Essay On The Nurse In Romeo And Juliet

In the Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet, the nurse plays a seemingly critical role in helping Juliet fulfill her love for Romeo. But the nurse’s understanding of love is ultimately limited and her influence, insignificant.
The nurse clearly saw Juliet as a person worthy of love and respect. She was very close to Juliet throughout the first three acts. For example, in Act II, scene iv, she defended Juliet’s goodness and told Romeo not to betray her love:

But first let me tell ye, if ye should lead her in a fool’s paradise…, it were a very gross kind of behavior…; 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. (II.iv 153-159)

Also in Act III, scene v, it is clear that Juliet was under a lot of pressure. She and Romeo had just parted because he was banished for killing Juliet’s cousin Tybalt. At the same time, she was in an argument with her parents about the marriage arrangement. There are at least two reasons why Juliet refused to marry Paris. First, Juliet was already married--to Romeo. More importantly, she loved Romeo and had no affection for Paris ever. The nurse knew all of this. She helped pass messages between Juliet and Romeo to make their marriage possible at Friar Lawrence’s cell. She even told Romeo about Paris, “a nobleman in town,” who was eagerly in pursuit of Juliet. But she also said that Juliet had no intention to deal with Paris and had no affection for him (II.iv 188-194).
Even though the nurse knew Juliet’s secret marriage to Romeo and her deep love for him, when Juliet asked in great emotional pain:

Alack, alack, that heaven should practice stratagems Upon so soft a subject as myself! What say’st thou? Hast thou not a word of joy? Some comfort, nurse. (III.v 211-214)

Apparently, Juliet needed some comfort and support from the nurse. But the nurse hurt and deeply disappointed Juliet when she