The Nurse brought Juliet up from childhood, breast-feeding her and caring for her like a mother. In the play, Shakespeare presents the Nurse as Juliet's surrogate mother - a maternal figure, who truly loves Juliet, wants her to be happy and will do anything for that happiness. This is illustrated when she keeps Juliet's marriage to Romeo a secret, risking her job and livelihood. The Nurse is kind, loving and wants the best for Juliet.
| How is the Nurse like this? | Evidence | Analysis | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Loving | The Nurse loves Juliet like a daughter. She has brought her up and breast-fed her when she was a child. Her own daughter, Susan, died and Juliet then became her source of attention and maternal care. | "Thou wast the prettiest babe that e'er I nursed. An I might live to see thee married once, I have my wish." | This shows that the nurse loves Juliet very much, as she is openly saying Juliet was the prettiest baby she had ever nursed and therefore looked after. This highlights the true connection that both the Nurse and Juliet have. The fact that it is the Nurse's wish to see Juliet married illustrates how motherly she is towards Juliet. |
| Truthful | When Romeo is banished and Capulet organises Juliet's marriage to Paris, the Nurse thinks it would be a good match for Juliet. She is honest with Juliet despite Juliet not wanting to hear it. | "I think you are happy in this second match, for it excels your first." | This shows that the Nurse wants the best for Juliet - she really cares for her and wants her to be happy. Therefore, she tries to be optimistic. |
Analysing the evidence
- Question
Looking at this extract, what does this show about the Nurse's character and how she feels about Juliet?
(Video) Romeo and Juliet: 8 Minute Summary (Memorise & Recall)NURSE
(Video) Romeo and Juliet: Act One Summary!But first let me tell ye, if ye should lead her in a fool's paradise, as they say, it were a very gross kind of behaviour, as they say; for the gentlewoman is young, and therefore, if you should deal double with her, truly it were an ill thing to be offered to any gentlewoman, and very weak dealing.
(Video) Analysing Juliet- 'But first let me tell ye' - before the Nurse speaks to Romeo about his marriage, she wants to discover Romeo's intentions - are they true or not? The Nurse begins her speech with a threat. The Nurse is taking the role of a parent, deciding whether Romeo is good enough for Juliet.
- 'as they say' - the repetition of this phrase highlights how the Nurse is lacking confidence talking to Romeo and is also rambling on. It also shows that the Nurse isn't well educated and is of lower class, as she keeps repeating colloquial phrases.
- 'truly and very' - these words act as intensifiers - they intensify the meaning of what the Nurse is saying. Shakespeare has used these to show that the Nurse has thought of the different possibilities and outcomes and is concerned for Juliet. She doesn't want Romeo to be a bad choice.
FAQs
How is the nurse characterized in Romeo and Juliet? ›
The Nurse is kind, loving and wants the best for Juliet. The Nurse loves Juliet like a daughter. She has brought her up and breast-fed her when she was a child. Her own daughter, Susan, died and Juliet then became her source of attention and maternal care.
What does the nurse symbolize in Romeo and Juliet? ›The Nurse's key function within the play is to act as a go-between for Romeo and Juliet, and is the only other character besides Friar Laurence to know of their wedding. 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.
Who is the nurse describing when she says his face be better than any man's? ›The nurse focuses primarily on Romeo's physical characteristics when she talks to Juliet. She says that though his face be better than any man's, yet his leg excels all men's, and for a hand and a foot and a body, though they be not to be talked on, yet they are past compare” (42-45).
Is the nurse a good person in Romeo and Juliet? ›The Nurse is one of the few characters in the play who explicitly wish for Juliet's happiness. In addition to being emotionally supportive, the Nurse also works actively to ensure Juliet's good fortune, as when she serves as the go-between that enables Juliet's secret courtship with Romeo.
What are Nurse character traits? ›These six qualities stand out. You're a person who deserves a high level of respect. Kindness, fairness, caring, trustworthiness, emotional stability, empathy, and compassion are components that make you human on a personal level and serve you well as a nurse. You exhibit strong communication skills.
What are the 7 characteristics of a good Nurse? ›- Caring. ...
- Communication Skills. ...
- Empathy. ...
- Attention to Detail. ...
- Problem Solving Skills. ...
- Stamina. ...
- Sense of Humor. ...
- Commitment to Patient Advocacy.
The Nurse recognizes that Juliet shows no interest in Paris' courting and is the only member of the older generation to take Juliet's feelings into consideration…that is, until she suddenly betrays Juliet's trust by saying that she should marry Paris.
What does Rebecca Nurse symbolize? ›What does Rebecca Nurse represent in the crucible? Rebecca Nurse represents good character and a good reputation in the play. She avoids the hysteria gripping many others in the town.
What does the nurse uniform symbolize? ›Through their efforts, nurses not only became recognizable by their dress, but their uniform symbolized caring, professional competence, and above all, unquestionable moral character.
What characteristics about the nurse are revealed in her lines? ›What characteristics about the nurse are revealed in her lines 30-32, 43-46, 57-59? She is a motherly figure. Why do the nurse and Lady Capulet consider Paris an acceptable match for Juliet? He's "a man of wax." He's rich, he has a title.
How does the nurse feel about the marriage? ›
While Lady Capulet sees Paris as the chance to make a socially advantageous match for the family, rather than considering Juliet's feelings, the Nurse regards marriage as a purely physical relationship, almost a burden women simply must bear.
What does the nurse finally reveal? ›The Nurse finally relents when Juliet is almost hysterical with frustration and tells her that she is to marry Romeo that afternoon at Friar Laurence's cell. The Nurse then leaves to collect the rope ladder that Romeo will use to climb into Juliet's bedroom that night.
Was the nurse disloyal to Juliet? ›The Nurse and Juliet may have a loving, teasing sort of relationship at the beginning of the play, but when Juliet needs her most—after her parents order her to marry Paris—the Nurse betrays her.
What names does the nurse call Juliet? ›2. The nurse calls Juliet 'lamb' and 'ladybird'. What does this tell us about the nurse's feelings towards Juliet?
What scene does the nurse betray Juliet? ›The rift between the Nurse and Juliet foreshadows the final split in their relationship which occurs in Act III, Scene 5 when the Nurse betrays Juliet by advising her to forget Romeo and marry Paris.
What are 10 roles of a nurse? ›- Medication and treatment administration.
- Client education.
- Case management.
- Recording medical information.
- Creating care plans to suit the individual needs of the patient.
- Infection control.
- Conduct physical exams.
- Take detailed health care histories.
- Listen to patients and analyze their physical and emotional needs.
- Provide counseling and health care education to patients.
- Coordinate care with other health care providers and specialists.
- Communication.
- Empathy.
- Flexibility.
- Attention to detail.
- Endurance.
- Problem solving.
Charting the 7 c's of cultural change affecting foreign nurses: competency, communication, consistency, cooperation, customs, conformity and courage.
What are the 8 characteristics of nursing process? ›- Within the legal scope of nursing.
- Based on knowledge.
- Planned.
- Client centered.
- Goal directed.
- Prioritized.
- Dynamic.
What are the 5 characteristics of the nursing process? ›
The nursing process functions as a systematic guide to client-centered care with 5 sequential steps. These are assessment, diagnosis, planning, implementation, and evaluation.
Is the nurse to blame for Juliet's death? ›In Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, the Nurse, by her thoughtless support of the affair between the lovers and fickle counsel, is partly to blame for the tragedy. However, it is not one factor alone that brings about the death of Romeo and Juliet, but a combination of significant actions and underlying forces.
What does the nurse do when Juliet dies? ›The Nurse tries to wake her, but believing her to be dead, cries out to the family in desperation. The Capulets, Friar Laurence, and Paris enter the room in response to the Nurse's cries.
What warning does the nurse give Romeo? ›2. What warning does she give Romeo? She warns him that there will be trouble if he hurts Juliet. Juliet is waiting very impatiently for the nurse's return.
What is the most important characteristic of a Nurse Nightingale? ›Conclusions: Exploring Nightingale's characteristics of EI such her confidence, determination, integrity and compassion, her teachings and beliefs can transcend time to mold successful nurses more than a century later.
Is the nurse in Romeo and Juliet a wet nurse? ›She is the personal servant, guardian (and former wet nurse) of Juliet Capulet, and has been since Juliet was born. She had a daughter named Susan who died in infancy, and then became wetnurse to Juliet.
How does the author use the character of the nurse? ›How does the author use the character of the nurse to develop the social issue of gender inequality? Answer:The nurse's need to give up a child in order to have a job demonstrates a woman's inability to support herself. Read the excerpt from act 2 of A Doll's House.
What does Florence Nightingale symbolize? ›Her compassion set her apart from others as she gained her famous moniker for checking in on her patients by lamplight, often writing letters to loved ones at home on their behalf. The "lamp" is a symbol of Florence Nightingale, exemplifying the light of learning, knowledge and caring.