Wednesday, July 3, 2013

How would you describe Juliet from the Nurse's perspective?

The Nurse has raised Juliet and loves her very much. At the beginning of the play, she considers Juliet a sweet, young, innocent child. In Act I, scene iii, the Nurse refers to Juliet as a lamb: "What, lamb!" A lamb conjures an image of a very docile, adorable little thing, and is also associated with Jesus Christ, adding love and purity to the image.


The Nurse goes on to tell stories about Juliet's infancy, indicating that she still considers Juliet a sweet little child. She feels responsible for Juliet and wants to see Juliet married so a man will take over responsibility. Later in the same act and scene, the nurse says she hopes Juliet gets married: "And I might live to see thee married once, I have my wish." The Nurse approves of Paris as a husband for Juliet, because Paris is handsome and can take care of her. "A man, young lady! Lady, such a man / As all the world. Why, he's a man of wax!" Referring to Paris as a "man of wax" means that the Nurse thinks he's the perfect man; a model man. In Shakespeare's time, a perfect man for a woman is one who will provide for her and look after her every need.


We see further evidence in Act II, scene iv that the Nurse feels responsible for Juliet. She warns Romeo not to do anything cruel to Juliet:



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 behavior, 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!



"Lead her in a fool's paradise" means to take advantage of her, and "deal double with her" means to cheat on her. The Nurse is asking Romeo not to do these things to Juliet, because Juliet is so young. This would indicate that the Nurse thinks Juliet is not capable of looking after herself and needs the Nurse to speak on her behalf.


However, the Nurse does allow Juliet to make her own decision. The Nurse prefers Paris as a husband for Juliet, but she doesn't try to dissuade Juliet from choosing Romeo. In Act II, scene v, the nurse tells Juliet she doesn’t know how to choose a husband: "Well, you have made a simple choice! You know not how to choose a man. Romeo? No, not he!" Although the Nurse disagrees with Juliet's choice, she still encourages Juliet to go marry Romeo.


The Nurse must think Juliet is too young to experience the feelings of love, however, because when Romeo is banished, the Nurse immediately advises Juliet to forget about Romeo and marry Paris. She even tells Juliet that Paris would be a better husband than Romeo:



I think it best you married with the County.


O, he's a lovely gentleman!


Romeo's a dish-clout to him.



This means she recommends Juliet marry Paris ("the County") and that compared to Paris, Romeo is a dish rag ("dish-clout").


Juliet pretends to take the Nurse's advice, and the Nurse believes her. Even though the Nurse has looked after Juliet since she was a baby, she doesn't know Juliet well enough to realize that Juliet is hopelessly devoted to Romeo and lying to her (the Nurse.) This shows that the Nurse still considers Juliet nothing but a tiny child who needs care.

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