How important are the characters of the nurse and the friar in Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet?

Both cause tension when he Mercutio is murdered by Tybalt later causing Romeo to get him self into trouble when he is banished for killing his best friends murderer.

"Beautiful tyrant, fiend angelical,

Dove-feathered raven, wolvished ravening lamb,

Despised substance of divinest show,

Just opposite to what thou justly seem'st,

A damned saint, an honourable villain.

(Act 3 scene 2:57)

Shakespeares uses many writing techniques including the use of oxymoron's in his descriptions, this paragraph about Tybalt's death where Juliet talks of Romeo is listed in contrasting sentences.

The friar and the nurse, two characters transformed by Shakespeare from minor, unimaginative characters to strong plot developers, as major roles they provide an important link between play and audience. The Nurse, in Arthur Brookes poem is only included in two lines, but Shakespeare brings her character to life, developing the plot openly. She plays many different roles in the play as a Nurse, advisor, and guardian to Juliet. Juliet confides in the nurse on many occasions. Similarly, this is how the Friar is to Romeo. He guides him. He is seen to the audience as a figure of authority, what he says - Romeo follows. This elaboration of both the Friar and Nurse becomes critical, as near the end of the play everything goes wrong which is ironic as such events would not of occurred if the Friar and Nurse were not present throughout the play.

The Nurse advises Juliet throughout the play about the love affair Juliet is having with Romeo. By doing this, the nurse is developing the plot, helping Romeo and Juliet be together even though it is depraved. She brings Romeo and Juliet together by reassuring Juliet that the situation will work out.

"Then hie you hence to Friar Lawrence's cell,

There stays a husband to make you a wife.

Now comes the wanton blood up in your cheeks,

They'll be in scarlet straight at any news."

(Act 2 scene 5:70)

The Friar also helps Romeo and Juliet wed, he talks to Romeo about Juliet. The friar performs the wedding ceremony. He interferes with the destiny of Romeo and Juliet, what would they have done if the friar had not wed them?

".. You shall not stay alone,

Till holy church incorporate two to one."

(Act 2, Scene 6)

The friar only ever wants to help Romeo and Juliet. He may do something out of the ordinary if he thinks the outcome will help someone he cares for.

"In one respect I'll they assistant be;

for this alliance may so happy prove,

to turn your households rancour pure love."

(Act 2, scene 3)

The friar says that the only reason he will marry Romeo and Juliet is that he hopes that the marriage will end the hostilities between the two houses. The friar helps Romeo to flee to Mantua after he murdered Tybalt; again, he has good intentions when he speaks to Juliet about Romeo. Telling everything will be all right.

"Shall Romeo by my letters drift,

and hither shall he come;

and he and I shall watch thy waking,

and that very night shall Romeo bear thee to Mantua."

(Act 4, scene 1)

He dramatically assists the plot development when giving Juliet the poison heightening the audience's curiosity to the outcome. Unfortunately, for all his good intentions the play still ends in tragedy.

The nurse acts as a confidant to Juliet; Juliet expresses her true feelings to the Nurse as she would to a friend. Therefore showing the audience her feelings. The nurse is the first one to introduce Romeo to Juliet as a character by doing this she confirms the feud to the audience. At first she advises Juliet to stay away from Romeo and tells her to marry Paris possibly because she sees the difficulty of Romeo and Juliet being together, and how their families will react.

"In half and hour she promised to return.

Perchance she cannot meet him.."

(Act 2, Scene 5)

The Nurse teases Juliet, this shows how they are as friends. When the Nurse gets back from talking to Romeo about Juliet, she tells her that she is tired and she aches, Juliet begins to massage her back so the Nurse reveals what Romeo had said.

"O Gods lady dear,

Are you so hot?

Marry come up I trow,

Is this the poultice for my aching bones?

Henceforward do your massages yourself."

(Act 2, Scene 5)

Although Friar Lawrence is not mentioned very much during the play, his role is highly important. In Romeo and Juliet, there are three main events that relate to him the marriage, the plan, and the death. Not only did the Friar wed the couple and constantly support them he also comforted them, as both Romeo and Juliet came to him for help.

"O Juliet I already know thy grief..."

(Act 4, scene 1)

No matter what Friar Lawrence tried to accomplish, the audience knew it was never meant to be as fate always managed to intercede. The play seems to be anchored around the fact that fate causes the occurrence which seem to be insignificant at the time but turn out to be pungent events. The main problem to each of these events that the friar did not consider the wider implications of his plan, meaning he did not think about "What if the letter did not reach Romeo?" and so it led to misfortune.

The nurse is not like Lady Capulet she comforts Juliet at times of her need. Lady Capulet is adamant that Juliet marry Paris whilst the Nurse only advises it until she realises that they are both deeply in love and she could not get in the way of this. Lady Capulet however only cares about her feud with the Montagues and when she finds out about Juliet's love for Romeo and the killing of Tybalt she seeks revenge. The nurse acts more like a mother figure to Juliet than Lady Capulet as well as a friend, she is both understanding and stubborn. Lady Capulet and the Nurse both have contrasting attitudes towards love.

"Will you speak well of him that killed your cousin?"

(Act 3 scene 2:96)