Outgrowing Old Habits and Exposing New Identities

I’ve chosen to explore the evolution of the Nurse’s role in relationship to Juliet. I want to show how Juliet has matured throughout the play. The Nurse has been her lifelong companion, and as the play advances, Juliet grows further away from the Nurse. She outgrows her playmate, while the Nurse remains the same. Viewing the play from this lense will contradict the assertion in the prologue that this was a story of  two “star-crossed lovers.” Juliet will be viewed as taking a leading role in her own story and as making her own decisions instead of being led by fate. This analysis will allow me to make a judgement on the motivations of the play and view Shakespeare’ tragedy as an early story of female independence.

I will stage small snippets of various scenes to show the Nurse’s changing role. The first will be a shortened version of Act 2 Scene 5 to demonstrate a playful and light back and forth between the Nurse and Juliet. Instead of portraying the Nurse as dimwitted, her complaints would be portrayed as teasing. The next scene I would stage would be Act 3 Scene 2. Juliet would be portrayed as louder and more assertive when she objected to the Nurse. In the beginning of the scene, she would move to comfort the Nurse, but would withdraw when she talked ill of Romeo. The next scene I would portray would be Act 3 Scene 5. I would only have the end of the scene performed. Juliet would be crying and upset, but when the Nurse told Juliet that she should do what’s safest for her (leaving Romeo), she should visibly stiffen. When the Nurse leaves, Juliet should stand taller and prouder when she announces that she will stay true to Romeo no matter the cost. This final short monologue would be said into a mirror, so she can be facing herself, standing on her own, when she makes this decision. The Nurse’s costume should be matronly and it shouldn’t change throughout the scenes. Juliet’s costume should be a “church” outfit. It should be a pastel dress covered with a buttoned up white sweater. She should have her hair up in a bow, but overtime, her hair should be released, her sweater taken off, and her pristine makeup smudged. These costume changes should happen between scene changes to show a physical change to pair with Juliet’s emotional one.

I need two people for my group- one to play the Nurse, the other to play Juliet. I will play the Nurse and Charlie will play Juliet. Charlie and I will be sure to divvy up the lines evenly. Through a Google Drive document, we will share updated scripts, stage directions, and costume and setting ideas.