Explain Why The Nurse Is Responsible For The Deaths Of Romeo And Juliet Essay

In the play Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare, it is set in Verona, Italy of 1595. It goes back to the time of old english and the immature love of 13 year old Juliet and 18 year old Romeo. Romeo, a Montague, and Juliet, a Capulet, their families clash and are great enemies of each other. Throughout the play the two hide their love from many except for a few, resulting with the misfortune of both their deaths. The Nurse of Juliet is mostly responsible for the death of Romeo and Juliet because she holds back critical information and advice.

Although, there are reasons why the Nurse could be found innocent and not responsible for their deaths. The Nurse works for the Capulet’s, and her job is not to necessarily tell Juliet’s family all

she is doing. But as the person who nursed and takes care of her for all the years she has lived, she should be protecting her in all the ways she can. The Nurse knows about the previous and ongoing conflicts between the two families and is aware of how bad the idea of the two is, yet she didn’t step in and stop it before it got out of hand.
In the play the Nurse’s advice for Juliet is very inconsistent.

The Nurse is always with Juliet and by her side 24/7 and knows her better than anyone. Juliet is young, dumb, and in love and the last thing she needs is inconsistent advice from someone she looks up to. At first the Nurse tells Juliet, “He is not the flower of courtesy, but, I’ll/ warrant him, as gentle as a lamb” giving Juliet the impression she approved and wants her to be with Romeo(Act 2, sc 5, ll.42-44) . This leads to secret plans for Juliet and Romeo’s love and marriage and a lot of secrecy from many people. The Nurse is involved in all of these secret plans and didn’t mind to stop them at all. But near the end of the play it all changes. When things start to get bad the Nurse changes her advice and prefers Juliet marry Paris, even though she is already aware that Juliet and Romeo are together. The Nurse tells

Juliet,
“Romeo is banished; and all the world to nothing
that he dares ne’er come back to challenge you;
or if he do, it needs must be by stealth.

Then since the case so stands as how it doth,

I think it best you married with the county.

O, he’s a lovely gentleman!

Romeo’s a dishclout to him.”

(Act 3, sc 5, ll. 215-221)

giving her the advice she should not to be with Romeo. This leads Juliet to confusion and anger towards the Nurse. She gives off the impression of being pretty fond of Romeo at first and helped them be together, but went back and changed all of her views towards him and bashes on him. If the Nurse was completely honest and not so inconsistent with Juliet on how she feels about Romeo, that could’ve saved the two from killing themselves and possibly not even being together in the first place.

The Nurse being a worker of Lord and Lady Capulet, she should be loyal and honest enough to tell them about what their daughter is doing with Romeo. The Nurse is involved in all of the plans for the two to be together and approves of it for a lot of the play. She also is well aware of how the family feels about the Montagues and knows it can cause some conflict. The Nurse tells 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. I’ll

to
him; he is hid at Laurence’s cell”
(Act 3, sc. 2, ll.138-141)

as she tries to help and sneak Romeo to see Juliet. She is involved in basically all the plans and all of them are at a high risk. This scene was especially was risky because Romeo is suppose to be out of Verona for killing Tybalt (Juliet’s cousin) and once again she is condoning the secret plans of Juliet’s right under Lady and Lord Capulet’s noses. Just by sneaking Romeo to see her, she is risking his life for he is on a death sentence if he comes into Verona. If she were to have told the Capulets about their secret love, everything wouldn’t have gotten so out of hand.
Out of everyone else in the play the Nurse of Juliet is mostly responsible for the death of Romeo and Juliet because she holds back critical information and advice. Throughout the play she gives inconsistent advice to Juliet on what she should do about Romeo and could’ve stopped the relationship before it happened just by telling the Juliet’s parents about the two lovers. Given the Nurse knows Juliet more than anyone, she should know what is best for her and how to approach the situation, but her way led the two immature star-crossed lovers to death.