What Advice Does Nurse Give To Juliet

What Advice Does Nurse Give to Juliet: A Comprehensive Analysis of Shakespeare's Most Trusted Confidant

In William Shakespeare's timeless tragedy Romeo and Juliet, the Nurse stands as one of the most complex and influential secondary characters in all of literature. Which means serving as Juliet's confidante, messenger, and surrogate mother figure, the Nurse provides crucial advice that profoundly shapes Juliet's decisions throughout the play. Understanding what advice the Nurse gives to Juliet reveals not only the dynamics of their relationship but also the tragic forces that ultimately lead to the young lovers' demise.

Who Is the Nurse in Romeo and Juliet?

The Nurse is a comic figure in the early acts of the play, providing humor and earthy commentary that contrasts sharply with the poetic romance of Romeo and Juliet. So this intimate connection has created a bond between them that transcends the typical servant-master relationship. She has been Juliet's nurse since birth, serving as a wet nurse who nursed Juliet when she was an infant. The Nurse refers to Juliet as "my lady" but treats her with the familiarity and affection of a mother.

Her role in the play is multifaceted: she acts as a messenger between the young lovers, provides counsel to Juliet during moments of crisis, and ultimately becomes a tragic figure whose well-intentioned advice contributes to the disaster that unfolds. The advice she gives reflects her class position, her life experience, and her genuine love for Juliet, though her counsel is often flawed by her limited understanding of the consequences that will follow.

Key Advice the Nurse Gives to Juliet

The First Meeting with Romeo

In Act 1, Scene 3, the Nurse provides Juliet with her first piece of significant advice regarding matters of love. When Lady Capulet discusses the possibility of Juliet marrying Paris, the Nurse interjects with a humorous but telling memory of Juliet's weaning. This seemingly trivial moment establishes the Nurse's perspective on marriage—she views it as a practical institution, one involving physical consummation and domestic life rather than romantic passion.

When Juliet shows initial reluctance about marrying Paris, the Nurse offers pragmatic advice: "My lady, you might do worse. He's a gentleman, and a gamester." She encourages Juliet to consider the match, suggesting that Paris is a suitable husband by the standards of the time. This advice reflects the Nurse's belief that practical considerations should guide marital decisions, a view that will later conflict with Juliet's passionate love for Romeo.

The Secret Marriage

Perhaps the most consequential advice the Nurse gives occurs in Act 2, Scene 5, when she delivers the news that Romeo has married them. After the secret wedding ceremony performed by Friar Laurence, the Nurse serves as the messenger who confirms to Juliet that her marriage to Romeo is legitimate and binding. Her words are jubilant and reassuring: "God mark thee to his grace! Thou wast both shrill and merry. I think no Frenchman can match his wit.

The Nurse's advice here is implicit but powerful—she encourages Juliet to embrace this secret marriage and to trust in Romeo's love. Also, she becomes an active participant in helping the young couple consummate their marriage, advising Juliet to go to the Friar's cell that afternoon. Now, this advice, given with the best intentions, sets in motion the chain of events that will lead to tragedy. The Nurse's willingness to help Juliet be with Romeo demonstrates her loyalty, but it also shows her failure to consider the dangerous implications of defying the Capulet family.

Advice During the Crisis of Tybalt's Death

After Tybalt kills Mercutio and Romeo kills Tybalt in retaliation, Romeo is banished from Verona. This crisis represents a turning point in the play, and Juliet is devastated. In Act 3, Scene 3, the Nurse comes to Juliet with news of Romeo's banishment and provides crucial advice during this moment of despair.

The Nurse tells Juliet that Romeo has been banished and advises her to go to the Friar's cell to learn more. Which means exile hath more terror in his look than death. Practically speaking, the Nurse says, "I think you are too happy in this business. She advises Juliet to be patient and to trust in the Friar's wisdom. When Juliet fears the worst, the Nurse offers comfort and practical guidance. Do not name marriage.

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This advice, while meant to comfort, reveals the Nurse's limitations. She cannot fully comprehend the depth of Juliet's love or the severity of the situation. Her pragmatic approach, which has served her well in practical matters, fails to address the emotional and psychological crisis that Juliet faces. Still holds up.

The Final Tragic Advice

The most controversial advice the Nurse gives comes in Act 4, Scene 1, when Juliet seeks a solution to her dilemma—she is supposed to marry Paris the next day, but she is already married to Romeo. And after Juliet threatens to kill herself, the Nurse offers a startling suggestion: "I think it best you married with the County. Go you'll not be married to him tomorrow? In practice, i say you shall not. If you are resolved, I have a way to help you to a husband.

The Nurse's advice here is devastating. She tells Juliet to go to the Friar's cell one last time, but when that seems impossible, she offers an alternative: "If you be resolved to have a husband, here's a County that will be your husband. On top of that, she suggests that Juliet should marry Paris, even knowing that Juliet is already married to Romeo. You shall have him, though you were married to Romeo.

This advice represents the Nurse's ultimate failure to understand Juliet's true feelings. Day to day, in her pragmatic worldview, the solution to the problem is simple: marry the man who can provide security and status. The Nurse's advice reflects her class-based understanding of marriage as a practical arrangement rather than a sacred bond of love.

The Nurse's Motivations and Character

Understanding why the Nurse gives these pieces of advice requires examining her character and motivations. The Nurse genuinely loves Juliet and wants what she believes is best for her. Her advice is not malicious; rather, it stems from her limited perspective and her inability to fully comprehend the passionate, all-consuming love that Juliet feels for Romeo.

The Nurse's advice also reflects her social position. As a servant, she has learned to handle the world through practicality and survival. Her own marriage to Peter, which she mentions in humorous terms, appears to be a practical arrangement rather than a love match. She cannot understand why Juliet would risk everything for romantic love when practical considerations seem so much more important.

Additionally, the Nurse is old and weary. She has lived long enough to see that passion fades and that practical concerns—security, status, survival—matter more in the long run. Her advice, while misguided by modern standards, reflects a worldview that was common among practical, working-class people of Shakespeare's time.

The Impact of the Nurse's Advice

The advice the Nurse gives to Juliet has profound consequences for the play's outcome. Her encouragement of the secret marriage leads to the chain of events that results in Romeo's banishment. Her final suggestion that Juliet marry Paris pushes Juliet to seek the desperate solution that leads to the tragic ending.

On the flip side, it would be unfair to place all the blame on the Nurse. She acts out of love and what she believes is practical wisdom. In real terms, the true tragedy lies in the circumstances that force young people to seek secret solutions and in the society that forbids their love. The Nurse is a product of her time and her class, and her advice reflects the limitations of her perspective.

Conclusion

The advice the Nurse gives to Juliet throughout Romeo and Juliet reveals a complex character who genuinely loves her charge but lacks the understanding to guide her through the extraordinary circumstances she faces. From encouraging practical considerations in marriage to helping make easier the secret union, and finally to suggesting Juliet marry Paris, the Nurse's counsel shapes many of Juliet's crucial decisions.

While the Don't overlook nurse's advice ultimately contributes to the tragedy, it. It carries more weight than people think. Her failure lies not in malice but in limitation—inability to comprehend the depth of Juliet's passion and the severity of the consequences that will follow. Consider this: through the Nurse, Shakespeare demonstrates how good intentions, when combined with limited understanding, can still lead to devastating outcomes. The Nurse remains one of the play's most human and relatable characters, a reminder that advice given with love is not always advice that leads to happiness.