In Act 3, scene 5 the nurse goes into Juliet’s bedroom to tell her that her mother is coming. Juliet asks herself ‘What unaccustomed cause procures her hither?’ This tells us that her mother does not visit her often. Juliet is crying and her mother thinks it is because she is grieving Tybalt’s death. She is very cold towards her daughter and tells her to stop crying, as she is crying too much. She does not comfort her at all. The audience knows that Juliet is not crying for her cousin she is crying for her Romeo’s departure. As her mother talks Juliet is thinking of other things, but still Lady Capulet is talking about marriage. This is important as it shows the gap between Juliet and lady Capulet. It is like they live in two different worlds. They do not speak at all.
I think there is a big gap between Juliet and her mother. Mothers and daughters should be able to relate and understand how they both feel, but Juliet and Lady Capulet act like total strangers.
In this part of the essay I am going to discus lord Capulet’s relationship with Juliet. Paris is a man who wishes to take Juliet’s hand in marriage, so he comes to ask lord Capulet’s permission. Lord Capulet replies Juliet is too young and immature and that she should wait a couple of years, ‘‘My child is a stranger in the world’’. Lord Capulet is very protective of Juliet at the start of the play, because all of his other children have died, ‘‘ Earth has swallowed all my hopes but she.” He then gives in and tells Paris to court Juliet as his wish is less important than her agreement. He wants her to agree to the marriage first ‘‘ But woo her, gentle Paris, get her heart.” Juliet should love the man she is going to marry. Also she should agree to the marriage first. He wants her to have say if she wants to get married, ‘‘And she agreed, within her scope of choice lies my consent and fair according voice.”
However after Tybalt’s death lord Capulet changes his mind and forces Juliet into marriage with Paris. Lord Capulet believes Juliet should obey him without question. Juliet decides that she will go against her fathers arrangements and not marry Paris when lord Capulet decides that she will get married that very week. Lord Capulet flies into a violent rage and threatens to drown, starve her and let her live on the street unless she does what he wishes. ‘‘ I will n’er acknowledge thee’’. Lord Capulet wants obedience from his daughter and does not seem to care about her feelings and what she wants. This makes the gap between them even bigger. Lord Capulet is like his wife (Lady Capulet) he has little or no concern for what Juliet feels or what she wants. Lord Capulet does not ask Juliet about the marriage but he simply decides, not only her choice of husband, but he also arranges the date, time and place of the wedding, before Juliet knows about it. “O’ Thursday tell her, she shall be married to this noble earl.” The first time Juliet hears about the marriage is when her mother comes to tell her when it is to take place. Juliet’s parents show a total disregard for Juliet’s feelings as they do not care or consult her about the wedding.
Juliet’s father should care more about Juliet’s feelings and consider what is best for her. There is just as big a gap between this relationship as there is with Juliet and her mother.
In this part of the essay I am going to discuss the relationship between Juliet and the nurse. The nurse has looked after Juliet since she was a baby. They are very close. More like mother and daughter. The nurse breast-fed Juliet from birth and so they have a special bond. Nurse knows Juliet well and loves her like her own child. Everything she does is for Juliet’s benefit. Lady Capulet knows herself about the bond between Juliet and the nurse. She knows that the nurse has more influence on Juliet than she does as her own mother.
The Nurse reminisces fondly about Juliet’s childhood as a parent would his or her own son or daughter, ‘ Thou wast the prettiest babe that e’er I nursed’. Her only wish is to see Juliet married and happy. The nurse also knows Juliet’s exact age unlike her mother, ‘‘ Faith I can tell her age into an hour’’.
Juliet always turns to the nurse as her closet confidence. Juliet’s nurse has such attention for her that she risks everything to help Juliet marry Romeo, the man she loves. She helps the lovers meet and marry secretly. She wants the best for Juliet. She tells Romeo not to lead Juliet ‘‘in a fool’s paradise.’’ Also she warns him not to play with Juliet’s feelings. After meeting and talking with Romeo she is happy about the marriage. Happy for Juliet. She sees Juliet happy and she is happy too, ‘‘I am the drudge and toil in your delight.”
The Nurse warns the lovers Juliet’s mother is coming when they are alone. When her mother arrives Romeo is gone and Juliet gets told about the wedding to Paris. Juliet refuses and her father flies into a rage. The Nurse sticks up for her ‘‘You are to blame my lord’’. When Lord and Lady Capulet leave, Juliet turns to the nurse for help and comfort. The nurse does not give the advice that Juliet wants to hear. She tells Juliet it would be best to for her to forget Romeo and marry Paris as Romeo has been banished and she doesn’t think hell ever be able to return to claim Juliet as his wife.
Juliet feels betrayed and offended by what the nurse says and after she has sent the nurse away she decides she will never confide in the nurse again. It is al little bit harsh of Juliet but once again the nurse is only doing what is best for Juliet. She genuinely believes Romeo won’t be able to come back and doesn’t want to see Juliet waiting for him forever. She wants to see her happy. Her advice may be misplaced, but it is well intentioned. She seems genuinely to think it is all for the best. The nurse is like a mother to Juliet and is always there to help her with anything she needs.
I feel Juliet has a terrible relationship with her parents. Only the nurse shows genuine concern for her.
