Discuss how the relationship between Juliet, her nurse and her parents is show to change after her marriage to Romeo

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Discuss how the relationships between Juliet, her nurse and her parents is shown to change after her marriage to Romeo.

Romeo and Juliet is a play written by William Shakespeare. The part of the play that is being focused on is Act 1 scene 2, Act 1 scene 3 and Act 3 scenes 5. These scenes will show the change in the relationships between Juliet, her nurse and her parents.

In Act 1 scene 2 Lord Capulet is speaking to Paris about his marriage proposal for Juliet. He takes Juliet's feelings into account when he says "My child is yet a stranger in the world.....Let two more summers wither in their pride" He wants Juliet to make some important decisions and gain experience of "the big wide world" so he tells Paris to let 2 more years pass until she is ready. But on the other hand he could be making a show for Paris and is pretending that Juliet has a loving caring father and family in order for him to want to marry Juliet more. But if this were true Shakespeare would have given more of an indication. Whether he is acting or not he does seem to care about Juliet's welfare "she hath not seen the change of fourteen years" she is only 13 and too young to be married, he wants Juliet to have more memories and not forget about her family.

In Act 1 scene 3 we see Juliet and her mother together for the first time. In Act 1 scene 2 we saw that Capulet and Juliet's relationship is quite strong, this is in contrast with Juliet and Lady Capulet's relationship in Act 1 scene 3. Their relationship is formal and they talk like they have never even met before. They address each other as "daughter Juliet" and "Madam" which is very formal. It shows that they don't feel very comfortable around each other and they are both "on the edge" when speaking.

At the start of Act 1 scene 3 Lady Capulet is asking the Nurse where Juliet is. "Nurse, where's my daughter? Call her forth to me." Lady Capulet is ordering her nurse to find Juliet and bring her to her (The reason they have a servant is because it's a sign of power and wealth) When the nurse is looking for Juliet she shouts out pet names to Juliet "Lamb", "Ladybird" the nurse has given Juliet her own names which shows the Nurse and Juliet have a strong bond. The Nurse feels very maternal towards Juliet, as she has brought Juliet up. They are very close. Even though the nurse isn't Juliet's mum she feels that she is much more of a mother towards Juliet than Lady Capulet is. Juliet and Lady Capulet's relationship is very formal which is the complete opposite to the Nurse and Juliet's relationship. Lady Capulet treats Juliet like one of her servants. If she clicks her fingers she expects Juliet to be at her side. Juliet shall go to her. She won't go to Juliet. This suggests that they have a non-existent relationship and Lady Capulet has no feelings for Juliet. Whereas the nurse has love for Juliet as they have spent most of Juliet's life together. They feel comfortable around each other. As they have spent many a year together they share the same memories, the Nurse expresses a long speech (as Lady Capulet waits impatiently) in which she remembers Juliet as a child "run and waddled all about - for even the day she broke her "brow" The nurse saw Juliet when she first walked and when she broke her "brow" (cut her head open) the nurse would have nursed her cut until she were better, as she cares for and feels strongly towards Juliet.
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When she calls Juliet at the start of the scene she wishes to speak to Juliet about Paris wanting to marry her. Lady Capulet doesn't know how to start a conversation with Juliet as she feels uncomfortable. She has to wait until the nurse says "And I might live to see thee married once "before she can interrupt and take the opportunity to talk to Juliet about marriage. Lady Capulet wants Juliet to marry Paris, she asks her how she feels about getting married "How stands your disposition to be married" when Juliet hears what her mother says ...

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