The characters true identity in Romeo and juliet
Uploaded by Luthien930 on Mar 03, 2004
Romeo and Juliet are destined to be with each other. So why does it seem like everyone and everything is against them? Not only are they fated to be with each other, they are also fated to be with each other after death. In the end, part of their death can be blamed on the adults in the play. The betrayal of Romeo and Juliet is due to destiny, misconceptions of them by the adults, and the circumstances that changed. Although the adults don’t want to sabotage Romeo and Juliet’s lives, they do want to protect themselves from getting into any trouble.
In the beginning of the play, we are introduced to the Nurse as a kind, motherly figure and friend to Juliet. As the story progresses, we learn the true identity of the Nurse: a sadistic person. Nurse acts kind, humorous, and maternal toward Juliet only when Lady Capulet is around because she’s Nurse’s employer. The times when Lady Capulet isn’t present, Nurse taunts and tantalizes Juliet, for example when Nurse was delivering the message to Juliet about Romeo’s punishment, she purposely stalls and prattles on, while enjoying the suffering of Juliet. Nurse ultimately betrays Juliet when she suggests bigamy. “ Romeo is banished, and all the world to nothing/ That he ne’er come back to challenge you…I think it best you married with the County.” (3.5.226-227, 230) The reason nurse betrayed Juliet and was cruel toward her was not always intentional, but it was who she really was.
The feud between the two families was one factor that led to Romeo and Juliet’s death. If there were no feud to begin with, then the couple wouldn’t have to lie or deceive anyone. The two families acted irrational with their militant quarreling and because of the feud, many people, were killed, for example Tybalt, Romeo, and Juliet. The Capulets eventually betray Juliet in the end by telling her to marry Paris. In the beginning of the play, Lord Capulet respected any decision that Juliet made regarding marriage and wouldn’t rebut. “My will to her consent is but a part.” (1.2.17) Capulet afterwards arbitrarily tells Juliet that she has to marry Paris or he will disown Juliet.
“…To go with Paris to Saint Peter’s Church,
Or I will drag thee on a hurdle thither.
Out, you green-sickness carrion! Out, you baggage!” (3.5.159-161)
When Lady Capulet hears...