Key points
The Nurse is a character from Romeo and Juliet, a tragedy by William Shakespeare.
The Nurse is a servant in the Capulet household and has looked after Juliet since she was a baby.
The Nurse is trusted to keep Romeo and Juliet’s secrets and helps them to marry.
Did you know?
The Nurse is an amusing character, and her scenes provide some funny moments within the tragic play.
Plot summary
A plot summary of Romeo and Juliet:
The Nurse’s key moments
Click through the slideshow to see the Nurse’s key moments
Image caption, These images are taken from a 2014 production of Romeo and Juliet set in Harlem, New York. The Nurse helps Juliet get ready for the Capulet party. She shares memories and jokes. Lady Capulet asks Juliet to consider Paris as a potential husband and the Nurse praises Paris as a “man of wax”, meaning he is as handsome as a statue. At the end of the party, Juliet tells the Nurse about her feelings for Romeo and the Nurse tells her that he is a Montague.
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Character traits
Trustworthy
In the first half of the play, Juliet trusts the nurse and they have a close relationship. The nurse risks her job to organise secret meetings between the couple and keep their secrets.
Playful
The nurse also adds comedy to the play. She frequently tells jokes and teases Juliet.
Caring
The Nurse loves Juliet and has cared for her since birth. She is a maternal figure and puts Juliet’s needs first.
Relationships
The Nurse was Juliet’s A woman who is employed to breastfeed and care for another woman’s baby. and has had a close relationship with her since she was a baby. She takes on the role of a carer, friend and mother figure. Juliet is closer to the Nurse than she is to her family.
At first the Nurse agrees to help Romeo and supports his relationship with Juliet. Later in the play, she stops supporting the relationship and advises Juliet to marry Paris.
The Nurse is a servant and loyal to the Capulet family. She is devastated when Tybalt and Juliet die.
Changes in character
At the beginning of the play, the Nurse is Juliet’s main support and she is devoted to her happiness. They have a close, playful relationship.
Later in the play, the Nurse advises Juliet to forget Romeo and marry Paris. This leads to a change in their relationship. Juliet feels betrayed and no longer shares her secrets with the Nurse. The Nurse does not know about Juliet’s plan to fake her own death.
After Romeo is ordered to leave Verona, why does the Nurse advise Juliet to marry Paris?
This could be because she is concerned for Juliet’s future after Romeo is ordered to leave Verona, or because Lord Capulet has insisted that Juliet marry Paris and the Nurse feels powerless to help. The Nurse also says that shame has come to Romeo for killing Tybalt.
Activity - Order it
What do these key quotations mean?
Thou wast the prettiest babe that e’er I nursed.
The Nurse
Act 1, Scene 3
The Nurse was Juliet’s wet nurse. She has a close, motherly relationship with Juliet.
Then hie you hence to Friar Lawrence’s cell,
There stays a husband to make you his wife.
The Nurse
Act 2, Scene 5
The Nurse secretly passes messages between Romeo and Juliet. She also helps arrange their secret marriage.
I think it best you married with the County.
O, he’s a lovely gentleman!
Romeo’s a dishclout to him;
The Nurse
Act 3, Scene 5
The Nurse stops supporting Juliet’s relationship with Romeo and suggests that she marry Paris instead.
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