Act 1, Scene 3 Flashcards
Faith, I can tell her age unto an hour
We can clearly see how well the Nurse knows Juliet, clearly much better that Lady Capulet who needs to ask the Nurse for her own daughter’s age. The small time frame of an ‘hour’ accentuates this
‘’Yea,” quoth my husband, “Fall’st upon they face? Thou wilt fall backward when thou comets to age”
The audience is introduced to the crude nature of the Nurse with the joke about the traditional subservience of women especially sexually. The fact that the joke is crude typifies the Nurse as of a lower class
It is an honor that I dream not of.
This shows that Juliet has a lot of respect for the institution of marriage but she is shown to not be like a typical girl of the time, as it is not something she thinks about. This is dramatic irony as by the end of the play Juliet has died for love
I was you mother upon these years that you are now a maid. Thus then in brief: The valiant Paris seeks you for his love
Juliet’s mother talks of what is expected of her in terms of marriage (to get a good match) and Lady Capulet seems very excited about the prospect of the County Paris as not only is he ‘valiant’, he has a high social standing which could do wonders for the Capulet. Marriages were often, in essence, business partnerships
I’ll look to like is looking liking move. But no more deep will I endart mine eye than your consent gives strength to make it fly.
Juliet is essentially saying that she will give Paris a chance but she will not fall for him however ‘no more deep’ gives connotations of falling which juxtaposes ‘fly’
What, lamb! What, ladybird!
The use of such gentle, fragile animals by the nurse highlights Juliet’s innocence and purity but also again shows the closeness as the Nurse uses terms of endearment whilst Juliet’s language with her own mother is much more formal
Madam, I am here, what is your will?
Juliet is shown to be quite subservient to her parents and ready to do whatever they want, perhaps out of fear of what would happen if she refuses, again characterising them as foils to the gentle and loving Montagues. However, she could just be resembling traditional feminine characteristics such as obeying her elders. Throughout the play, Juliet is shown to become more strong, wilful and powerful in her desires and what she wants.
Well, Susan is with God, She was too good for me
Susan is the Nurse’s daughter who died young but is likely to not be very upset as cauldron often died very young during the Elizabethan era and she suggests that she somewhat wasn’t deserving of a daughter, why we do not know. She could likely not be that upset because she basically gained a daughter in Juliet who she cared for since birth
Enough of this, I pray thee hold thy peace
Lady Capulet orders the Nurse to stop talking as to prevent showing her embarrassment for her inadequacy at not being around in her daughter’s life often disregarding her. She often speaks in verse and with rhyming couplets to demonstrate her high status and level of power
So shall you share all that he doth possess, By having him, making yourself no less.
Lady Capulet advises Juliet to accept the proposal, not only for his beauty, but for all his riches and the power and position she will gain in society. The phrase ‘making yourself no less’ suggests that b doing this she will obviously be elevating not diminishing here societal position
