The Nurse, who guides Juliet's life more than the pantry and kitchen of the Capulet household, is the key servant who has raised Juliet like her own daughter (Susan) since infancy. She is more identified with Juliet's life than even her master, Capulet, or her mistress, Lady Capulet. She sympathizes with the love for Romeo; she enjoys performing highly risky mediations such as facilitating communication and procuring a rope ladder. She possesses a traditional sense of loyalty, but it is quite shallow regarding moral and eternal fidelity. When things get complicated and, despite Juliet's husband having been exiled for Tybalt's death, there is a crisis where her father wants to force Juliet to marry Paris, the Nurse displays her pragmatic character. When she naively suggests that Juliet ignore Romeo and choose the handsome and wealthy Paris, stating that 'the first husband is null and void,' she is lost to Juliet's world forever. She is also the one who finds Juliet in her bed, numb and thought to be dead.
Her husband and her only daughter, Susan, died years ago in tragic earthquakes or epidemics. She is one of the old guard of the house, still hiding her mourning within a spiral of cheerful jokes.
A large-built, clunky-moving, older woman who cannot go out in the street without her fan, crude but cheerful.
Romeo
The secret son-in-law she believes to be a handsome and courageous gentleman, for whom she acts as a messenger.
Juliet
The daughter she raised and provided for with everything she had; yet the sublimity of her heart is never understood by the Nurse.
Capulet
Her imperious master, whom she opposes with chatter even though she fears him.