In this deck, we will analyse the character of the Nurse in Romeo and Juliet. She is one of Shakespeare's most memorable characters, acting as a loving, maternal figure to Juliet and providing much of the play's comedy. However, her character is also complex and tragic. We will explore her key quotations, her pragmatic views on love, and her ultimate, devastating betrayal of Juliet in Act 3.

From the beginning, the Nurse is presented as a true mother figure to Juliet, in stark contrast to the distant Lady Capulet. In Act 1 Scene 3, she reminisces fondly about Juliet's childhood, even recalling her own deceased daughter, Susan. This establishes a deep, affectionate bond. The Nurse is the person Juliet confides in, trusts, and turns to for support, making her later betrayal even more shocking.

The Nurse's primary role in the first half of the play is to provide comic relief. Her speeches are often long, rambling, and full of bawdy or inappropriate jokes, which would have been very funny for a Shakespearean audience. A classic example is in Act 2 Scene 5, where she returns with news from Romeo but deliberately teases Juliet by complaining about her aches and pains. This light-hearted comedy makes the play's eventual turn to tragedy all the more powerful.