'Go, girl, seek happy nights to happy days'. (Act 1, scene 3, L106)
Here the Nurse is inferring that if she has a 'pleasurable' evening she will be happy the following day. This adds humour to the play for the audience and it gives us a quick image of what the Nurse is like. Very early in the play we realise the Nurse's priorities.
Juliet and the Nurse have a close relationship, the Nurse relates to Juliet like a mother at times. There is evidence of this because the Nurse knows Juliet really well and says;
'Faith, I can tell her age unto an hour' (Act 1, scene 3, L12)
She is saying here that she knows Juliet's exact age. This also shows that she actually knows her better than Lady Capulet, her own mother. Lady Capulet becomes frustrated and changes the subject. At times the Nurse is like Juliet's friend, when she goes to see Romeo about the marriage. This is like the modern age when a best friend is told to go and ask the boy to 'go out' with the girl;
'If you be he, sir, I desire some confidence with you' (Act 2, scene 4, L105)
The Nurse's daughter and husband have passed away so the Capulet’s are her family now. She sees Juliet as her own daughter now and she cares a lot about her.
The Nurse wears clothes that are made a mockery of by Romeo and his friends. If I were to direct the play, I would have her wearing a modern day medical nurse's uniform. So that she is well presented and looks professional in her job. The Nurse is rude and unthoughtful to Mercutio and she makes puns. Mercutio uses a pun and plays on words to add humour to the play. This makes the audience laugh and creates a balanced atmosphere;
'An old hare hoar, and an old hare hoar is very good meat in Lent, But a hare that is hoar, is too much for a score, when it hoars ere it be spent.' (Act 2, scene 4, L11)
Here Mercutio is trying to say that the Nurse is a whore. The Nurse is not happy with this and she comes back with a pun of her own. The Nurse is not a whore, but she is made out to be here. Then she drops herself in it by using sexual humour; this gives us a full picture of the Nurse;
'Use me at his pleasure!' (Act 2, scene 4, L129)
Then Peter, the Nurse's assistant, replies using sexual reference;
'I saw no man use you at his pleasure; if I had, my weapon should quickly have been out'. (Act 2, scene 4, L130)
Peter is not mentioned in the play a lot, as he is the Nurse’s assistant. This makes the Nurse seem more important than an ordinary servant. She is given higher status in the Capulet household and this is demonstrated by her having her own servant. At times this makes her rather conceited. She frequently bosses Peter around, which highlights her domineering nature.
The Nurse looks out for Juliet a lot and makes sure that no man would mess her around. She tells Romeo that if he two times her or treats her badly, he'll have her to answer to. The Nurse here proves not to be afraid and she is portrayed as quite a strong woman;
'If ye should lead her in a fools paradise, as they say, it were a very gross kind of behaviour…' (Act 2, scene 4, L136)
The Nurse adds atmosphere to the play as she uses rhyming couplets and alliteration;
'Is your man secret? Did you ne'er hear say,
Two may keep counsel, putting one away'? (Act 2, scene 4, L164)
This is just one of the rhyming couplets used. This means that if they keep their relationship secret, they will be in danger if their families come to realise that they are courting. Therefore, one of them will be locked away. The Nurse proves to be worried about Juliet here. This adds humour to the play and makes the speech sound interesting. It allows the audience to feel like a part of the play because they are getting involved.
Paris wants to claim Juliet for his wife, but Juliet doesn't like him. The Nurse is explaining to Romeo that Juliet shouldn't marry Paris by comparing him to Romeo. This makes Romeo feel good and the Nurse is portrayed here as slightly interfering;
'I anger her sometimes, and tell her that Paris is a proper man..' (Act 2, scene 4, L171)
In Act 2, scene 5, Juliet awaits the Nurse's return with news of her marriage to Romeo. In this scene Juliet proves very fond of the Nurse by using sweet names for her;
'O honey Nurse.' (Act 2, scene 5, L18)
Here she is calling her 'honey', which is a loving word and it also makes the audience feel warm. The play is happier now and this scene creates a happy medium in the audience. One of the reasons why Juliet is being so nice to the Nurse is because she wants to know what Romeo has said. She is very clever here, but it does not work as the Nurse prolongs in telling her.
The Nurse delays giving Juliet information about the marriage, which creates tension for the audience. This also makes the play much more interesting, creating suspense and drama. The audience are willing the Nurse to tell Juliet. It takes the Nurse from her entrance on line 18 until line 68 to tell Juliet about Romeo awaiting her at Friar Lawrence's cell. This contrasts from how the Nurse is portrayed in the beginning of the play, as she is usually eager to tell Juliet news. The Nurse’s effusive language contrasts to Juliet’s who uses a direct approach.
In Act 3, scene 2 the Nurse tells Juliet about Tybalts death. There is a misunderstanding and Juliet thinks that Romeo is dead. This is a very solemn scene. The Nurse shows that she is upset by using repetition, which is also used when Juliet is thought to be dead too;
'He's dead, he's dead, he's dead!' (Act 3, scene 2, L37)
You can see that she is quite shaken as she uses repetition again in line 39, but this time, she repeats the 'he';
'He's gone, he's killed, he's dead!' (Act 3, scene 2, L39)
Later in this scene, the Nurse makes the situation worse. She heightens the tension by describing what she saw and making it sound morbid. This makes the scene appear macabre and exciting at the same time. Juliet does not know that it is Tybalt she is speaking of; she thinks that it is Romeo that's dead. She weeps and the Nurse comforts her, displaying once more the mother - daughter relationship between them. Later she realises that it is Tybalt who is actually dead. This creates confusion, yet excitement and suspense to the play.
The Nurse continues to use repetition when she describes the killing. This illustrates her shock at the tragic killing of Tybalt. Her connection to the family is shown by the emotion she feels for Juliet and her family.
In line 88 the Nurse demands some brandy. It is ironic that the Nurse turns to alcohol in times of grief, because as the Nurse, in situations like this she should be helping and comforting the family she's working for. Again this brings out the comedy role of the nurse but also hints that she may not be a reliable aide to Juliet in time of need.
In line 128 she uses alliteration;
'Weeping and wailing over Tybalts corpse.' (Act 3, scene 2, L128)
By the use of the two words, 'Weeping and wailing' the emotional turmoil of the scene is reinforced. The use of alliteration is effective as a trick to create the atmosphere and tension that the emotional scene demands.
In Act 3, scene 5, Juliet and the Nurse prove to be very close. This is seen as a comfortable and mothering relationship. It shows that Juliet turns to her at times of need for the advice, instead of her mother. The Nurse is like a mother in this scene to Juliet, as she will not go to her mother for advice. Juliet thinks of the Nurse as a person who could help;
'Upon so soft a subject as myself! What say'st thou? Hast thou not a word of joy? Some comfort, Nurse! (Act 3, scene 5, L210)
This is a loving scene in the play but it is also emotional which captures the audience and they feel a part of the play.
The Nurse begins to turn on Romeo and compares him unfavourably to Paris, by calling him names. This contradicts everything she ever said about him;
'Romeo's a dishclout to him.' (Act 3, scene 5, L219)
The nurse’s language creates humour for the audience but also shows her contradictions and her unreliability. She advises Juliet to favour Paris, which is not what Juliet wanted to hear.
'As Paris hath. Beshrew my heart, I think you are happy in this second match.' (Act 3, scene 5, L121)
The Nurse contradicts what she said earlier in the play that Romeo was handsome and that he was a great match. Also she respects the wishes of Juliet's parents, as they want her to marry Paris. The Nurse is just persuading Juliet. She doesn't want to get in trouble. Unconsciously, she thinks about the wishes of Juliet's parents. This shows that the Nurse changes her mind a lot. This confuses an audience and also adds suspense as she could change her mind again. The Nurse shows to be fickle and she is always trying to agree with everyone.
Again in line 230, alliteration is used to emphasise the sarcasm in her voice;
'Well, thou hast comforted me marvellous much'
This adds humour and sarcasm to the scene. The alliteration allows the audience to see the un-stated but obvious sarcastic wit of the scene. In this scene Juliet responds feels as if the Nurse has betrayed her She is shocked that the Nurse feels that Paris, is better than her fair Romeo. Juliet thinks the Nurse hasn't helped her at all. Her feeling of betrayal is so strong that she uses drastic actions to escape her fate.
'I'll to the Friar to know his remedy, if all else fail, myself have power to die! (Act 3, scene 5, L241)
The scene was very emotional and it makes the play exciting. The audience are in suspense as the nurse’s actions and language are unpredictable.
In Act 4, scene 5, the Nurse uses short sentences to emphasise her excitement that Juliet is getting married. She has to get Juliet ready;
.'Mistress, what mistress!' (Act 4, scene 5, L1)
The nurse’s excitement is captured in these lines using alliteration and short sentences. This allows the lines to flow and the words to stand out. This is a very exciting moment in the play, as the Nurse doesn't know that Juliet is dead; 'Why, lamb! Why, lady!' (Act 4, scene 5, L2)
Juliet has to be ready for the wedding and the Nurse feels privileged that she has to get Juliet dressed. It is a stressful day for her. The Nurse again uses sexual humour in these scenes, which makes the audience laugh and adds humour and interest to the play;
'Sleep for a week, for the next night I warrant the county Paris hath set up his rest that you shall rest but little.' (Act 4, scene 5, L5).
The Nurse is often lewd as she uses sexual humour a lot. She infers that as soon as Paris marries her, he will have her in bed. The audience find this amusing and laugh at the Nurse.
This excitement at the start of the scene allows for great contrast when the nurse believes that Juliet is dead. She becomes stressed and starts to repeat things once again. She uses repetition, as she is worried that Juliet is not awake yet. This also happened in the scene where Tybalt was slain;
'Lady, lady, lady!' (Act 4, scene 5, L13)
The Nurse then demands some brandy once again, as in Tybalt's death scene. She is very tense and emotional;
'O lamentable day!' (Act 4, scene 5, L18)
She is depressed and is very anxious. This creates a sombre atmosphere in the audience and the Nurse makes the plot highly intense. Alliteration is used again in this scene as the father of Juliet enters the chamber;
'She's dead, deceased, she's dead.' (Act 4, scene 5, L23)
The atmosphere and emotion between the characters is intensified as the Nurse tells Lord Capulet bluntly that Juliet is dead. She demonstrates her emotional personality once again, proving that she is never quiet. It is ironic that the Nurse shouts 'my lady' when Juliet is dead, as throughout the play she called her 'my child'. Nurse is so shocked because she thinks Juliet has passed away. She finds it hard to find words, which is emphasised by the way she repeats things. This is ironic because she talked a lot throughout the play. She also uses a lot of alliteration, which is extremely effective in creating the atmosphere. Even in this scene the nurses humour is evident as for once she has nothing to say.
In the final scenes the nurse is not included. You could argue that Shakespeare ignored her character because she had betrayed Juliet.
In conclusion the role of the nurse is an important one, as it is she who creates tension. The audience is able to gain a further understanding into the roles of both Romeo and Juliet, because of the way they interact with the nurse.
Although it may not apparent at first, it is clear that the nurse is the character who makes the play work. Her role is such that if her character were absent from the play, it would definitely not have concluded in the way it does. It is the nurse who has a major role in developing the relationship between Romeo and Juliet, and at the same time it is her who is partly responsible for their deaths.
It can be argued that the nurse has many functions within the play. To summarize, these are that of a go between, a surrogate mother and to add humour to the play. She creates dramatic irony and enables development of the plot and other characters.
Overall, Shakespeare uses the nurse as a tool to move the play forward. The nurse’s role is of paramount importance and it can be said that the play would not function without her.
