romeo and Juliet - Discuss the roles of the Nurse and Friar Lawrence and consider their significance both to an audience in Shakespeare's time and to a modern day audience.

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Maddy Southcott 10Y1

Romeo and Juliet – Discuss the roles of the Nurse and Friar Lawrence and consider their significance both to an audience in Shakespeare’s time and to a modern day audience.

“Star-crossed lovers” Romeo and Juliet fall madly in love within a matter of hours. On the first day they meet, although coming from different houses (Montague and Capulet), they decide to get married. Unfortunately for the lovers it is fate that they cannot be together. After a series of tragic events, the story ends with both Romeo and Juliet taking their lives so their love will be never ending

This essay will be exploring two of the characters from the play who can be looked at in more detail. I have chosen for these to be Juliet’s Nurse and Friar Lawrence. Although these are not main characters they do provide important roles. I will consider their significance both to an audience in Shakespeare’s time and to a more modern day audience. It is likely that both audiences will interpret he play differently and therefore have different views on each character.

Juliet’s closest friend and confidante is the Nurse. The Nurse proves to remain loyal to Juliet through the play. We first meet her in Act 1, Scene 3 and this is where we can establish her background as well her personality.

“…if ye should lead her in a fool’s paradise…it were a very gross kind of behaviour…”

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This quote (Act 2, Scene 4, L 146 – 8) shows the Nurse’s protection and love towards Juliet.  She treats Juliet as if it was her own daughter and cares deeply for her well-being.

Being a servant in the Capulet household for the past 14 years, the Nurse is seen as being a friend to the family and is often involved within the family affairs. For example she is involved when Lady Capulet wishes to talk to Juliet about a possible marriage to Paris. The Nurse acts as a go-between character as she moves throughout the play passing ...

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