Act 2 Scene 5: Juliet and the Nurse

Act 2 Scene 5

Prompt E

The relationship between Juliet and the Nurse is not as joyful as it seems. Juliet sends the Nurse to ask Romeo about the marriage. When she returns, she is sore and out of breath, yet Juliet commands her by saying,

"How art thou out of breath, when thou hast breath
To say to me that thou art out of breath?

• The excuse that thou dost make in this delay
• Is longer than the tale thou dost excuse.
• Is thy news good or bad? Answer to that,
• Say either, and I'll stay the circumstance.
• Let me be satisfied: is't good or bad?

Even though the nurse is tired and in need of a break, Juliet yells at the nurse to basically stop the BS and just tell her the news Romeo brings. Even though the nurse is doing something nice for Juliet, she gets caught up in her excitement and disregards for the nurse's feelings.