Romeo and Juliet

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Shaheen Yusuf        English Coursework        Ms Parker

‘Romeo & Juliet’

         “Who is to blame for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet?”

Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare tells the story of two young lovers whose families are enemies. Because of the family feud their love story ends in tragedy.

It is very difficult to single out one character or cause of Romeo and Juliet’s deaths. There are various events and misunderstandings which lead up to their deaths. However I am going to focus on two key characters: the nurse and Friar Lawrence. I have chosen these two characters because their actions play a major part in the tragic end.

The nurse is Juliet’s maid and helper. She has known her since childhood. Juliet trusts her with her secrets. After Juliet has met Romeo at the party, she gives the nurse the job of taking a message to him. The nurse does this despite the fact that she is employed by the Capulet’s and she knows that the Montague family is their sworn enemies. I think her actions are very immature.

In Shakespeare’s time the children of the rich were given wet nurses who raised the child as their own. Therefore the nurse and Juliet are as close as mother and daughter.  

I feel she should have warned Juliet about the consequences because it was obvious something dreadful was bound to happen because of the old family feud. By sending the messages she encourages Romeo and Juliet’s relationship. The nurse shows Juliet how excited she is which gives Juliet confidence to marry Romeo secretly. She also shows Romeo excitement when she goes to tell Romeo how much Juliet loves him and wants to get married to him.

Without the nurse’s input into Romeo and Juliet’s relationship I don’t think they would have got so far with the marriage. Juliet would not have a person who she could use to send messages to Romeo and she would not have been encouraged by any excitement.

Romeo and Juliet may have other ways of getting messages through to each other but I still feel that it would not have gone so far in such a short period of time without the nurse sticking by her side so strongly.

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The nurse’s job is to look after Juliet which she does not do properly. She has been employed by the mother and father of Juliet and her first consideration should have been to do her job correctly. The only reason she may have helped Romeo and Juliet is if she cared about how Juliet felt more than her job.

Following Romeo and Juliet’s secret marriage the nurse makes it possible for them to consummate the marriage. She helps Romeo to come to Juliet’s bed chamber and keeps look out while they spend the night together. In the morning ...

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