In Romeo and Juliet, who is Juliet’s nurse and longtime confidante?

The Nurse is Juliet’s longtime confidante in Romeo and Juliet. She has cared for Juliet since infancy and is closely connected to the Capulet household, giving her a more personal relationship with Juliet than Lady Capulet has.

The Nurse helps Romeo and Juliet communicate after their first meeting. She carries messages between them and assists with the arrangements for their secret wedding. Her earthy humor and long memories provide much of the play’s early comic energy, including an extended story about Juliet’s childhood.

Later, however, the Nurse advises Juliet to marry Paris after Romeo’s banishment. She argues that Paris is a better match and treats Romeo as effectively unavailable. Juliet feels betrayed by this advice and turns exclusively to Friar Laurence. The Nurse is therefore both an ally and a source of painful separation. She is usually called simply “the Nurse,” not by a personal name.