Examples Of Double Entendre In Romeo And Juliet

‘An EXCELLENT conceited Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet,’ is a play written by the well-known poet and playwright, William Shakespeare (1564-1616). In most of his plays, Shakespeare utilizes what is known as a ‘Double-Entendre,’ which is a spoken phrase devised to be understood in multiple ways, especially when one meaning is risqué. The prologue of Romeo and Juliet is an ideal example of Shakespeare’s technique of utilizing a Double-Entendre.

"Two households, both alike in dignity, In fair Verona, where we lay our scene, From ancient grudge break to new mutiny, Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean" (Prologue 1-4).

"Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean;” In this phrase lies the Double-Entendre. Shakespeare describes the blood
When Shakespeare uses this meaning of “civil” to describe blood, it leaves us to think, how bloodshed between the two civilians, Montague and Capulet, can be regarded as “civil”. This wouldn’t make any sense, but it was Shakespeare’s intention, to make a paradoxical situation, to show that the supposedly “fair” town of Verona is in fact lacking fairness and courtesy. For if Verona was in fact “civil”, its residents would not engage in “civil” wars. How could “civil” people have “unclean” (guilty/blood stained) hands? The paradox continues in the next part, “...makes civil hands unclean”. This is basically telling us that the bloodshed between the civilized Montague and Capulet, is attracting other civilized people brings them to guilt. (Note: I was being cynical on the word civilized by putting the word in italics, in the previous sentence). Therefore, when the sentence is read for a second time, the new meaning is: ‘The uncivil bloodshed between Montague and Capulet, attracts other uncivil people to join in on the fighting, and continues to stain their hands with the guilt of violence.’Now for the third meaning, we will take “civil” to mean innocent. Once again we find ourselves in the midst of another contradiction. When Shakespeare uses “civil” to describe blood he is referring to the killing of innocent people, and the next part “...makes civil hands unclean”, proves that the killing of these innocent people, was in fact carried out by innocent people. This leaves us to contemplate, how the death of one innocent man can be caused by another. Yet again, Shakespeare proves how brilliant he is. This new meaning illustrates the supposedly civil (innocent) people of Verona; to in truth be anything but “civil” for if they truly were, they would not shed the blood of innocent people. These killings will stain the hands of the victimizer with the shame