Commentary on Act 3 of Of Romeo And Juliet Essay

In the story Romeo and Juliet, Juliet lives throughout her life with the love and acknowledgments from her nurse rather than her mother. The nurse has taken care of Juliet and become more like a mother to her than Lady Capulet. The nurse was actually Juliet's wet nurse, and it is proven that a bond between a baby and one who feeds it is very strong. These words are spoken from the nurse to Lady Capulet - "And she was weaned (I never shall forget it), Of all the days of the year, upon that day; For I had then laid wormwood to my dug." (1.3.25-27) These quotations shows how the nurse feels about her relationship with Juliet from the day she was born.

Juliet and the nurse share a very close bond, one that surpasses one of a girl and her servant. Since being her wet nurse the Nurse has become over the years Juliet's close companion, confidant, friend and mother. Juliet is comfortable with the responses, advice and opinions her Nurse gives her. This allows Juliet to take her into her confidence when she decides to challenge the power of the family feud and marry Romeo. The nurse holds Juliet's happiness so high that she betrays her employer and arranges Juliet's marriage and last night with Romeo. The nurse's desire is simply to keep fourteen-year-old Juliet content. The nurse says to Juliet - "Hie to your chamber. I'll find Romeo to comfort you. I wot well where he is. Hark ye, your Romeo will be here at night." (3.2.138-140)

When it comes to Juliet's marriage Lady Capulet and the nurse's ideas of it differ. Lady Capulet is concerned about the class of guy she wants for her daughter. She is in search of a descent man of class with position and great property, all this on top of love. Lady Capulet says to Juliet - " So shall you share all that he doth possess By having him, making yourself no less." (1.3.95-96) In the other hand the nurse tries to make marriage sound presentable and human. She wants a man that can make Juliet happy at all times, not really focusing on what the mothers expectations are. The nurse says to Juliet - "Go, girl seek happy nights to happy days." (1.3.106)