In addition to comforting Juliet, the Nurse also acts as a messenger for the doomed lovers.

The Nurse is not a medical professional and her role differs from that of a modern nurse. She is a domestic servant — namely, she is Juliet's nursemaid. Her employment in the Capulet household underscores Juliet's youth. The Nurse is responsible for Juliet's care and has been since Juliet's infancy, a mere 14 years ago.

Because she is a servant and of the lower class, she is portrayed as a bawdy and humorous character.

This illustration shows the edits made to one of the Nurse's most famous speeches in an 1814 production of Romeo and Juliet

The Nurse's sole desire is to make Juliet happy. Having lost her own daughter (who was Juliet's age) and husband, the Nurse has devoted her life to Juliet's care. She loves her as a daughter.

Lady Capulet	This is the matter. — Nurse, give leave awhile, We must talk in secret. — Nurse, come back again; I have remember'd me, thou's hear our counsel.
(1.3.8-10)

Juliet reaffirms her confidence in the Nurse during the masque at the Capulet home. When she wants to know the name of the young man who has piqued her interest, Juliet does not ask her own mother. She asks her Nurse and does not hesitate to expose her feelings, even though Romeo is a Montague.

Juliet	What's he that follows here, that would not dance?
Nurse	I know not.
Juliet	Go ask his name. [Nurse goes.] If he be married, My grave is like to be my wedding bed.
Nurse	[Returning.] His name is Romeo, and a Montague, The only son of your great enemy.
Juliet	My only love sprung from my only hate! Too early seen unknown, and known too late! Prodigious birth of love it is to me That I must love a loathed enemy.
Nurse	What's this? What's this?
Juliet	A rhyme I learn'd even now Of one I danc'd withal.
(1.5.133-43)

Upon learning that Romeo is a Montague, Juliet spills her heart to the Nurse, telling her that she "love[s] a loathed enemy" (1.5.142). But when the Nurse reacts negatively to the confession, Juliet retreats behind deception. She changes her story and retracts her earlier statement saying that it was just a rhyme she learned.

But even though the Nurse's initial reaction is not good, Juliet trusts her to act as go-between with Romeo. The Nurse does as Juliet requests, but she wants to make certain that Romeo is an honorable gentleman. She is very concerned about Juliet's welfare and worries that Romeo may be trying to take advantage of Juliet's youth and inexperience.

Nurse	Hie you to church; I must another way, To fetch a ladder, by the which your love Must climb a bird's nest soon when it is dark. I am the drudge and toil in your delight, But you shall bear the burden soon at night.
(2.5.72-76)

The Nurse serves as a mother figure and a confidant for Juliet.

Here, in her bawdy and comic manner, the Nurse instructs Juliet to go get married and explains that she will handle the details that will enable Romeo and Juliet to consummate their marriage. She says that she will get a ladder and Romeo will be able to climb up to Juliet's room to visit her "bird's nest" — a sexual allusion. She also says that she needs to do all this work for Juliet's delight, but refers to the sex act as Juliet's "burden" to bear at night.

How would the Capulets react if they were to learn of the Nurse's actions? Though many of the Nurse's actions may seem ill-conceived, she appears to act out of love and concern for Juliet. Apparently, she wishes only to make Juliet happy and is willing to take significant personal risks to do so.

Yet for all her scheming, the Nurse is simple. Though she takes part in all of these complicated ploys, she seems to believe that the romance with Romeo is a passing fancy. She figures that Juliet will easily be able to forget her love once Romeo is banished and the situation becomes too difficult. First she upsets Juliet by disparaging Romeo. Then the Nurse tells Juliet that she should forsake her love and marry Paris instead. She is delighted to hear Juliet's feigned consent to the proposal.

Juliet	Ancient damnation! O most wicked fiend! Is it more sin to wish me thus forsworn, Or to dispraise my lord with that same tongue Which she hath prais'd him with above compare So many thousand times? Go, counsellor, Thou and my bosom henceforth shall be twain. I'll to the friar, to know his remedy. If all else fail, myself have power to die. [Exit.]
(3.5.236-42)

During the Renaissance, one way for a family to show off their wealth and greatness was to employ numerous servants to perform household tasks.

From this moment the Nurse will have no further discourse with Juliet, who is the love of her life. The next time she sees Juliet, the Nurse she believes her dead, although Juliet is in a deep trance from the potion she has taken. After that encounter, the Nurse will not see Juliet again until she truly is dead.

Even when she discovers Juliet's body still and lifeless on her bed, and before she concludes (erroneously) that Juliet is dead, the Nurse's language is bawdy and humorous. She tells Juliet that her honeymoon with Paris will tolerate no sleeping, but then asks God to forgive her.

Nurse	Sleep for a week; for the next night, I warrant, The County Paris hath set up his rest That you shall rest but little. God forgive me, Marry and amen! How sound is she asleep! I needs must wake her. Madam, madam, madam! Ay, let the County take you in your bed; He'll fright you up, i' faith. Will it not be?
(4.5.5-11)

Ultimately, the Nurse is a contradiction. In her character, Shakespeare has created a relatively young woman who seems old; a pious woman who delights in the bawdy; a maternal woman without a daughter; a loyal woman who deceives her patrons. For the audience, she is both entertaining and irritating. For Juliet, she is mother and friend, confidante and betrayer.

The Nurse Prattles About Juliet's Age Click on the picture to read and listen to this passage. You can choose RealAudio, QuickTime, WindowsMedia, or MP3 format.

BACK | LINKS | NEXT