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How Is The Nurse Presented In Romeo And Juliet

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One of William Shakespeare’s most renown plays, set in Verona where two young star-crossed lovers; Romeo and Juliet met in tragedy as their family feud bound their love within solemn hatred. The Montagues and the Capulets are two families of equal powers who’s prolonged bitter quarrel leads to the tragic death of these two lovers, and by their love reconciled the family’s hatred. Love is a predominant theme within this novel portrayed through the eyes of Romeo and Juliet, however, the maternal endearment between Juliet and her nurse can not be denied. She’s often speak bad of Romeo in order to persuade Juliet to change her mind, chide Juliet for defending Romeo, yet she also arranges for Romeo to see Juliet in the night. The nurse’s close-knit …show more content…

For instance, in Act III scene II the nurse expressed in distress that “there’s not trust, no faith, no honesty in men, all perjur’d… Shame come to Romeo.” William Shakespeare positions the audience to sympathise for the nurse, that as a mother she desires for Juliet’s happiness, and by scolding Juliet for defending Romeo, she’s trying to save Juliet from the adversity she’ll be facing later on. However, Shakespeare clearly uses dialogue to express that within the nurse there are aspects of jealousy and enviousness seeing how much Juliet cares for Romeo, but not much for her. As audiences, we gain insight into the nurse’s life, she’s been treated as a servant, though takes part in intimate family affairs and as Juliet’s confidant, but overall her role as a second mother is not recognise. She treats Juliet like her own birth daughter, hence even though she chides Juliet for defending Romeo by saying “Will you speak well of him that kill’d your cousin?”, her love cannot be …show more content…

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

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