Character Traits In Shakespeare's Romeo And Juliet

The nurse, throughout the story, acts like a best friend to juliet, and sometimes a motherly figure in replacement of Lady Capulet. While one of her main purposes is comic relief, Juliet looks up to her and she becomes one of the only people to know of Juliet’s relationship with Romeo. The nurse seems supportive, but her opinions of Romeo seem to change after the news comes of Tybalt’s death, when she says “Romeo can, While Heaven cannot. O’Romeo, Romeo! Who would have thought it? Romeo!” The nurse indirectly states her new distaste for Romeo, making Juliet mad. Juliet feels betrayed by this sudden outburst. Later, when the Capulets try to force Juliet into a marriage with Paris, The nurse reveals that she believes “I think you are happy in this second match, for it excels your first; or if it did not, Your first is dead- or ‘twere as good he were As living here and you no use of him.”(656). This is the second time that Juliet has been betrayed by the nurse, someone who she used to confide in and

Although along the course of the play, the nurse has many times caused discouragement and show unsupportive attitude, but her maternal instincts and moral values prevents her from reporting Juliet’s behaviour to the Capulets. Despite her sudden betrayal towards the end of play, Shakespeare positions us to empathise for the nurse that she was the one who raised Juliet, fed her , cared for her, yet witnessed Juliet’s tragic death. William Shakespeare portrays both the likeable and irritable persona positioning the audience to dislike the character, yet empathise for the immense regret that she has to suffer for the rest of her

One shared character trait of both Romeo and Juliet is that they both feel that their lives

2. The nurse is shown as a kind-hearted woman. She wants the best for Juliet's life. When lady Capulet asks Juliet about the marriage, the nurse said that Juliet is yet really young and she should think about it. This shows how the nurse cares about Juliet just as a mother’s responsibility and understands Juliet.

This proves that The Nurse does not have any pre judgmental thoughts about Romeo, that she believes in him, and is substantial because it solidifies that she is kind not only just to Juliet (Act 3, Scene 3, line 85-173). The Friar actually accompanies her in this scene, acting out the same behavior, attempting to keep Romeo from slipping into a deep depression at the thought of never seeing Juliet again. And When The Nurse is commanded by Lord Capulet to bring forth the news to Juliet that she must marry Paris, though reluctant as she is, she agrees that marrying Paris would be in her best interests, and The Nurse tells Juliet what she must do which is critical because it validates that The Nurse will do anything to keep Juliet from harm even if she does not like it. Although marrying Paris is not something Juliet wants to do, The Nurse knows that that is what is best for her, and Juliet lies and tells her that she will marry him (Act 3, Scene 5, Lines 176-246).

Shakespeare uses detailed examples to draw clear images of his characters for the audience. Romeo and Juliet is a play about two rival families, the Capulets and the Montagues. Romeo struggles because he is blinded by his love for Juliet and will do anything, even risk death, to see Juliet. Shakespeare uses examples in the story to portray Romeo as an impulsive and passionate character. He demonstrates that he is passionate and impulsive by his inner thoughts and feelings, his actions, and how others view him.

By creating comical moments, the nurse demonstrates comic relief by using laughable moments in order to offset more serious situations. The nurse is a comic relief figure, which makes it more likely for her to take situations less seriously. Therefore, the nurse is more prone to revealing Juliet’s secret to the Capulets. Throughout the tragic play, the nurse makes many malapropisms proving that she is not very intelligent and is capable of spoiling Juliet’s marriage by mistake. Earlier in the novel, the nurse makes a malapropism by saying, “I will tell her, sir, that you do protest, which, as I take it, is / a gentlemanlike offer” (II.iv.152-153). The nurse says protest when she really means propose, a big difference in meaning. This proves that the nurse is not so intelligent and is capable of revealing the hidden secret to Juliet’s attentive parents without being fully aware of what she is actually doing. Due to the ongoing rivalry between the Montagues and Capulets, the disapproval from Juliet’s parents to marry their rival will lead to their demise. The rivalry between these two families is so vast, that death is an

The Nurse is supposed to be the main person Juliet is able to trust, but she turns against Juliet at a very crucial time. The Nurse tells Juliet it would be best if she marries Paris, which left Juliet to turn to Friar Lawrence. The Nurse does not consider the future enough. She does not understand that people can not change their minds as swiftly as she does. The Nurse quickly changes her mind.

The fond relationship of Juliet and Nurse, reflects the love between both characters despite their different social class. When nurse’s character answers, ‘Indeed. Heavens, I can tell [Juliet’s] age to the exact hour’ (pg. 53), it becomes apparent to the audience the love and importance of Juliet in nurse’s life. Through creating a close bond between Nurse and Juliet, Shakespeare demonstrates the love between the two characters, in spite of the hatred of society on the lower class, thus reaffirming, that love overpowers hatred of social class. An illustration of the idea that love triumphs hatred is explored when Romeo insults the Nurse by saying, ‘What wilt thou tell her, nurse? Thou dost not mark me’ (Pg.136). Shakespeare utilises this quote to emphasis the disrespectful mannerism which the upper class treated the lower class. Additionally, the playwright distinctly creates Juliet’s nurse and Juliet’s biological mother to be juxtaposition to exemplify the prominence of love within the play. The unexpected relationship of Nurse and Juliet identifies how love has no boundaries, not even social class, and as a result Shakespeare enforces that love conquers hatred. Similarly to the way Shakespeare utilises the character of Nurse, he also uses characters, Montague and Capulet, to explore the prominence of love suppressing

The nurse is both a mother figure for Juliet, and a best-friend of sorts. Many individuals would question the logic of including The Nurse in a discussion of the ‘bad-guys’ in Romeo and Juliet. Regardless, it is obvious that Nurse holds incredible sway with Juliet, and Juliet adores Nurse throughout the play, until she “betrays” Juliet. Nurse comments that Juliet should marry Paris, and this is an obvious betrayal of Juliet’s trust. Nurse says “I think it best if you married with the COunty.

Juliet is the daughter of Lord and Lady Capulet. When the play begins, we learn from the nurse that Juliet is soon turning fourteen (“Even or odd, of all the days in the year come Lammas-Eve at night shall she be fourteen”). In Juliet's first meeting with her mother and the nurse, she seems to be an obedient and responsible child. She comes immediately when they call her and answers always respectfully to her mother: "Madam, I am here, / What is your will?" (“Act 1, Scene 3). She is also clever as when her mother asks her what she thinks about marriage, she gives an ambiguous answer by saying what her mother wanted to hear really: “it is an honour I dream not of” (“Act 1, Scene 3). We learn that she is

Initially, Juliet is intensely loyal to her parents and is willing to consent to their will. Juliet has never defied her parents or disobeyed any of their commands, she seems to understand the hierarchy or pecking order in her family, and gracefully accepts her position at the bottom of the ladder. Although it is clear that Juliet does not wish to be married, when asked to examine Paris she tells her mother that she will “look”, and “endart [her] eye” but only her mother's “consent gives strength to make it fly”. Juliet is giving her mother all the power in this situation. She is allowing herself to be ruled by her mother's wishes for her to be married well, and bring money into the family. Although Juliet is not entirely happy with this situation, she trusts her mother and her father. Juliet has faith that her father and mother know what is best for her, and their family name. Juliet has no interest in entertaining Paris, however, for the sake of her parents she is willing to do so, and is preparing herself to like him. Juliet, whether she realizes it or not, relies heavily on her parents. She needs their approval and looks up to them for their guidance and instruction. Juliet is able to think clearly, and knows this is not a battle she can win. Rather than defying her parents, Juliet reluctantly accepts their will, and will “look” if her mother wants her to look. Juliet knows that in order to both remain loyal to her family and be happy herself, she must make the best of what her parents have given her.

Romeo and Juliet met at a Capulet party in Verona and they were instantly infatuated by each other. They knew their love was forbidden because they come from rival families. This doesn’t stop them from getting married the next day. The day progresses and Tybalt, Juliet’s cousin, is itching for a fight with Romeo. The young, peace loving, Montague doesn’t want to fight but the Capulets don’t take no for an answer. They begin to bash Romeo so Mercutio, Romeo’s bodyguard, steps in. He dies from a stab wound. This angers Romeo so much that he kills Tybalt. Juliet is worried about what might happen to Romeo but her parents think it’s because of Tybalt’s death. Juliet’s father arranges for her to be married to try and cheer her up. This causes her to take drastic measures to avoid the wedding and fake her death. Romeo believes she is actually dead and kills himself. Juliet wakes to her dead husband and can’t stand to live without him. She commits suicide.

In everyday life individuals are constantly put in situations where they are faced with pressures from society. In Romeo and Juliet, William Shakespeare continuously places Juliet in situations where she is faced with pressure from her family, friends and society. However, throughout these conflicts and meeting Romeo, Juliet’s character becomes stronger, more confident and mature, resulting in the development of her character throughout the play. The audience is able to recognize her growth and maturity through her innocence at the beginning, her sudden marriage to Romeo and a shift in behaviour towards her parents and others.

I strongly believe that studying Shakespeare is still relevant and always will be relevant in schools. Shakespeare made stories that are still told today and are even adapted into modern movies, Shakespeare’s Stories also share some same characteristics with this generation, including love, hate, and war. The language that he wrote has been seen in many modern day music and art.