Nurse

 media type="custom" key="662421" Created and Edited by: Greg Cortelyou, Rocky Delliquanti, and Krish Kumar  The [|Nurse] of Juliet Capulet is a very coarse languaged, long-winded individual. She may only be a nurse, but she acts like a Capulet kinsman. She cares only of Juliet's marriage, but not to whom she's married too. The Nurse has cared for Lady Capulet and Juliet from infancy and seems almost like a mother to the latter. She cares for the young girl, but her ways of looking out for her may be a bit strange. The nurse also has a master of malapropisms, the incorrect use of a word by changing it with a similar sounding word, but it means something else. For example, "If you be he, sir, I desire some //confidence// with you" (II.iv.115). The Nurse doesn't want to have //confidence//, but a //conference//. Her language is not only muddled with incorrect words, but it is also coarse, harsh, and most of all rude. She often avoids the topic as well. "Your love says, like an honest gentleman, and a courteous, and a kind, and a handsome; and, I warrant, a virtuous,-Where is your mother?" (II.v.54-56). The Nurse is describing Romeo to Juliet, but she uses so many adjectives that it takes a great deal of time to get to the point she's trying make, which, as you can see, she does not make by asking about the Lady Capulet's whereabouts. How can Juliet, the nice, courteous, and well educated girl be like she is with a nurse like the Nurse? Really the Nurse's only job is to make sure Juliet is safe. __**The Nurse in Action **__
 * ACT I-** Before the big party in the house of Capulet, Juliet is asked by her mother and her nurse if she has though of marriage. She is asked if she could look to like the county Paris at the party tonight (Right Photo). At the party, however, Juliet sees a new man, Romeo, and asks the nurse about him. Nurse breaks the news, "His name is Romeo, and a Montague; The only son of your great enemy" (I.v.134-135).

The Nurse enters Capulet's Orchard and as Juliet rushes up to her, expecting great news, yet the Nurse complains only of her exhaustion. After regaining her "lost" breath the nurse begins to tell her mistress about how handsome, nice, honest, and caring Romeo was, but then asks about Juliet's mother's whereabouts. The Nurse can't seem to stay on topic for very long, but finally is able to tell Juliet of Romeo's time and place of marriage, plus a good excuse to get there.
 * ACT II-** After Mercutio, Benvolio and Romeo are reunited and make some witty remarks, the Nurse is seen with her servant boy Peter carrying her veil, but as the wind catches it Romeo shouts "A Sail, a sail, a sail!" (II.iv.90).


 * ACT III-** As the Nurse rushes into Juliet's chamber bearing news of tragic proportions. She tells Juliet of a death of Tybalt and the banishment of Romeo. She leaves Juliet in her sorrow to find the banished one. The Nurse reaches the Friar's cell and comes in asking for Romeo. She sees him lying prostrate on the ground and tells him that Juliet fares no better. She insults his manhood for crying on the floor. She leaves to check on her mistress, Juliet.


 * ACT IV-** In act IV scene iv Lady Capulet sends the Nurse get Juliet for her wedding,(scene v) but on her entrance she finds Juliet supposedly dead. She cries so loud that she wakes the whole household. "Alas, alas!- Help, help! My lady's dead!"(IV.v.15) she blubbers as she explains to Lord and Lady Capulet that she has found their daughter dead.


 * ACT V-** Although the nurse does not appear in Act V she is mentioned by the Friar in his explanation of the deaths of Romeo and Juliet. He tries to lighten his guilt by including "[Juliet's] nurse is privy"(V.iii.266). He is basically saying that the nurse was aware of the secret marriage.


 * AFTERWARDS-** //The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet// was based off the poem "Romeus and Juliet." In the poem the author, Arthur Brooke, made an ending to it that shows what happened to the characters. The Nurse, unfortunately, gets banished from Verona and is never to return to its walls. May our prayers be with you Nurse.

•"Why he's a man of wax" (I.iii.76). Nurse is describing Paris by saying he is so great. •"I desire some confidence with you"(II.iv.115). Nurse uses malapropisms and wants to speak with Romeo. •"Here, sir, a ring she bid me give you, sir/Hie you, make haste, for it grows very late"(III.iii.163-164) •"O woe! O woeful, woeful day/ Most lamentable day, most woeful day"(IV.v.51-52). Nurse is expressing her grief over Juliet's death. media type="custom" key="669539" media type="custom" key="669455" media type="custom" key="669467"
 * Important Quotes by the Nurse**

Picture on top was taken by: Zeffirelli, 1668 http://students.ed.uiuc.edu/bach/rnj24/pictures/julietmom.jpg For another website about the nurse visit the following link: http://www.about-shakespeare.com/romeo_and_juliet_essay.php Information collected from our loving teachers, Mr. Johnson and Ms. Koscik. Thanks for all the help!