A lusty, if lengthy, retelling of romeo and juliet from the nurse s perspective. What is the nurses advice in romeo and juliet answers. What if juliet never drank the potion on the night before her wedding to paris. Romeo and juliet the tragedy of romeo and juliet, william shakespeare romeo and juliet is a tragedy, written by william shakespeare early in his career, about two young starcrossed lovers, whose deaths ultimately reconcile their feuding families. As soon as i sent peter off to wait at the gate, juliet. The nurse, in her hilarious inability to stop telling the story about her husbands remarks about juliet s sexual development, shows a vulgar tastelessnot classy streak, but also a familiarity with juliet that.
She is the personal servant, guardian and former wet nurse of juliet capulet, and has been since juliet was born. Romeo and juliet simple english wikipedia, the free. As one of the world s greatest love stories romeo and juliet continues to excite new theatregoers, readers and filmgoers. The lovers marry in secret, with the help of juliet s nurse and friar lawrence but all hope for their happiness seems lost when romeo is banished for killing juliet s cousin, tybalt. She was also the gobetween for juliet and romeo, delivering messages and notes from one to another. Juliets diary entries romeo and julieta tragic love story. Free download or read online romeo and juliet pdf epub book. The nurse however, didnt pick up on the fact juliet was defending romeo for her own selfish desires and showing the increase of love for him, rather than showing the. The first edition of the novel was published in 1597, and was written by william shakespeare. As such, it reflects, and allows us to analyse, changing attitudes to sex in a violent world.
The main characters of this classics, plays story are romeo montague, juliet capulet. Discuss friar lawrences role in the tragic ending of this play. In william shakespeares book romeo and juliet, the nurse contributes to. About juliet falling as a toddler and her and her husband telling juliet how when she grows up she will fall back instead of forward.
Line numbers are added to editions of shakespeares works by the editors and so they are different for every edition. Pdf romeo and juliet book by william shakespeare free. This happens offstage so we dont see how the nurse reacts. English literature gcse romeo and juliet analysing the nurse theater character, william shakespeare, author, play, mercutio, romeo montague, analysis, benvolio. I would even urge that anyone who wants to put on a production of romeo and juliet should first read lois leveens book. The nurse eventually interrupts, trying to scoot juliet off to her mother, and she tells romeo that juliet is a capulet. Thus, just as the nurse is a surrogate mother for juliet, so too is juliet a surrogate daughter for the nurse.
Its immediacy stands in welcome contrast to the distance, even estrangement, evoked by other shakespeare plays. Meanwhile, juliet is similarly distraught when she finds out that romeo is a montague. The first is a story about how juliet was weaned from breastfeeding when she was three years old. Get an answer for how does the nurse evolve throughout the story of shakespeare s romeo and juliet. After she is laid to rest in the familys tomb, the friar and romeo will secretly retrieve her, and.
Only then does the nurse decide that juliet has to marry paris. In the prologue, shakespeare tell us that our two title characters are going to kill themselves. So, with apologies to william shakespeare, the greatest english writer and the greatest writer in the english language ever, were going to try and tell you, in a short few paragraphs about the romeo juliet love story. And they dont come more popular than romeo and juliet. Nurses role in william shakespeares romeo and juliet romeo and juliet a play by william shakespeare is one of the most famous and loved romantic stories ever. The nurses main role in the play is that of a secondary mother figure for juliet. Who is nurse in the story of romeo and juliet answers. That book in manys eyes doth share the glory, that in gold clasps locks in the golden story. After the death of her infant daughter, susan, the nurse treats juliet as her own daughter. The character of the nurse in romeo and juliet the nurse has a very important role in the play, being juliets closest friend and helping her in her illicit relationship with romeo. Then she lets romeo know that juliet still loves him, even though he has killed her cousin. After the death of her infant daughter, susan, the. That book in manys eyes doth share the glory that in gold clasps locks in the golden story. The night before her wedding to paris, juliet must drink a potion that will make her appear to be dead.
In contrast to juliets youth, the nurse is old and enjoys complaining about her aches and pains. She returns his sentiments and the two decide to marry. Forgetful, longwinded, bawdy, and seemingly immune to embarrassment, the nurse is happy to share cringeworthy stories from her own past and juliets with anyone who will listen. She serves as juliet s main confidante and companion. Actually understand romeo and juliet act 1, scene 3.
Read every line of shakespeares original text alongside a modern english translation. The nurse and juliet may have a loving, teasing sort of relationship at the beginning of the play, but when juliet needs her mostafter her parents order her to marry paristhe nurse betrays her. The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 283 pages and is available in mass market paperback format. The character of the nurse in romeo and juliet essay. In william shakespeares romeo and juliet, it was clear that the theme of love and fate was conquered throughout the play. In romeo and juliet, what were the two stories that the. Immediately this guileless girl of almost fourteen becomes a clever strategist, decoying the nurse. Later lord capulet delivered the news that juliet was to marry paris tomorrow. Given the short amount of time that they knew each other, do you think they could have really loved one another. In her relationship with romeo, juliet is loving, witty, loyal, and strong. All speeches lines and cues for nurse in romeo and juliet. The nurse, despite being a servant in the capulet household, has a role equivalent to that of juliet s mother and regards juliet as her own daughter. The nurse starts her role as romeo and juliets gobetween when she informs romeo of juliets identity and later learns romeos name.
What happened to the nurse in the romeo and juliet story. Verona still feels like its shakespearean legacy, and it is possible to recall the main moments of the timeless love story of romeo and juliet strolling around the streets of this italian city. The nurse demonstrates her affection for juliet frequently. With the largest number of lines in shakespeare s play after the two lovers, wet nurse angelica takes center stage in leveen s the secrets of mary bowser, 2012 second novel, which begins 14 years before the fateful five days spanned by the drama. The nurse however, didnt pick up on the fact juliet was defending romeo for her own selfish desires and showing the increase of love for him, rather than showing the decrease in love for romeo, like the nurse. The first performance of romeo and juliet took place in the autumnwinter of 1594 at a playhouse called the theatre. The nurse is sent by juliet in act two, scene four to seek out romeo the night after their first kiss and exchange of vows. In romeo and juliet what is the nurse saying to romeo in lines 157163. Juliet acknowledges the nurses mistake and her reply shows a non ambiguous meaning and it is clear enough so that the nurse will not misinterpret what she is saying.
While leaving the party, romeo hides in the orchard while mercutio and benvolio call for him to come out of hiding and go home with them. The character of nurse, romeo and juliet by william. The character of nurse, romeo and juliet by william shakespeare. Juliets nurse refers to an earthquake she says occurred 11 years ago. She often repeats herself, and her bawdy references to the sexual aspect of love set the idealistic love of romeo and juliet apart from th e love described by other characters in the play. Juliet disregards her nurses advice to ditch romeo and hurries to friar lawrence. The nurse remembers that juliet s childhood was full of unlucky omens. What if the young, confused girl took the advice of her nurse and the friar and put romeo in the past, for the better of her wellbeing.
As the primary person to raise juliet, she is juliet s confidante, and effectively more of a mother to the girl than lady capulet. The nurses advise to marry paris and give up romeo also showed us the change in juliet when she held fast to her love for romeo and called the nurse a wicked fiend for her hypocritical behaviour. I know the only way juliet would ever be happy again was if she married paris and moved on in her life. Romeo and juliet is a play written by william shakespeare. The nurse s key function within the play is to act as a gobetween for romeo and juliet, and is the only other character besides friar laurence to know of their wedding. The nurse is a major character in william shakespeares classic drama romeo and juliet. Romeo is a total mess, and the nurse tells him to get his act together for juliet s sake. The nurse finds romeo and soon after returns to juliet with news of romeo s continued affection. It is unknown when exactly shakespeare wrote romeo and juliet.
Oct 24, 2012 my 6 3 hundred and sixty 5 days old son suggested to me earlier i knew i became preg that he needed a brother and that i became going to have yet another toddler and to call him bartholomew. Friar lawrence, religious man who marries romeo and juliet and gives juliet the poison. Romeo and juliet movie clip juliet and the nurse 20. She is one of the few people, along with friar laurence, to be made aware of the blossoming romance between romeo and juliet. Afterwards, juliets nurse tells romeo that juliet is a capulet, which upsets the smitten youngster. She is the personal servant and former nurse of juliet. This isnt surprising, given the amount of responsibility she had in caring for juliet. The origins of the story of romeo and juliet go back many centuries. It had been years since i read romeo and juliet, and i will admit a play that i was lukewarm about, but this book told from the perspective of the wet nurse.
Nurses role in william shakespeares romeo and juliet. It had been years since i read romeo and juliet, and i will admit a play that i was lukewarm about, but this book told from the perspective of the wet nurse pulled everything together. Shakespeares romeo and juliet act 1 scene 3 the nurse talks. Juliet, too, falls for romeo, but falls into despair when her nurse informs her romeo is a montague, as does romeo when he learns juliet is a capulet. A must read reading juliets nurse was like finishing a jigsaw puzzle and discovering the picture for the first time. The character of the nurse in romeo and juliet essay 1677 words 7 pages the character of the nurse in romeo and juliet the nurse has a very important role in the play, being juliet s closest friend and helping her in her illicit relationship with romeo. Its depiction of tragic lovers strikes a chord in each generation of young people, and seems to speak in their own idiom. Nurses role in william shakespeares romeo and juliet essay. Her position in the capulet household is superior to that of a normal servant. As soon as i sent peter off to wait at the gate, juliet badgered me for her dear love s reply. She knows juliet s love for romeo is real, but in order to save juliet from the disastrous consequences of her secret marriage, she tries to make a second marriage to paris seem acceptable. Nurse and friars role in rome juliets deaths english. When the nurse brings juliet news of romeos wedding arrangements, she focuses on the pleasures of juliets wedding night, i am the drudge, and toil in your.
Explore with your students the techniques that shakespeare uses to capture the magic of the couple s first meeting and to make that meeting so memorable. Romeo and juliet is an enduring tragic love story written by william shakespeare about two young starcrossed lovers whose deaths ultimately unite their feuding families. She is the personal servant, guardian and former wet nurse of juliet. So shall you share all that he doth possess, by having him, making. Quick and easy synopsis of the shakespeare play, romeo and juliet. But in leveens book, we become so familiar with these young lives with juliet that the pain of her foolish choices, leading to her death, is very real, and very close to the heart. She is very familiar when she talks to lady capulet, and at times oversteps the mark. Summary of romeo and juliet shakespeare birthplace trust. The nurse character analysis in romeo and juliet litcharts. When romeo and juliet kiss at the feast, juliet teases romeo for using the popular imagery of love poetry to express his feelings and for kissing according to convention rather than from the heart. The true story of a medieval romeo and juliet the new.
Simple in its story line, clear in its affirmation of the power of love over hate, romeo and juliet seems to provide both a timeless theme and universal appeal. The nurse adds both comedy and tension to the balcony scene by calling to juliet. In this interpretation, the nurse s praise of paris is just a way of facing the facts. This isnt surprising, given the amount of responsibility she had in caring for juliet since her birth. Finally, when the nurse advises juliet to forget romeo and marry paris she motivates juliet to action and she seeks help elsewhere. How does the nurse evolve throughout the story of shakespeare. Shakespeare borrowed his plot from an original italian tale. Dear diary, this morning was supposed to be the best day of my life. The role of the nurse in william shakespeares romeo and juliet. May 14, 2007 the nurse arranges for romeo and juliet s wedding night and final farewell. Romeo is as good as dead, the nurse tells juliet, and she had better forget him and marry paris. It is a story about two lovers, romeo and juliet, whose love was never meant to be.
If romeo and juliet is the story of two starcrossed lovers, then juliets nurse is the equally compelling love affair between the infant juliet cappelletti and her milk mother and nurse, angelica. The story of romeo and juliet was written by william shakespeare between 1594 and 1595, in his early career. After romeo and juliet have spent their wedding night together in secret, the nurse comes in to warn them that juliet s mother is coming and that romeo had. The nurses key purpose is to act as a messenger between romeo and juliet, as she is the only character besides friar laurence to know of their affair. The nurse is a complex character with many sides to her personality. That in gold clasps locks in the golden story so shall you share all that he doth possess. So much so that romeo is almost synonymous with the word lover. Before lady capulet can begin to speak, the nurse launches into a long story about how, as a child, an uncomprehending juliet became an innocent. The first half of the book is devoted to the bonding between angelica, the nurse, and juliet as a newborn through threeyearold. Even though william shakespeare had already set a play here, the two gentlemen of verona, it is for the wonderful and tragic love story between romeo and juliet.
Even a tragedy needs some comic relief, and who better than juliets bawdy, lowerclass nurse. Juliet not knowing romeo hears her oh, romeo, romeo, why do you have to be romeo. Explore the role of the nurse in romeo and juliet teen ink. Juliet s nurse is a servant in the capulet family who wet nursed juliet as an infant and has raised her ever since.
She had a daughter named susan who died in infancy, and then became wetnurse to juliet. Also because if he was seen in the tomb with dead romeo and dead juliet he would be thought to have tampered with the bodies and that they werent in love, just the friar moving the bodies. It is because of the nurse s approval that juliet ultimately decides to go through with marrying romeo. The nurse was the one who revealed to both romeo and juliet the identities of each other i. Juliet tells the nurse about romeo in order to send her as a messenger the day after the party. In act i, scene iii, the nurse tells two stories about juliet when she was a child. A must read reading juliet s nurse was like finishing a jigsaw puzzle and discovering the picture for the first time. She ran up to me and practically hung onto my arm like she was a little girl again.
Paris, engaged to juliet and related to prince escalus. Oh, but it was sad my dear cousin tybalt is dead, killed by my own husbant but to be fair tybalt did kill mercutio as well. Romeo ultimately fails bad in his efforts to live happily ever after with his hearts dear love 2. What is the nurse to saying to romeo in lines 157163. The nurses affection for juliet stems from the fact that she had a daughter named susan who was the same age as juliet, but who died young.
Romeo sneaks into juliet s yard after the party and proclaims his love for her. Get an answer for in romeo and juliet, what were the two stories that the nurse tells about juliet as a young child. Later that night, romeo climbs the garden wall into juliets garden. This may refer to the dover straits earthquake of 1580, which would. This collection of contemporary essays raises topical. In juliets first scene, the nurse repeatedly asserts that juliet has not yet had her 14th birthday. The character of the nurse in romeo and juliet essay bartleby. Romeo and juliet summary at wikisummaries, free book. In romeo and juliet, what were the two stories that the nurse. The nurse s role in shakespeare s romeo and juliet is primarily as comic relief but she serves also as a confidante and mediator to juliet.
The next day, romeo and juliet are married by friar lawrence. Shakespeare s romeo and juliet presents starcrossd lovers whose plight has become the subject of many of today s novels, plays, films, and television dramas. Mercutio, romeo s friend but pledges to neither house because he is related to prince escalus. The nurses relationship with juliet focuses attention on juliets age. Douglas booth and hailee steinfeld step into the roles of romeo and juliet in this reinvention of william shakespeares play from director carlo carlei fluke. She refused so he said the most horrible things to her. What are the two stories about juliet as a toddler that the. Not to be deterred, the nurse continues her story and injects her thoughts. And if youre going to talk about a wet nurse, theres going to be a lot of talk about breastfeeding. This story is similar to stories found in the comedies loves labours lost and a midsummer nights dream. Leveens novel is clever, fastpaced, wellresearched and beautifully written. In 1298, dante mentioned the ongoing feud between the veronese montecchi and the cappelletti in his purgatorio.
As the party is breaking up, juliet has the nurse find out romeo s name. The nurse adds both comedy and tension to the balcony scene by calling to juliet from offstage and forcing her to go back inside repeatedly. The nurse plays a critical role in romeo and juliet. Romeo is banished from verona and is to live in mantua. It is set in italy and is about the love between two young people from noble families that are enemies. Romeo and juliet wikisummaries, free book summaries. The nurses motives for helping juliet are quite unclear, it may be she simply wanted to help juliet, or that she simply wanted to be in on the gossip. Her personality is used to contrast other characters including juliet and lady capulet. This emphasizes the pure and sacrificial love between romeo and juliet.
She loves juliet deeply and, though employed by juliets parents, capulet and lady capulet, often goes. The character of the nurse in romeo and juliet the nurse has a very important role in the play, being juliet s closest friend and helping her in her illicit relationship with romeo. She loves juliet deeply and, though employed by juliets parents, capulet and lady capulet, often goes against them in order to do what juliet wants or needs of her. The nurse has been caring for juliet since juliet was born, and even nursed her from her own breast.
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