Final answer:
The Nurse in 'Romeo and Juliet' provides comic relief, acts as Juliet's foil, and facilitates the secret marriage between the star-crossed lovers, playing a critical role in the play's tragic climax.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Nurse in Romeo and Juliet is a pivotal character that provides comic relief with her warmth and earthy wit, while also acting as a foil to Juliet. She plays a crucial part in the tragic progression of the play by acting as a go-between for Romeo and Juliet, facilitating their secret marriage and contributing to the culmination of the play's tragic events.
The Nurse is integral to both the plot development and the representation of themes such as the intensity of youth contrasted against the wisdom of age, and loyalty. Her character, along with Friar Laurence, is privy to the couple's secret wedding, which plays a critical role in the weaving of the tragic narrative that Shakespeare unfolds. The Nurse's involvement is essential to the climax of the play, where the protagonists' fate hangs in the balance and the audience is left in suspense about the outcome.