Character Analysis: Nurse

The Nurse is one of the major characters in Shakespeare’s play Romeo and Juliet, officially she is the personal servant and nurse to Juliet, her real role in the play is being Juliet’s confidante and bridge of communication to Romeo. She is one of the few people who were aware of Romeo and Juliet’s romance before their deaths.
The Nurse’s past is very vague, as her history outside of the Capulet house is unknown. Although we do know that the Nurse had baby daughter at the same time as Juliet’s birth, who we know is deceased. Throughout the play Juliet is closer towards the nurse rather than her biological mother, as it was the nurse who weaned her as a child it is fair to say that the Nurse acts as Juliet’s “surrogate” mother.
The Nurse’s other main purpose in the play, is acting as the role of communication between Romeo and Juliet. When Romeo and Juliet cannot be together, it is the Nurse’s role to bring news to both sides. Not only does she act as a communication she also is the “bringer” of news (informing Juliet of Romeo’s banishment).
While most characters in the play speak with a formal tone, the nurse speaks in a blank verse form which is similar to colloquial language. She has a foolish and gossipy nature, one which at times is a source of annoyance to Juliet, but she tries to do what she thinks she is right in most situations. In this play Shakespeare uses the nurse to represent the working class in society, to relate with the audience.

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