William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet

Although they are the basis of William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, these main characters are dull, undynamic, and do not specifically appeal to certain readers. Nurse could be considered as a more interesting character because she brings her wit, drama and insight into the plotline.
Nurse is an old woman who works for the Capulet family and who also happens to be Juliet’s mother figure. Nurse has a sizable personality and is as unpredictable as a hand in poker. She brings humor to this tale of star-crossed lovers and through the duration of the composition, it is shown that she enjoys teasing Juliet. A specific example of this is “Your love say, like an honest gentleman, and a courteous, and a kind, and a handsome, and, I warrant, a virtuous- Where is your mother?” (II. iv. 38-40). Nurse is trying to work and mold Juliet’s emotions just to see how she reacts. Her sarcastic nature is also emanated when she says, “Well, you have made a simple choice, you know not how to choose a man. Romeo? No, not he. [...] He is not the flower of courtesy, but, I’ll warrant him, as gentle as a lamb. Go thy ways, wench, serve God. What, have you dined at home?” (II. v. 38-39; 43-45). From the context in this scene, the audience can tell that Nurse is being sarcastic. In reality, she actually enjoys Romeo and thinks he is a suitable match for Juliet. Another instance where Nurse’s wit is presented is when she says, “Yes madam. Yet I cannot choose but to laugh to think it should leave crying and say ‘Ay’. And yet, I warrant, it had upon its brow a bump as big as a young cockrel’s stone; A perilous knock and it cried bitterly” (I. iii. 50-55). Before this quotation, Capulet cracks joke. Unlike Lady Capulet (who does not even crack a smile), Nu...

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... marriage to Romeo). “Then hie you hence to Friar Laurence’s cell; There stays a husband to make you a wife. [...] 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’s dark” (II. v. 69-77). Nurse is willing to go to certain extents to help Juliet because she is like a daughter to her. She brainstorms the plan so the two young lovers can be together. Also, her actions improve the tale overall. “This afternoon, sir? Well, she shall be there” (II. iv. 175). In a way, Nurse is Juliet’s ‘wing-man’. She helps her get the chance to be with her suitor, which is what the whole plot revolves around.
Overall, Nurse conveys a certain mood to the play that could only come from her character. Nurse may not be the main character in this piece of Shakespeare’s work, but she does get her point across to the reader.