The majority of modern children listen to their moms tell fairytales. But what about the women who lived before Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, and others? In previous centuries, small children care was often given to the mother of an aristocratic woman’s servants or subordinates. The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet – William Shakespeare’s play – shows that Juliet’s mother actually provides very little care. As a prized servant of the Capulet household the Nurse was given the task to care for Juliet while she was still a baby. As Juliet grew up, the Nurse cared for Juliet as if she were her own child. Juliet’s mother wasn’t a mother figure in Romeo and Juliet.
Juliet’s servant, the Nurse, plays the role of the “mother” in this play. She immediately exudes a warm personality and is easy to like when she first appears. The nurse tells the comical tale of Juliet’s childhood. This is her first encounter with the reader. “Yea,” quoth he./ Thou wilt be backward if thou hast less wit./ Wilt you not, Jule./ Act I scene iii. This story is about Juliet’s first steps and her fall. He made a very sexual comment to the nurse about his wife helping the child get up. He said that she would soon lie on her back for him. The nurse’s humorous side is shown for the first times. Juliet often found herself in trouble due to the Nurse’s humor and easygoing nature. Her secret marriage with Romeo created a gap between her parents, which drove Juliet to talk to the Nurse about her concerns. Juliet said “My only true love, sprung from me only hatred!” (Act II, scene v), which was referring specifically to the animosity that existed between Juliet’s family and Romeo’s. Juliet is a romantic at heart for Romeo. Her relatives have a preconceived hatred of Romeo. Juliet and Juliet are further apart. The Nurse was “middleman” for Romeo and Juliet, just like the Friar. Juliet quoted the Nurse’s role as a link between the two lovers. The Nurse supported Romeo and Juliet’s love despite all the opposition from the rest of their household.
Lord and Lady Capulet arranged a marriage between Juliet, Paris and Juliet, making the situation worse. Juliet was disowned as her only option. The Nurse supported Juliet, despite Juliet’s pleas not to marry him. The story’s final scene reveals the depth of Juliet’s relationship with the Nurse. The Nurse became closer to Juliet as she grew up and started to see herself more as a mother than a servant.
Where was Juliet’s mother in all her troubles? Juliet’s actual mother does not make any appearances throughout the story, although some of her interactions are very minor. It was clear that there was a deep distance between her mother and Juliet, which ultimately led to her death. Juliet’s mother was the one to do the opposite. Juliet was supported by her mother during the Paris divorce. She also joined her husband to displace Juliet.
The Nurse is a true “mother figure” in The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet. The Nurse looked after Juliet throughout her childhood, adolescence, and adult years. The Nurse was Juliet’s closest mother.
