There are
several puns in the play that range from the humorous to provocative to
deeply tragic. Ais a type of play on words that uses a word that has multiple meanings or two
words that sound the same to subvert the commonly understood meaning of a phrase or sentiment.
The first pun is at the very beginning of the play, obviously intended to
appeal to the audiences comedic sensibilities. Two Capulet workers,and , are complaining about
the work they have to do moving coals. Those who belong to this profession are known as
colliers. For performing this work, Sampson claims that they would be in a choler, or an angry
state, and turn on their masters. Gregory reminds him that if they were to do such a thing, they
will find themselves in "collars," or a hangman's noose. This clever feat of wordplay
likely loosened up the audience and engaged them further with the narrative.
Without a doubt the most famous and tragic pun in the play is spoken by the
cleverduring his death scene. As his friends look on in disbelief,says that Mercutio's wound
cannot be that bad. Mercutio replies that if Romeo asks for him tomorrow, he will find "a
grave man." This is a pun where Mercutio admits that he knows that he is dying, as
"grave" here is intended to mean dead, though on the surface it could be seen as
meaning serious or humorless.
Another famous pun that is certainly more
lighthearted is when Romeo claims that he cannot dance because while others have "nimble
soles" his "soul" is made of lead. This is a clever pun that contrasts the light
footwork of skilled dancers with the heavy and depressed feeling that Romeo feels from his
love-sickness.
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