Puns In Romeo And Juliet Essay

Puns are an incredibly hilarious play on words. Shakespeare use puns to make Romeo & Juliet more enjoyable. The sense of these puns are quiet easy to understand. Three of my favorite puns in Shakespeare, would be (dreamers often lie) I;iv;49-52 , (grave man) III;i;65-66 , and (give me a torch) I;iv;11-12. In the Elizabethan era puns were greatly appreciated. Puns always gave a great laugh to those who understood it.
“Give me a torch. I am not for this ambling. Being but heavy, I will bear the light.” (Act 1, Scene 4, 11-12) This pun is said by Romeo, while they are on the way to Capulet’s house, for the grand party. This pun shows how depressive Romeo is about the issue with Rosaline. Here Romeo asks for a torch to light his path, but he also uses the word light with its opposite heavy. I believe when he says heavy, he means his sorrow in his heart, ironic is when he says I will bear the light. I think it would be difficult for him to “bear the light” with such “sadness” in his heart.
MERCUTIO: And so did I. ROMEO: Well, what was yours? MERCUTIO: That dreamers often lie. ROMEO: In bed asleep while they do dream things true.” (Act 1, Scene 4, 49-52) This is my favorite pun from Romeo & Juliet. This pun is said by both Romeo and Mercutio, while they are on the way to Capulet’s house for the party. The back-story to this pun is where Mercutio says that dreamers lie (they are dishonest). Romeo retorts with the continuation of the pun, and says yes in bed asleep while they dream the truth. The pun shows us how light-hearted and carefree Mercutio is, and also how bold Romeo can be. This is a very comedic and smart play on words, usual expectation from