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Summary Gcse, romeo and Juliet grade 9 analysis of the Nurse
I have handwritten these original and unique notes that helped me to get 156/160 in gcse English literature. This is a grade 9 English literature analysis of the Nurse
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The Nurse-‘Come Lammas-Eve at night’
Summer imagery to show how it is this birthday that will lead to Juliet
finally blossoms- Elizabethan perception that marriage is the only route
to growth (financially) and is what gives her worth
-‘why , he’s a man of wax’
This metaphor is used to present him as a perfectly sculptured man who is moulded
to society’s expectations. Furthermore, the uncountable noun ‘wax’ can only be
moulded under heat suggesting how it is out of a supposed affection and nurture in
which he is sculpted. This demonstrates superficiality.
Alternatively, this personification of an inanimate object implies how he is perfect on
the outside but has no real personality on the inside. Furthermore, candles are very
vulnerable and so when it is lit the beauty is lost-conveying the Elizabethan
superficial beauty and how it was the most important aspect of people. This can also
imply that Juliet sees him for who he truly is as she is commonly referred to with light
imagery like the ’sun’ or she ‘teaches the torches to burn brightly’
Lastly, it is when you actually use the candle (light it) it is imperfect- stating that Paris
is not suitable for marriage and true love. Furthermore, fire which symbolizes
passion which is what destroys Paris- he is incapable of sustaining and truly loving
someone.
, ‘Nay, he’s a flower; in faith, a very flower’
The queen and her retinue would travel across the country and award the proprietors of the
gardens she particularly liked
Flowers were put into people's pockets as they believed i to protect themselves from the
plague- marrying Paris would avoid tragedy and calamity
‘Lamb'
The Nurse creates pet names for Juliet as a ‘lamb' and ‘ladybird which is significant as it
reveals her maternal character. Through these pet names, we can infer that the Nurse and
Juliet are close and that the Nurse loves Juliet very dearly as if she were to be the Nurses
own child. Furthermore, this emphasised with Nurses name possibly being ‘Angelica'
implying that she is Juliet’s guardian angel ready to always protect her.
The noun ‘lamb’s is effective as the animal imagery may be an allusion to sex. This noun
implies purity, hence implying that the Nurse is referring to Juliet as being a virgin. This is
effective as in the Elizabethan era it was thought that women who were unmarried and
virgins would need to be looked after by a relative, suggesting that Juliet is dependent on the
Nurse and is new to the world delineating at her innocence that encourages the nurses'
maternal instincts. This innocence is emphasised through the zoomorphism implying that
Juliet is unfamiliar with the human world- symbolic of the harsh and commercialist motives in
life. As a result, this implies that Juliet is caring and pure.
However, ‘lamb’ may have also been used by Shakespeare to foreshadow impending
tragedy as the lamb is a popular symbol of sacrifice and symbolise dying for the sins of
others. In turn, this is effective because it foreshadows that Juliet will resolve the ‘ancient
grudge and sins of the Capulets and Montagues. Although the Nurse hasn’t used this
language for this message perhaps, she is stating a wider point that Juliet is obedient and
beyond any material value even though this is the ulterior motive of Lord and Lady Capulet.
Therefore, this suggests that the Nurse cares for Juliet on a deeper love beyond even that of
her own parents because even though she is only a wet nurse she may think of Juliet as this
point to be her surrogate daughter.
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