The Nurse Tries to Persuade Juliet — R&J III.v
Romeo and Juliet
intermediateHow to cast this scene
Draw two names from a hat for the roles. No male/female/physical shape or other type casting. Every Player who wants a turn should get one — swap after each read-through.
Say it right
- Juliet
- Ju-lee-et
- Verona
- Veh-ROH-nah
Who’s who
- Juliet
- Young, quick, determined. Just secretly married Romeo.
- Nurse
- Older, warm, worried. Raised Juliet from birth; now scrambling for a safe path.
The scene
The scene
NURSE. Faith, here it is. Romeo is banish’d; and all the world to nothing, That he dares ne’er come back to challenge you; …. I think it best you married with the County.
JULIET. Speak’st thou from thy heart?
NURSE. And from my soul too; else beshrew them both.
JULIET. Amen!
NURSE. What?
JULIET. Well, thou hast comforted me marvellous much. Go in; and tell my lady I am gone, Having displeas’d my father, to Lawrence’ cell, To make confession and to be absolv’d.
NURSE. Marry, I will; and this is wisely done.
[Exit NURSE.]
JULIET. Ancient damnation! O most wicked fiend! Is it more sin to wish me thus forsworn, Or to dispraise my lord with that same tongue Which she hath prais’d him with above compare So many thousand times? …. Go, counsellor; Thou and my bosom henceforth shall be twain. I’ll to the friar to know his remedy. If all else fail, myself have power to die.
[Exit.]
Facilitator notes
This scene runs best when Players sit close, then slowly move apart as the argument sharpens. Try it with the Nurse standing and Juliet seated first; then swap. Notice how the physical arrangement carries the meaning.
Reflect together
- What does the Nurse want? What does Juliet want?
- Where does the argument turn — what line changes everything?
- How does each character use silence?
- What would you have said if you were the Nurse?
- What surprised you about Juliet at the end?
Wrap up
Now let’s share:
Two things I liked…
One thing I wonder…