Writing about the story of Romeo and Juliet, in a prologue then the relationship the Nurse had with Juliet then, who is to blame for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet, and to what extent is fate responsible for their deaths?

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Romeo and Juliet

In this piece of course work I am going to be writing about the story of Romeo and Juliet, in a prologue then the relationship the Nurse had with Juliet then, who is to blame for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet, and to what extent is fate responsible for their deaths? Theatres today and how they have changed since Shakespeare’s day and I’ll be finishing with comparing the two videos of Romeo and Juliet also Film adaptation of the modern Romeo and Juliet film and I’ll be studying in detail (Act5 scene 3).    

  The Prologue of Romeo and Juliet reveals the entire story in a single page. The prologue raises the questions (1) To whom do the events occur? And (2) What are the details of the story?
  The two families are very rich and powerful but Romeo, a Montague, and Juliet, a Capulet, are sworn enemies because of an ancient feud between their families. In beautiful Verona, Italy “ . . . where we lay our scene. From an ancient grudge break to new Mutiny.” This quote symbolises Romeo and Juliet’s love. These star-crossed lovers prove their love by respecting each other in spite of their family’s conflicting. Instead they love each other which in the end, was much worse than hating each other therefore fulfilling the uprising to which the Prologue refers.
    “Where civil blood make civil hands unclean,” means that all the towns people and family members had a part in Romeo and Juliet’s death. If the families were not so hateful towards each other, they would have lived a great and successful life together.
    “From forth the fatal loins of these two foes A pair of star-crossed lovers take their life;” The son of one enemy and the daughter of another take their life in a desperate attempt to show their never ending love for each other. No matter how the parents tried to keep the families separate in society, it would never stop their endless love. Their sad deaths end the parent’s hatred for each other by uniting the families in grief in the mutual loss of their children, as nothing before had been capable of doing. The two families would try to live together in peace but this would never really change their underlying feelings towards each other, and blame of each other for their children’s death.
     The sad story of the lovers’ eternal love for each other, their short lives, and their untimely death, did nothing to stop the depressing hatred that existed between their families. Another two innocent lives would not change the feelings that the two families had for one another. Nothing could change the feelings the two families had for one another. The answers to the questions raised by the prologue in the story.
      The Capulets and the Montagues today would probably hate each other just as much, but they would not be able to use the same kind of weapons, or violence, that they used in the play. Today they would be arrested if they used violence against each other. Although, just because something is illegal it does not mean that they would not still do it. Most probably, the two families would use the court system as their weapons, with long-standing lawsuits replacing deadly force.
   Romeo and Juliet’s love for each other would still be as strong. Also women are looked upon differently today and are treated better than they were in Shakespearean times. Not very long ago parents got to choose whom their daughter would marry and the woman would have to live with this person no matter how much she disliked him. This does not mean that all the marriages chosen by a woman’s parents were bad. It could work out for the best (it was a fifty - fifty chance). Today women can choose whom they want to marry and what they want to do with their life, and they can fulfil those dreams as easily as any man can today.
Not all relationships work out today and we all make mistakes. There is divorce, and freedom behind any but the most committed relationship. Love at first sight is something you do not hear of everyday, it is something most people believe to be a myth but this does not mean it doesn’t exist. There are many things that make up a relationship. To just look at someone and say you love him or her with all your heart before you have even talked to them is just unheard of today. You might hear this saying and maybe you believe it to be true but... at the end off the day its up to you!
   In short, although the story may have some basis in today’s society, I feel it is extremely unlikely that it would happen in such a way. Families continue to argue and hold grudges against other families. Children continue to disobey their parent’s wishes. Today, however, children are not so obliged to family tradition that they feel the need to commit suicide because of forbidden love. They, usually, are simply more practical than to choose suicide as the only available option.  I am going to write about the relationship that Juliet had with the Nurse because to me I feel she is of vital importance to the story of Romeo and Juliet.  My reason for thinking this is because the Nurse brought Juliet up and they share a good Friendship although the Nurse is Juliet’s servant.

      The Nurse and her relationship with Juliet

Throughout the play the Nurse continually appears. At the beginning of the play the relationship is clear. From the outset and throughout the play the trust, protection, willingness, mischief, and loving care of the Nurse are shown.

    The Nurse has a lot of affection for Juliet. She plays more of a mother figure to Juliet than her natural mother does, Lady Capulet. The Nurse has nursed her all her life. The Nurse has been within the Capulet household for at least fourteen years, the entirety of Juliet's life. As Juliet grows up, she still plays an important role in her life.

      The Nurse was actually Juliet's wet nurse, and it is proven that a bond between a baby and one who feeds it is very strong. The Nurse had a daughter of her own, Susan. She was born on the exact same day as Juliet; she unfortunately died leaving the nurse very distraught. When she got the job of looking after Juliet she was at last contented. Juliet was like her own daughter; she took the place of Susan. This shows that the nurse is quite an affectionate character. She continuously looks out for Juliet. It also shows that the nurse is quite caring; taking on the job of a full time nurse is hard. However, she shows love continuously. Although the Nurse is Juliet's servant, the attitude of that is hidden.

    The relationship between the pair is so close that the idea of the Nurse being Juliet's servant is hidden.

    (Act 1, scene 3) is where we first hear of the Nurse. This is the scene that we can gather her background information. The two sit together reminiscing on the "good old days". She can remember the exact date of Juliet's birth, a sign of a close connection. It would remain in her memory because of the death of her own child.

"Come Lammas Eve at night shall

She be fourteen"

     When Lady Capulet enters the room to talk to Juliet, she dismisses the Nurse. This is a sign that they too have a close relationship, sharing secrets. It doesn't last long and that idea is rejected.

"Nurse, give us leave a while.

We must talk in secret"

     The Lady wishes to discuss things with Juliet, but finds it uncomfortable. She calls the Nurse back immediately. The Nurse is clearly one of the family. She is seen as a trusted family servant to the Lord Capulet in Verona and she maintains an active voice in their family affairs. This enables Lady Capulet to call her back. They seem to have no secrets from her. Therefore the lady involves the nurse in her discussion with Juliet about her possible marriage to Paris.

"Nurse, come back again, have remembered me,

Thou’s hear our counsel"

When Juliet speaks to her mother she speaks very formally, calling her "madam". The conversation is stilted and proper, whereas with the Nurse she talks very openly.

Th Nurse uses many different terms when she is referring to Juliet. When calling on Juliet in (Act 1 scene 3,) she says:

"What, Lamb? What Ladybird?"

       That is another sign of a close bond. The language in which they use to communicate is far less formal than that of the language with Lady Capulet. There seems to be a relaxed atmosphere around them.

    The speech, in which the Nurse refers to Juliet's childhood, lets us learn a lot about her character. She is sad about her daughter, but is philosophical about this.

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"Well, Susan is with God, she was too good for me"

She is repetitive, constantly repeating silly things and veering of on a tangent as she gets drawn away from the first point of the conversation.

In (Act 1 scene 5) the Nurse interrupts the first kiss of Romeo and Juliet.

"Madam, your mother craves a word

With you"

        The Nurse is clear about what is going on. She does what she thinks is best, and tries to protect Romeo by telling him who and what she is. This shows a soft touch. The Nurse may ...

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