The language used here by the nurse is very simple and has a lot of sarcasm in it. The sarcasm comes from the word ‘teat’ because this phrase would indicate that the wisdom in Juliet comes from her. The audience would find this amusing; the nurse is one of Shakespeare’s comedy characters. The sarcasm in this text in Shakespeare’s time noble people didn’t use sarcasm; this shows the nurses background of being from quite a poor background.
Another main authority was the church. In Verona the church is represented by Friar Lawrence. He is a calm character and very reasonable his language indicates this. He has authority because he is part of the church, he is seen as a member of god and you must obey his wishes to go to heaven. He uses his authority by advising people what to do, although his authority leads to the tragedy of Romeo and Juliet’s deaths. But one of the reasons of using that authority to give that advice of marriage was that he thought that Romeo and Juliet would break the sin of fornication. So he was partly forced into that decision. When giving the advice for Romeo and Juliet to marry he was calm and collected. For example ‘For by your leaves, you shall not stay alone, till holy church incorporate two in one’
The audience would react to this badly because the friar is undermining the authority of the parents of the families. If the families were to find out what the friar has done they would not be pleased with the church and Friar Lawrence. In this text Friar Lawrence is speaking about them getting married in the soon future. The language he uses is quite intellectual and philosophical. But by agreeing to hold the marriage he is undermining the authority of the parents of both Romeo and Juliet especially the Capulets. Later in the play Friar Lawrence helps Romeo after his banishment by giving him messages from Juliet. This shows he or the church is more respected than the prince or the parents from both families. The respect to him or the church is shown by him undermining both the prince and the parents. But in the end his authority leads to no good.
The family is the final key authority. The family in the Elizabethan times was a lot different to now. The father in the family made all the key decisions. He could decide marriages of his children, the family had to obey the fathers decisions even his wife must obey them. In the Elizabethan times rich families were expected to have servants, these were considered part of the family and were commanded by the father of the household. The nurse is considered a servant. In the beginning of the play Lord Montague talks to his wife concerning Romeo ‘And private in his chamber pens himself, shuts up his windows, locks fair daylight out’
That was taken from after the fray in Verona, in this text there is a conversation concerning Romeo and what he has been up to? This shows that the Montague’s are caring parents. Lord Capulet is the father of Juliet at the beginning he too is also seems quite a caring parent ‘Let two more summers wither in their pride’
This refers to the question Paris a relative of the prince asks Lord Capulet for Juliet’s hand in marriage, but Capulet declines saying wait two years. Later in the play though he changes his mind ‘Hang the young baggage, disobedient wretch; I tell thee what, get thee to church a’ Thursday’
The audience in Elizabethan times would not expect Juliet to disobey her father. He agrees to the offer of marriage of his daughter. This leaves Juliet in a tough situation whether to marry Paris or Romeo? The reason for this is Tybalt his nephew has been slain and to take Juliet’s mind off the death off her cousin. In the quotation I have just used the language used by Capulet is extremely forceful and aggressive. My quotation earlier in the play when Capulet declines Paris’s offer is courteous, unlike when he speaks to his daughter in a ferocious way. ‘Content thee gentle coz, let him alone’
This is taken from when Lord Capulet is telling Tybalt not to start a fight against Romeo. From the evidence from this quotation makes it even more surprising when Capulet shouts at Juliet. Authority of the family from the father of the household can be spread to the servants the nurse advises Juliet in the end to marry Paris. This is not her conscience talking, if she advises Juliet to marry Romeo, Lord Capulet would fire her.
In the end of the play William Shakespeare’s message to an Elizabethan audience would be that the role of authority is important, and that lies and disobedience get you nowhere. Even though how much they loved each other it wasn’t right.
But to a modern day audience it might portray a different message.
