The scene: a family conversation

Lady Capulet asks the Nurse to leave so she can speak privately with Juliet. The Nurse protests that she has helped bring Juliet up and knows her better than anyone. Lady Capulet allows her to stay. The Nurse launches into a long, lively story about Juliet as a baby. She remembers the child’s first steps and jokes about an old mishap involving a fall. Juliet tries to hurry her along: “Enough of this; I pray thee, hold thy peace.” The Nurse does not take offence. She keeps talking, affectionately calling Juliet “my lady” and teasing her as someone who will soon be a bride. Lady Capulet then tells Juliet that Paris, a wealthy young nobleman, wishes to marry her. Juliet responds cautiously: “I’ll look to like, if looking liking move.” She will consider him, but she does not promise to love him. The Nurse, however, is delighted by the match and praises Paris’s appearance. Juliet listens politely, yet her careful answer suggests that she wants some say in her future. In this scene the Nurse’s closeness to Juliet contrasts with Lady Capulet’s more formal approach. The Nurse’s memories make their bond seem personal and long-standing; Lady Capulet focuses on marriage and family expectations. The Nurse is loving, but her enthusiasm for Paris also shows that she does not always understand Juliet’s wishes.