The Roles of Nurse and Mercutio in Romeo and Juliet

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Mercutio and Nurse, the companions of Romeo and Juliet, do not fully understand true love. Their outlook on life and sex is quite different from the two main characters. This variation is intended to be, and is what makes them comical characters. Nurse and Mercutio are parallel because they both supply the personality in “Romeo and Juliet” that is not possessed by the two main characters. The aspect that is shown by Romeo and Juliet is love. Nurse and Mercutio provide the humor throughout the play.

The relationship that Mercutio has with Romeo is sturdy in all areas except love. This opposition can clearly be seen when Montague talks about Romeo’s depression over Roseline. “And private in his chamber pens himself, shuts up his windows, locks fair daylight out, and makes himself an artificial night” (I.I.119-121). Romeo shuts himself in his room since Roseline rejected his love. From this quote, Romeo is a glum, melancholy teenager who has a dilemma with one girl in particular. Mercutio on the other hand is a complete opposite when it comes to love. His headstrong theory is “If love be rough with you, be rough with love” (I.IV.27). These simple quotes demonstrate the contradictory views of love from Mercutio and Romeo. Nurse and Juliet also have a bond that lacks understanding on love. Their relationship is quite strong and Nurse is like a second mother to Juliet. Nurse acts as a counselor for Juliet. An example of the relationship holding different positions on love is shown when Nurse weeps for Tybalt while Juliet weeps for Romeo. “Will you speak well of him that killed your cousin? Shall I speak ill of him that is my husband?” (III.II.94-95) Nurse does not fully understand Juliet’s love for Romeo.

Mercutio and Nurse have ...

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...is. Nurse was one of the few people who knew about Romeo and Juliet but she failed to understand how much they loved each other. Mercutio’s death is avenged by Romeo, who then gets banished. The play is a comedy while Mercutio is alive but his death makes the play develop into a tragedy. Nurse’s role starts winding down also after Mercutio’s death. The main purpose near the end of the play is to show Romeo and Juliet’s tragic love story, not Nurses jokes. She is no longer needed in the story and the story shifts from comedy to tragedy.

Nurse and Mercutio may seem like minor characters but in reality, they play a major role throughout the play. They provide humor and serve as companions to the main characters. They keep the story going and help transform the play from humor to misfortune. Their parallel role helps to amplify the love felt between Romeo and Juliet.

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