Throughout the play “Romeo and Juliet,” Juliet’s relationship with her nurse evolves as a result of Juliet’s growing independence and her nurse’s changing priorities. At the start of the play, Juliet trusts the nurse completely and relies on her for advice and guidance. However, as Juliet falls in love with Romeo and becomes more independent, she begins to question the nurse’s advice and decisions, leading to a strained relationship between the two. Ultimately, as the play comes to a tragic end, Juliet realizes the nurse’s loyalty and love, solidifying their bond.
How Juliet’s Attitude Towards The Nurse Changed Throughout The Play?
One of the most significant relationships in Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet” is the one between Juliet and her nurse. The nurse is portrayed as a mother-like figure to Juliet, and she often provides advice and guidance to Juliet throughout the play. At first, Juliet trusts the nurse’s opinion and relies on her heavily for advice. However, as the play progresses, Juliet’s opinion towards the nurse begins to change.
At the beginning of the play, Juliet’s relationship with the nurse is one of trust and dependence. Juliet confides in the nurse and seeks her advice when it comes to matters of love. The nurse has been with Juliet since she was a baby, and Juliet sees her as a motherly figure. The nurse is the one who provides Juliet with the news of Romeo’s banishment, and Juliet initially seeks comfort in the nurse’s words.
As the play progresses, Juliet’s attitude towards the nurse begins to change. Juliet becomes frustrated with the nurse’s lack of understanding of her love for Romeo. The nurse advises Juliet to marry Count Paris, and Juliet is taken aback by the suggestion. Juliet is left feeling betrayed by the nurse and believes that she does not understand the depth of her love for Romeo.
The turning point in the relationship between Juliet and the nurse comes when the nurse advises Juliet to marry Paris. Juliet realizes that the nurse is not on her side, and this causes a breakdown in their relationship. Juliet’s perspective changes, and she begins to see that the nurse’s advice is not always beneficial to her.
By the end of the play, Juliet’s relationship with the nurse is somewhat strained. However, Juliet still considers the nurse to be an important figure in her life. When the nurse is unable to provide Juliet with the support she needs, Juliet turns to Friar Lawrence for guidance. Juliet’s decision to confide in Friar Lawrence rather than the nurse further highlights the strained relationship between the two.
Juliet’s attitude towards the nurse is significant in studying “Romeo and Juliet” because it demonstrates the complexity of relationships, even those between family members. The dynamic between Juliet and the nurse shows how relationships can change over time and how trust and dependency can be broken. It also highlights the importance of individuals being true to themselves and following their own path, rather than just following the advice of those they trust.
Juliet’s initial attitude toward the Nurse
When we first meet Juliet in Shakespeare’s play “Romeo and Juliet,” we see her deep in conversation with her Nurse – her trusted confidant and caretaker. The Nurse has been with Juliet since she was born and has a strong influence on her life. At the beginning of the play, Juliet seems to have a close and affectionate relationship with the Nurse. She confides in her about her feelings for Romeo and trusts her to help facilitate their secret meetings.
Juliet sees the Nurse as a motherly figure who is there to offer her guidance and support. She relies on her for practical advice, such as how to keep her illicit relationship with Romeo a secret from her parents. When the Nurse tells Juliet about Romeo’s plans to marry her, she is elated and grateful for the Nurse’s assistance.
However, we also see early signs of tension in their relationship. Though Juliet loves and trusts the Nurse, she is aware that the older woman does not always share her values and beliefs. She is sometimes uncomfortable with the Nurse’s bawdy sense of humor and earthy language, which seem crude in comparison to Juliet’s refined sensibilities. There is also a sense that the Nurse is a bit too fond of the joys of life, particularly food and drink, and may not be as reliable or trustworthy as Juliet believes her to be.
Despite these concerns, Juliet remains devoted to the Nurse and sees her as an essential part of her life. She values her wisdom and experience and feels that she can always turn to her for help and advice. Her initial attitude toward the Nurse is one of trust and affection.
Juliet’s growing frustrations with the Nurse
Juliet’s attitude towards the Nurse changes throughout the play, from initially treating her like a mother figure, to becoming increasingly frustrated with her inability to help her. The following events lead to Juliet’s frustrations with the Nurse:
At the beginning of the play, Juliet is seen confiding in the Nurse, seeking advice on her love for Romeo. The Nurse is generally affectionate towards Juliet and seems caring towards her. When Juliet first meets Romeo, she uses the Nurse as a messenger to arrange their next meeting, and the Nurse happily obliges. However, as the play progresses and the plot thickens, Juliet starts losing faith in the Nurse’s ability to provide her with the support she needs.
This frustration begins when the Nurse sides with Lord Capulet, Juliet’s father, on the issue of her marriage. The Nurse suggests that Juliet comply with her father’s wishes by marrying Paris, despite her love for Romeo. Juliet is taken aback by the Nurse’s response, as she believes the Nurse to be her ally in the matter. Juliet’s frustration further intensifies as the Nurse does not fully understand the depth of her love for Romeo, and instead, suggests that she marry Paris.
The Nurse also fails to deliver a message from Romeo to Juliet, which increases her anxiety. In Act III, Scene 2, Romeo sends the Nurse to Juliet with a rope ladder as a means to climb the walls of her balcony. However, the Nurse returns empty-handed, leaving Juliet waiting in anticipation and despair. The Nurse’s failure to deliver Romeo’s message causes Juliet to become irritated, further highlighting the Nurse’s inability to provide her with the support she needs.
By the end of the play, Juliet no longer relies on the Nurse’s advice and support. This change in Juliet’s attitude towards the Nurse is reflective of the Nurse’s failure to understand Juliet’s love for Romeo and her inability to help her in her time of need.
Juliet’s changing attitude towards the Nurse
William Shakespeare’s play “Romeo and Juliet” is a story of star-crossed lovers who defy their families to be together. In this tragic tale, Juliet’s Nurse plays a crucial role as her confidante and advisor. However, Juliet’s attitude towards the Nurse changes significantly throughout the play. In this article, we will discuss how Juliet’s perspective on the Nurse evolves and what prompts this transformation.
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Initially, Juliet trusts and relies on the Nurse
At the beginning of the play, Juliet’s relationship with the Nurse is one of trust and reliance. Juliet confides in the Nurse and relies on her advice. For instance, when Juliet first meets Romeo at the Capulet ball, she asks the Nurse to find out his identity:
“Go ask his name. If he be married, / My grave is like to be my wedding bed.”
The Nurse returns with the news that Romeo is a Montague, and Juliet laments the fact that she has fallen in love with her family’s enemy. However, Juliet still trusts the Nurse and seeks her help to arrange a meeting with Romeo:
“If thou dost love, pronounce it faithfully; /Or, if thou thinkest I am too quickly won, /I’ll frown and be perverse and say thee nay.”
Juliet’s willingness to trust the Nurse shows how important her role is in Juliet’s life, as she is the only person Juliet can turn to for help.
Juliet becomes frustrated with the Nurse’s indecisiveness
As the play progresses, Juliet becomes increasingly frustrated with the Nurse’s indecisiveness. For example, when Juliet asks the Nurse for advice on how to deal with the pain of her separation from Romeo, the Nurse tells her to marry Paris instead:
“I think it best you married with the County. / O, he’s a lovely gentleman! / Romeo’s a dishclout to him.”
Juliet is outraged by the Nurse’s suggestion and accuses her of being disloyal:
“Ancient damnation! O most wicked fiend! / Is it more sin to wish me thus forsworn, /Or to dispraise my lord with that same tongue / Which she hath praised him with above compare / So many thousand times?”
Juliet’s outburst shows how hurt and betrayed she feels by the Nurse’s lack of support, especially since she had been the one person Juliet had relied on in earlier times.
The Nurse’s betrayal pushes Juliet away
The final blow to Juliet’s relationship with the Nurse occurs when the Nurse betrays her trust by suggesting that she marry Paris. This is the ultimate betrayal for Juliet, who had regarded the Nurse as a mother figure and confidante. Juliet feels isolated and alone, with no one to turn to or trust:
“O most wicked fiend! / Where’s my mother? Why, she is within. / Where should she be? How oddly thou repliest! / ‘Your love says, like an honest gentleman, and a courteous, and a kind, and I warrant a virtuous.’ Where is your mother?”
Juliet’s reaction shows how deeply the Nurse’s betrayal has affected her and how she feels completely alone in the world.
Juliet reconciles with the Nurse in the end
Despite the Nurse’s betrayal, Juliet is eventually able to reconcile with her and forgive her for her disloyalty. This is evident in the final scene of the play when Juliet dies, and the Nurse is devastated:
“Ah, woe! O lamentable day! / Most lamentable day, most woeful day, / That ever, ever, I did yet behold!”
This shows that the Nurse genuinely cared for Juliet and had probably regretted her betrayal. In death, Juliet is finally able to see the Nurse’s love for her and forgive her, perhaps understanding the Nurse was only trying to protect her in her own way.
Conclusion
The relationship between Juliet and her Nurse is a complex and evolving one throughout the play. Initially, Juliet trusts and relies on the Nurse heavily, but as events unfold, she becomes increasingly frustrated with her indecisiveness and eventually feels betrayed. However, in the end, Juliet forgives the Nurse and recognizes her loyalty and love.
The character development of their relationship shows that in difficult times, there are people who genuinely care for us, even if they do not always make the right choices. It is important to forgive and understand that love comes in many ways. In Romeo and Juliet’s case, it was through their tragic love that the Nurse’s love and support were openly demonstrated.
The impact of the Nurse’s betrayal on Juliet
Juliet’s relationship with the Nurse, who had been her confidant and support system for most of her life, takes a dramatic turn for the worse after the betrayal. The Nurse’s actions in revealing Juliet’s plans to marry Romeo to her parents – and subsequently, to Romeo’s enemies – demonstrate that she values her own self-interest over her relationship with Juliet.
Initially, Juliet is in disbelief that the Nurse could reveal such intimate details about her life and relationship. Her trust in the Nurse is shattered, and she can no longer confide in her as she used to.
Furthermore, the Nurse’s actions demonstrate to Juliet that she cannot fully trust anyone, not even those closest to her. This realization has a profound impact on Juliet’s attitude toward those around her.
At first, Juliet is hurt and confused by the Nurse’s betrayal. She feels as though someone she had relied on and trusted deeply has wronged her in an unforgivable way. This feeling of betrayal is compounded by the fact that it is the Nurse’s actions that ultimately lead to Romeo’s banishment from Verona.
As time passes, Juliet’s anger grows. She becomes resentful of the Nurse and her betrayal, and is no longer willing to forgive her actions as easily. In fact, she eventually comes to see the Nurse as an enemy, rather than a friend or ally.
Juliet’s changed attitude toward the Nurse is indicative of her broader rejection of the values and expectations of her society. Her decision to marry Romeo in secret and defy her parents’ wishes is, in part, a rejection of the societal norm that parents should have final say over their children’s relationships and marriages.
In this sense, the Nurse’s betrayal is not just a personal betrayal, but a symbol of the broader culture and values that Juliet is rejecting. By choosing to defy her parents and marry Romeo, Juliet is declaring her independence from the norms and expectations of her society. In this context, the Nurse’s actions take on a greater significance, as they demonstrate the extent to which even those closest to Juliet may be willing to betray her for the sake of upholding societal norms.
In conclusion, the Nurse’s betrayal has a significant impact on Juliet’s attitude toward her, and on her broader understanding of trust and betrayal. It shatters her trust in the Nurse and undermines her confidence in herself and others. Furthermore, it serves as a symbol of the broader societal norms and values that Juliet is rejecting in her pursuit of love and independence. Ultimately, the Nurse’s betrayal is one of the key events in the play that drives Juliet to her tragic end.
Summary of Juliet’s Changing Attitude Toward the Nurse
Throughout the play, we see Juliet’s attitude toward the Nurse change drastically. In the beginning, Juliet looks to the Nurse as a mother figure who she can confide in. However, as the play progresses, Juliet’s trust in the Nurse disappears and she ultimately becomes disillusioned with her. Here are a few of the key moments where we see Juliet’s attitude toward the Nurse shift:
Act 1, Scene 3: Juliet is introduced to the Nurse and is comforted by her presence. The Nurse seems to have a loving and caring relationship with Juliet, and Juliet confides in her about her feelings for Romeo.
Act 2, Scene 4: The Nurse meets with Romeo and delivers the news that Juliet wants to marry him. The Nurse’s vulgar language and tendency to ramble annoys Romeo, but Juliet is still trusting of her.
Act 3, Scene 5: After Romeo is banished, the Nurse tells Juliet that she should forget about him and marry Paris instead. Juliet is appalled by the Nurse’s suggestion and feels betrayed by her. She decides that she can no longer confide in the Nurse.
Act 4, Scene 5: The Nurse discovers Juliet’s “dead” body and mourns her loss. However, when Juliet reveals that she is still alive, the Nurse’s reaction is lackluster. Juliet realizes that the Nurse’s love and loyalty was not as strong as she had originally believed.
Act 5, Scene 3: After Juliet takes her own life, the Nurse and Friar Laurence discuss the tragic events that have unfolded. The Nurse blames herself for Juliet’s death and feels immense guilt for her role in the tragedy.
Overall, Juliet’s attitude toward the Nurse changes from one of trust and love to one of disillusionment and betrayal. The Nurse is unable to be the confidante and supporter that Juliet needs throughout the play, ultimately leading to the tragic ending.
Reflection on the Significance of Juliet’s Changing Attitude Toward the Nurse
The changing relationship between Juliet and the Nurse is a reflection of the larger themes present in the play. As the story unfolds, Juliet realizes that the world around her is not as supportive and loving as she had originally believed. Her parents are more concerned with their own interests than with her happiness, the Nurse is unable to provide the guidance and support that she needs, and even Romeo’s love is not enough to save her from her tragic end.
Additionally, Juliet’s changing attitude toward the Nurse highlights the complex power dynamics at play within their relationship. While the Nurse is portrayed as a loving and supportive figure in the beginning of the play, she ultimately fails Juliet when she needs her the most. This failure can be seen as a reflection of the larger societal structures that prevent women from fully supporting and empowering one another.
Overall, Juliet’s changing attitude toward the Nurse is a reflection of the larger themes and power dynamics present in the play. By highlighting the failures of those around her to support her, Juliet’s story serves as a warning about the dangers of a world that fails to value and empower its women.
