Romeo And Juliet - The Role Of Love

1192 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Parental love as a theme in Romeo and Juliet

The modern literature community recognizes Shakespeare as one of the most brilliant minds in the history of dramatic theatre. His unmatched ability to represent human behavior and emotion makes the love in Romeo and Juliet the driving force behind the play's success. Shakespeare incorporated many different types of love in order to capture the hearts of the Elizabeth Era.

Juliet's nurse shows amazing concern for the young girl's well being. She, in some ways, takes the place of her natural mother ("Examples of Love in Romeo and Juliet"). Lady Capulet treated Juliet as a naïve young girl with no knowledge and feelings of her own. Nurse recognized the maturity of Juliet and helped to make her truly content. During the entire traumatic experience of arranging a marriage between Romeo Montague and Juliet Capulet, the nurse aided the two young lovers in their quest to be together. She acts as a messenger from Romeo, Juliet, and the friar ("Examples of Love in Romeo and Juliet"). Despite the nurse's efforts the plans go array because of the arranged marriage between Juliet and Paris. At this time, the nurse shows her love for Juliet once again. She goes to Juliet's defense and stands up to Lord Capulet by saying: "God in heaven bless her!/ You are to blame, my lord, to rate her so."(Act III, Scene 5, Line169-170). One is easily able to see the motherly care the nurse shows for Juliet in Romeo and Juliet.

The counterpart to the love nurse displays for Juliet as a "mother" is the fatherly love the Friar gives to Romeo. The prince exiles Romeo because of his murder of Tybalt. This leaves the young man alone and scared of his future. The only person available to aid Romeo in his sufferings is the Friar. He tells the fugitive "Arise, one knocks/ Good Romeo, hide thyself" (Act III, Scene 3, Line 71). This shows that Friar puts himself at risk in order to make certain no harm comes to Romeo He provides insight to the situation at hand and helps Romeo to see the next course of action. Another example of fatherly love was shown through Lord Capulet to Juliet. He saw that his daughter was in great grief over the death of Tybalt and the exile of her love Romeo. He lovingly tries to ease her remorse by finding a husband for Juliet. He presents the arrangement in an attempt to lighten the spirits of his daughter:

Show More
Related

  • Romeo And Juliet Nurse Quotes

    685 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Nurse has a stronger relationship with Juliet over her own mother, Lady Capulet. The nurse really cares for Juliet and loves her like a daughter because she lost her daughter Susan. “Susan and she-God rest all Christian souls!-/Were of an age: well, Susan is with God…”(Ⅰ,ⅲ,20-21). The Nurse lost her daughter, Susan, and she was born on the same day as Juliet. This leads me to believe that the Nurse must be replacing her own loss with the life of Juliet. The Nurse did do many things that only mothers do. “She was wean’d,-I never shall forget it…”(Ⅰ,ⅲ,26). This quote says that the nurse will never forget the day that Juliet was weaned off of her breast milk. Breastfeeding is something

    Read More

  • Romeo And Juliet Character Foil

    400 Words  | 1 Pages

    Conversely, Juliet's mother is stiff and cold towards, and uses Juliet as a tool to make the family name look good. As we learn in towards the beginning of the story Juliet is the last child of the Capulet line, and as a result her mother also puts pressure on Juliet for having a two year engagement with the Prince. Nurse obviously seems to be closer to Juliet, than her biological mother. Hence, this is yet another character foil present in Shakespeare’s play involves Juliet’s nurse and Lady Capulet (Juliet’s mother.)

    Read More

  • The University of Dayton Men’s Basketball Program

    1294 Words  | 3 Pages

    There have been many historical moments with the University of Dayton Flyers Men’s Basketball team, but Mark Weaver recalls of the one that meant most to him. It took place on March 24, 1967, in Louisville’s Freedom Hall for the Final Four of the NCAA (National College Athletic Association) tournament against the highly favored North Carolina Tar Heels (Collett 228). This was the third straight NCAA tournament appearance for the Flyers, but their first ever Final Four (Collett 228). It turned out that the Flyers smashed North Carolina, seventy-six to sixty-two. Don May hit a record thirteen straight field goals and scored thirty-four points (Collett 228). Mark Weaver, a lifetime fan said, “I remember that game like it was yesterday, it almost brings tears to my eyes. I have never seen UD party like we did the night of that game. I have been following Dayton basketball since the mid-1960s and I have yet to witness the team getting a greater win than the one over the Tar Heels.”

    Read More

  • Quotes For Romeo And Juliet

    902 Words  | 2 Pages

    “By my troth, it is well said. “For himself to mar,”/ Quoth he? Gentlemen, can any of you tell me where I may find the young Romeo?” (2.4.60). The Nurse was someone Juliet went to whenever she needed help, and The Nurse always delivered, but this time The Nurse helped her do something that was never thought about in the house of a Capulet, to marry a Montague.

    Read More

  • The Role Of Parents In Romeo And Juliet

    1348 Words  | 3 Pages

    Firstly, Juliet is misguided by the Nurse – a bawdy woman who is too caught up in her own sentimental feelings to support and direct Juliet through hers. She is responsible for encouraging Juliet’s marriage with Romeo (her lover) shortly after they meet, despite knowing that

    Read More

  • Flaktest Competition Research Paper

    493 Words  | 1 Pages

    Throughout the single elimination brackets, every team was one match away from being knocked out of the tournament. The pressure of knockouts rippled through the semi final match ups, as Shenton College #3 had to watch an epic three round, two-and-a-half-hour semi finals with Churchlands SHS vs Shenton College Team #1. The result going in favour of Churchlands, with MVP performances by Fudge, Jax, Krilltaz and Kelleyyy.

    Read More

  • Three People, Two Deaths, One Great Tragedy

    737 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Nurse was also responsible for the tragic ending of the play. When Romeo and Juliet met, the Nurse became their messenger. She helped them be together even though she knew Romeo was a Montague and that Juliet's family would disapprove. The Nurse brought news to Juliet from Romeo telling her to sneak out so they could get married. She helped Juliet get out of her house by bringing her a rope ladder to climb off her balcony with and telling her parents that she went to shrift. The Nurse kept Romeo and Juliet's marriage a secret from the families. When Juliet's parents said she should marry Paris, the Nurse agreed and said that Juliet should forget about Romeo because he was in Mantua. With the Nurse no longer on her side she had no one to help her and back her up but the Friar. In this way she had a large impact on the terrible ending of Romeo and Juliet.

    Read More

  • Act 3 Scene 5 of William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet

    2506 Words  | 6 Pages

    Nurse has betrayed Juliet, she and Friar Lawrence were the two who knew and believed in Romeo and Juliet's love, and Nurse abandons Juliet in a way in this scene, telling her to marry Paris, and forget Romeo. I think that when she is saying this that she is thinking of herself, and of what she could lose if they were discovered, but at the same time she was thinking of Juliet's well-being, and that she would be safe in Verona, with Paris: "I think that you are happy in this second match, For it excels your first; or, if it did not, Your first is dead, or 'twere as good he were As living here and you no use of him. " Lady Capulet shows a very different love for her daughter to the love which Nurse shows her, she has hardly looked after Juliet for much of her life, and is distanced from her. Around the period of time when the play was set there was a social tradition for the upper classes to have a 'wet nurse'. It would not have been accepted in soc... ...

    Read More

  • Romeo And Juliet Sacrifice Analysis

    1176 Words  | 3 Pages

    Romeo’s best friend is Mercutio, while Juliet’s best friend is the Nurse, who is also the closest thing she has to a mother. When Tybalt challenges Romeo to a duel, Romeo refuses to fight because of his marriage to Juliet. This results in his friend Mercutio fighting Tybalt on Romeo’s behalf, becoming wounded, and dying. Romeo is distraught at Mercutio’s death and proclaims, “My very friend, hath got this mortal hurt/ In my behalf… O sweet Juliet, Thy beauty hath made me effeminate/ And in my temper softened valor’s steel” [3.1.114-120]. The phrases “thy beauty hath made me effeminate” and “softened valor’s steel” imply that Romeo blames himself for not protecting Mercutio because of his relationship with Juliet. He puts Mercutio and a man’s bravery second to Juliet because of love. Similarly, the Nurse is Juliet’s mother figure and her confidant. When the Nurse urges Juliet to forget Romeo, Juliet decides to become independent from her for the first time and states, “Thou [Nurse] and my bosom henceforth be twain” [3.5.240]. By using the word “twain”, Juliet cuts off all ties she has with the Nurse. This proves that Juliet’s love for Romeo is so strong that it forces her to stay true to him above all else. Their love and devotion to each other have found no equal and transcend

    Read More

  • Extent the Nurse is to Blame in Romeo and Juliet

    634 Words  | 2 Pages

    In spite of this, is certain that the Nurse played a serious role in encouraging the lovers? relationship to blossom. Instead of advising Juliet on the dangers of a love that is ?too rash, too unadvis?d, to sudden?, she continues to place Romeo upon a pedestal, proclaiming his ?face be better than any man?s, his leg excels all men?s, his [body parts] are past compare?. Her haste for Juliet to ?hie hence to Friar Lawrence? cell?, and preparations for ?cords? to be brought for Romeo to ?convoy [to Juliet] in the secret night?, are gestures that illustrate her desire for their relationship to progress quickly. Therefore by offering her approval of Romeo, the Nurse inadvertedly strengthens Juliet?s devo...

    Read More

  • The Nurse in William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet

    1674 Words  | 4 Pages

    The Nurse is Capulets servant, and she is a very good servant as she tries her hardest to please the Capulets and Juliet at the same time. She is also a very important character in the play and in the Capulets lives. Through out the play The Nurse is Juliet’s confidant. The Nurse is a crucial character who strongly influences Juliet’s thoughts and actions. The main reason why the Capulet employed her was to breast feed Juliet. The Nurse was perfect for the job because she had just lost her little baby Susan, and The Nurse will now have unwanted breast milk that is ideal for Juliet as Lady Capulet does not want the role of breast feeding. The relationship between The Nurse and Juliet is like a mother daughter relationship, she is like Juliet surrogate mother towards Juliet.

    Read More

  • Contrasting Views of Love in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet

    962 Words  | 2 Pages

    In Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, the views of love held by the character Romeo contrast sharply with the views of Mercutio. Romeo's character seems to suffer from a type of manic depression. He is in love with his sadness, quickly enraptured and easily crushed again on a passionate roller coaster of emotion. Mercutio, by contrast is much more practical and level headed. His perceptions are clear and quick, characterized by precise thought and careful evaluation. Romeo, true to his character begins his appearance in the play by wallowing in his depression over Rosaline who does not return his love:

    Read More

  • Causes Of Suicide In Romeo And Juliet

    971 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Nurse’s job is to take care of Juliet and raise her; however, upon learning that Juliet is romantically involved with their family’s enemy, she doesn’t provide any form of counsel to Juliet.” I must another way, To fetch a ladder by the which your love Must climb a bird’s nest soon when its dark.” (2.5.77-79). The Nurse aides Romeo by telling him to go to Juliet’s room, showing her approval of the relationship. She did not provide any form of counsel to Juliet or inform Capulet or Lady Capulet about Juliet’s relationship.

    Read More

  • Essay About Love in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet

    783 Words  | 2 Pages

    Throughout the tragedy of Romeo and Juliet, by William Shakespeare, various types of love are portrayed. According to some of the students of Shakespeare, Shakespeare himself had accumulated wisdom beyond his years in matters pertaining to love (Bloom 89). Undoubtedly, he draws upon this wealth of experience in allowing the audience to see various types of love personified.  Shakespeare argues that there are several different types of love, the interchangeable love, the painful love and the love based on appearances, but only true love is worth having.

    Read More

  • True Love in Romeo and Juliet

    798 Words  | 2 Pages

    Romeo and Juliet is a romantic love story about a young lad named Romeo who has fallen in love with Lady Juliet, but is unable to marry her because of a long-lasting family feud. The play ends in the death of both these characters and the reunion of the friendship between the families. Romeo is in love with Juliet, and this is a true, passionate love (unlike the love Paris has for her or the love Romeo had for Rosaline) that nothing can overcome, not even the hatred between their two families that is the reason for the death of their two children. Throughout the play, Shakespeare thoroughly explores the themes of both true love and false love and hatred. Without either of these themes, the play would loose its romantic touch and probably would not be as famous as it is today.

    Read More

More about Romeo And Juliet - The Role Of Love

Open Document