Loyalty And Irresponsibility In Shakespeare's Romeo And Juliet

Each day, people need to make important decisions and consider their outcomes. Often times, they need to choose what is best for them, and not what they want to do. In Shakespeare’s tragedy Romeo and Juliet, he explores how the traits a person possesses can impact their actions and their results. In the play, there is an ongoing feud between the Montagues and Capulets. When Romeo Montague and Juliet Capulet meet, they instantly fall in love only to discover they are from feuding families. With a love so strong, they risk getting married secretly, seeking some help from Juliet’s Nurse. The actions that the Nurse takes demonstrate both loyalty and irresponsibility, but ultimately lead to turmoil. In the Nurse, Shakespeare shows how the positive

trait of loyalty can be dangerous when combined with irresponsibility and bad decision making.
In the short term, the combination of Nurse’s loyalty and irresponsibility has helped Juliet marry Romeo. Right after the marriage has been arranged, the Nurse sends word of it to Romeo. “Pray you, sir, a word: and as I told/you, my young lady bid me inquire you out; what she bid/me say, I will keep to myself” (II.iv.144-146). The Nurse’s decision to help Juliet is an act of loyalty and irresponsibility. By agreeing to help her marry Romeo and keep it a secret, she is being loyal to Juliet. However, because Juliet barely knew Romeo and their love may have not been long-lasting, this is also an irresponsible decision. Although it is wrong, the Nurse still has the intention of making Juliet happy, which results in good for Juliet. She supports the two by helping them communicate with each other. On their marriage night, the Nurse also plans to bring a ladder to Juliet’s house so Romeo can spend the night with her. “Hie you to church; I must another way,/ To fetch a ladder, by the which your love/ Must climb a bird's nest soon when it is dark” (II.v.72-75). Once again, Nurse is being both loyal and irresponsible in this situation. Although she is agreeing to help Juliet secretly marry, it is for Juliet’s own happiness. She knows how important a marriage night is and since it was secret, the only way to make Romeo and Juliet’s affair official is to spend the night together. Because the Nurse knows Juliet best, she only had the intention of making Juliet happy. In the short term, this helped Romeo and Juliet’s relationship move along even if there was some irresponsibility in the Nurse’s actions.
Despite the positive results of her actions, the loyalty and irresponsibility in the Nurse has led to long term danger for the couple.

When Romeo and Juliet first meet, Juliet orders Nurse to figure out who Romeo was. Nurse upsets Juliet when she says, “His name is Romeo, and a Montague;/The only son of your great enemy” (I.v.142-143). Once Juliet hears this, she realizes that her only love has sprung from her only hate. The Nurse however, doesn’t take this into consideration. She doesn’t see the trouble that this has started, and only cares about Juliet’s feelings. As a result, she delivers this message to Romeo which becomes the beginning of a dangerous relationship. Later in the play after Romeo is banned from Verona, Juliet desperately looks for advice from her Nurse. She is told that,“Romeo is banish'd; 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” (III.v.224-226). What the Nurse is saying to Juliet leads to danger because there is an imbalance between the irresponsibility and loyalty of Nurse’s advice. Nurse thinks she is being loyal to Juliet because she believes that marriage will cheer her up and Romeo will do her no good. She is making a practical decision here, since it is not the person, but the marriage that will make a difference. For Juliet, this is an act of betrayal and it ruins her relationship with the Nurse. This leads Juliet to Friar Lawrence’s plan, which becomes danger. The loyalty and irresponsibility in the Nurse led to more danger than happiness for Juliet. By not thinking twice about her actions, Nurse led Juliet in the wrong

direction.
The loyalty to Juliet in keeping her happy was overcome by irresponsibility and resulted in the deaths of the two lovers. Nurse did not think ahead to the outcomes of her actions when helping Romeo and Juliet get married. This became dangerous, showing that it is not always about making someone happy, but also considering what is best for them. Through this play, Shakespeare reminds readers that it is crucial to consider the outcomes of a decision when making it. Even if it isn’t the best idea at the moment, in the long run, the result will be worth it.