When Lady Capulet enters the room to talk to Juliet, she dismisses the Nurse, ‘Nurse, give us leave a while.
We must talk in secret’.
But as she finds it uncomfortable to discuss things with Juliet, she immediately calls the Nurse back. ‘Nurse, come back again, have remember’d me, thou’s hear our counsel’. This is yet another sign that Juliet and the Nurse are extremely close, and that the Nurse is regarded as one of the family. She’s seen as a trusted family servant who is loyal to them. She also 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 Nurse is present and involved in a discussion with Juliet about her possible marriage to Paris.
Another point to note is that when Juliet speaks to her mother, she speaks very formally, calling her ‘madam’. The conversation is overformal, whereas with the Nurse Juliet is open.
The Nurse uses many different names and terms when she refers to Juliet, e.g. ‘What, Lamb? What Ladybird?’ (Act I Scene 3). This proves to be another sign of a close relationship. The language used between Juliet and her Nurse seems to be more relaxed.
In act I scene 5, the Nurse interrupts Romeo and Juliet’s first kiss, ‘Madam, your mother craves a word with you,’. The Nurse knows what’s going on. However, she remains discrete about the situation, as she loves and cares for Juliet. When Juliet asks the Nurse to find out about Romeo, she does so and tells Juliet ‘His name is Romeo, and a Montague’. The Nurse is now a sort of spy for Juliet. She sees that the two like each other. Juliet is at ease and comfortable with speaking to the Nurse. This allows Juliet to trust her and tell her about the marriage to Romeo and defying her family.
In act 2 scene 2, Romeo and Juliet are interrupted again by the Nurse. The Nurse calls out to Juliet by saying ‘Madam’ several times. Juliet goes, but then returns to Romeo. This shows us a downfall in their relationship. Juliet is so deeply in love with Romeo that not even her Nurse can hold her back.
In act 2 scene 4, the Nurse appears when Romeo is talking with his friends. The Nurse is being used as a messenger here by Juliet. Their relationship, though, is so strong that she’ll do anything to keep Juliet content. She arranges Juliet’s marriage, which is to take place at Friar Laurence’s place. The Nurse acts as an accomplice, alongside Friar Laurence, to bring the two lovers together, knowing there will be consequences (because of the family feud). The Nurse is immersed and now too involved with Juliet’s affairs, so she strives to help her with her plans.
In act 2 scene 5, the Nurse keeps Juliet in suspense about the news of marriage when she returns, as she is in a mischievous mood. This is another example of a downfall in their closely bonded relationship. The nurse enjoys keeping Juliet waiting, ‘Jesu, what haste, can you not stay a while’. She makes Juliet even more excited by speaking good of Romeo, ‘Your love says, like an honest gentleman,
and a courteous and kind and a handsome……’.
The Nurse, however, does not want Juliet to become too eager. She wants to, on purpose, keep her lingering. She therefore changes the subject, ‘Where is your mother?’ Later on in the end, she gives in and gives the news to Juliet about the marriage. She seems to have enjoyed winding Juliet up, but she knows when to stop, as she knows how and when Juliet becomes impatient and angry, as she knows her so well.
In act 3 scene 2, the Nurse interrupts Juliet’s dream by telling her of the death of Tybalt and the banishment of Romeo, ‘Tybalt is gone and Romeo is banished’. It was the Nurse who told Juliet the saddening and depressing news, as she’s closer to Juliet than anyone else. The Nurse shows more sadness for the loss of Tybalt than for the banishment of Romeo. This is natural, as Tybalt is the one that has died, and he was also part of the family. Juliet uses the Nurse again, who is still faithful and trustworthy to her, to go and find Romeo, who is at Friar Laurence’s cell, and to speak to him. Although she shows more affection for Tybalt, she obeys Juliet and goes to seek Romeo.
In act 3 scene 3, the Nurse sees Romeo’s cowardly side when he attempts to commit suicide and kill himself, so she stops him from doing so for Juliet’s sake.
The Friar now takes charge and makes rash plans. The Nurse foolishly admires his plans. She does as Juliet wishes here again, even if we later find out that she wants Juliet to forget about Romeo. She passes the ring Juliet gave her to Romeo, as Juliet had ordered. She knows this will only cause more grief and trouble, but still does as she’s told, because she is loyal to Juliet. Furthermore she is her servant. In this scene, her ‘servant’ role is slowly revealing. The Nurse realizes that she was correct from what she said to each of the lovers. She had warned them, when they first met, that their names can only bring trouble. The Nurse hastens Romeo to see Juliet. She has realized that is what will make Juliet happy, and that is all that she wants. You can see also here that the Nurse goes to all extent to keep Juliet cheerful. It is thanks to the Nurse that the pair can spend the night together.
In act 3 scene 5, the Nurse goes to Juliet’s room to warn both Romeo and Juliet that Lady Capulet is coming, ‘Your lady mother is coming to your chamber’. The Nurse is clearly shown here to be going against Juliet’s parents’ will, and that she is betraying them. If the Nurse perhaps didn’t tell them, then we would see the two lovers being found together by Lady Capulet. The Nurse uses formal language when talking about Juliet’s mother (‘lady mother’). This is a sign that she still is faithful to Juliet’s parents, as well as to Juliet.
When Lord Capulet later enters towards the end of the scene, an argument breaks out. He curses Juliet by calling her a ‘disobedient wretch’. The Nurse is very defensive of Juliet, and speaks her mind, no matter what the consequences, ‘God in heaven bless her. You are to blame, my lord, to rate her so.’ Lord Capulet then swears at the Nurse. The Nurse and Juliet are both are shocked by this outrage, but the Nurse stands up for herself, after hearing Lord Capulet insult her.
The Nurse has and shows no comfort or support now whatsoever for Juliet, who is whimpering and hiding behind the Nurse. The Nurse thinks about and remembers the grief and shock at the events of the previous day. On the other hand, Juliet wants comfort and support from the Nurse. The Nurse thinks only of the best way to get herself out of this quarrel, and so she advises Juliet to marry Paris instead, and to forget about Romeo, ‘Romeo is banished, and all the world to nothing,
That he dare ne’er come back to challenge you,’ and ‘As Paris hath. Beshrew my very heart,
I think you are happy in this second match,’ tell us this. Juliet becomes very annoyed at the Nurse, and feels that she has been betrayed. She angrily cries out at her Nurse ‘Ancient damnation! O most wicked fiend!’ She is basically cursing her Nurse here, and calling her an ‘old hag’.
Now, it is at this point where the relationship, which was once so deep and closely bonded between the Nurse and Juliet, falls down completely, and is therefore broken. The Nurse loses Juliet’s confidence and so she went against her, losing her trust along with it. Juliet decides to seek Friar Laurence’s help; thereafter she no longer involves the Nurse in her secret plans.
This is the last scene in which we see the Nurse. Throughout the play she appears. However, when she loses Juliet’s trust, she is lost from the play.
In conclusion, the Nurse plays a critical role in Romeo and Juliet. Her relationship with Juliet and her part in the secretive romance of the two lovers cause the play’s actions to move quickly and in a powerful and effective way. Her relationship with Juliet does change dramatically throughout the entire play. When Juliet dies, we feel sorry for the Nurse, as it was she who raised Juliet, fed her, and then had to witness her tragic death.
