The Downfall of Juliet
"For never was a story of more woe/ Than this of Juliet and her Romeo." (5.3.315-316) Though many critics would argue that the woe is due only to the theme of fate, but many other factors significantly contributed to this tragedy. The theme of love does not exist only between the play's namesakes, but it extends to the love that many other characters share for this couple. Often, personal flaws interfere with love, and ultimately cause the downfall of another person. Such is the case with Juliet. Though they had good intentions, the individual flaws of the Nurse and the Capulets lead to her downfall at the end of the play. One of the most memorable characters in the play is the Nurse. Most prominently noted for her humor, the Nurse contributes a great deal to the play, though she appears in only twelve scenes. Once the climactic point of Mercutio's death is reached, the humorous qualities of the Nurse quickly diminish, never to be seen in their entirety again. At this point, the Nurse's main function as a messenger becomes apparent, which gives proof of her love and loyalty to her Lady. Her impact in the play is clear, the Nurse is the messenger of all news, good and bad, to Juliet regarding Romeo, until their tragic parting.
Did ever dragon keep so fair a cave? My fingers itch. Wife, we scarce thought us blest I tell thee what: get thee to church o' Thursday, Quickly, the Nurse takes Juliet's side, explaining that all men are liars, supporting Juliet's curse toward Romeo, but Juliet will not accept the condemnation that the Nurse places on Romeo's character. She stands up for her husband, damning the nurse for her unjust words regarding Romeo. Though this seems to prove her loyalty to Juliet, it actually proves only her loyalty to the current situation. The Nurse is a woman that feels a need to be liked and appreciated all the time. In order to achieve this sense of belonging, she places an emphasis on saying the 'right' thing at the 'right' time. This flaw extends further in the play as the Nurse proves her allegiance to the situation as Lady Capulet speaks to Juliet once again about her marriage to Paris. Only the night before, the nurse felt that true love was the most important thing in a marriage, yet in order to keep a feeling of contentment with Capulet and his Lady, she states: O serpent hear, hid with a flow'ring face! Hang thee, young baggage! Disobedient wretch!
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Approximate Word count = 1201
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)
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