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Romeo and Juliet Act 1, Scene 3 Summary

  • At the Capulet house, Juliet's mother, Lady Capulet, comes in to tell her daughter about Paris's proposal.
  • But Juliet's nurse (who just gets called "Nurse" through the whole thing) first delivers a long, semi-bawdy speech about Juliet's infancy and toddler years.
  • Her rambling, tangent of a speech reveals the following information: the Nurse had a baby named Susan who was about Juliet's age but, sadly, she died. The Nurse is not only Juliet's nanny but she also her wet-nurse. When it was time to "wean" (stop breastfeeding) Juliet, the Nurse put "wormwood" on her breast. (Wormwood is a disgustingly bitter plant extract.)
  • Also, Juliet once fell down and cut her forehead when she was little, which the Nurse's late husband thought was hilarious—so hilarious that he turned the accident into a dirty joke about how Juliet would eventually grow up and then fall down (on her back) and have sex with a guy.
  • This is … a lot of information. Lady Capulet eventually cuts her off and tells her to "hold her peace."
  • Lady Capulet unloads the news that Paris has been sniffing around for Juliet's hand in marriage.
  • Eyeroll.
  • Just check Paris out at the party that night, Lady Capulet says. He'll be the oh-so-dreamy guy all the other girls are swooning over.
  • Speaking of, Peter, the servant, enters to announce that guests are beginning to arrive for the big bash.