What does the Nurse contribute to the play, in your view?
In ‘Romeo and Juliet’, the Nurse plays a vital role where she works as a servant to Juliet in the Capulet family for years. She is a trusted character who loves and understands Juliet very well. They have good mother and daughter like relationship. In this play, the Nurse also brings tragedy and immense tension when she betrays Juliet. After all, Juliet trusted the Nurse completely. However, the Nurse is an immense character that shows rudeness and obscenity humor, which entertains the audience.
(Act 1 Scene 3 line 21-22)
“Well, Susan is with God, she was too good for me”
(Act 1 Scene 3 line 63-64)
“Thou wast the prettiest babe that ever I nursed”
The above lines shows that the Nurse reflects past memories of her daughter, Susan. Susan who was born at the same time as Juliet had died . Hence, the Nurse thinks of Juliet as her own daughter and tries to fulfill her every wish.
(Act 1 Scene 3 line 53)
“Enough of this; I pray thee, hold thy peace.”
While talking about Juliet’s age, the Nurse speaks about her daughter Susan and how she became a wet-nurse and breast feeded Juliet. At that time, rich women like Lady Capulet did not like to feed their children. She even spoke about her husband who had died ‘thou wilt fall backward when thou comest to age’. Thus, Lady Capulet tells the Nurse to keep silent. This shows that the Nurse is tiresomely talkative and vulgar.
(Act 1 Scene 3 line 97)
“ No less? Nay, bigger. Women grow by men.”
These remarks have been made by the Nurse because of what Lady Capulet said. Lady Capulet suggests Juliet to marry Paris but the Nurse states that when Juliet will have her baby, she will also have a wet-nurse like her to feed them. This reflected the Nurse’s character to be arrogant.
The Nurse acts as a negotiator between Romeo and Juliet when they meet for the first time during “masked ball”. Romeo and Juliet wanted to know more about eachother....