Puns In Romeo And Juliet

uns are the ultimate literary device. They can be corny and make you groan, or poetic and full of raw meaning. Shakespeare fully realized the power of the pun, and worked to make it a focal point of his play Romeo and Juliet. He uses puns to a plethora of extents, from displaying character emotions, foreshadowing, and malapropisms that convey a deeper meaning.
One of the primary functions of puns in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet is to convert character emotions. An example of this is when Romeo describes his depression over his rejected love in terms of dance to his friends, where he says “ Not I, believe me. You have dancing shoes with nimble soles; I have a soul of lead.” (1. 4.) The pun stems from the homonyms soul and sole, which Shakespeare uses to convert the lead like a weight on Romeo’s soul that Rosalind’s rejection is. Along with this, Shakespeare often uses dancing to symbolize a type of fulfillment, so Romeo’s refusal to dance also symbolizes how he feels lost and empty. Another example of puns conveying character emotions is also in Act 1, scene 4, when Mercutio tells Romeo to overcome his plight and use his love to move on, Romeo responds by saying “ I am too sore enpierced with

his shaft to soar with this light feathers ; and so bound I cannot bound a pitch above dull woe. Under love’s heavy burden I do sink”(1.4.) Romeo once again compares his rejection to a weight on him, with Shakespeare using another homonym, this time between soar and sore, to make this easily visualized.
Shakespeare is most discussed literary tool is foreshadowing, and one of the ways he implements this is through puns and wordplay. Shakespeare exemplifies this is his line from Romeo, “Give me a torch , I am not for this ambling. Being but heavy; I will bear the light.”(1.4.) A pun between the homonyms light and light, this line has many meanings. Taken in a present context, Romeo speaks of the burden on his heart that is his unrequited love for Rosaline. However, if taken in a future context, it foreshadows his meeting of Juliet, since not long after, he uses fire to describe Juliet. Along with this, the torch often symbolizes an unseen future or dark future that needs to be lit up, or revealed. This is foreshadowing because the torch comes back when he entered the tomb, his last act before his untimely end. Foreshadowing is prolifically used by Shakespeare, and creates added suspense and sadness in the tragedy of Romeo and Juliet.
Malapropism is the mistaken use of a word in place of a similar-sounding one, often with
comedic effect.

For example, “dance a flamingo ” being used instead of “dance a flamenco”. It is used by Shakespeare many times, particularly in the character of Juliet’s nurse. Once, on a trek to find Romeo to find out his wedding plans for Juliet, she says “I desire some confidence in you.”(2.4.) The nurse intends to say “I desire a conference with you,” but her malapropism conveys a deeper meaning, that she does not have confidence in Romeo’s love for Juliet, along with adding even more humor to Mercutio's hijinks. Another malapropism directly follows this, where Benvolio jokes “She will indite him to some supper “(2.4.). While the proper word for the sentence is “invite”, Benvolio uses malapropism to make fun of the nurse’s slip up, this time for pure comedic

effect.
Shakespeare is applauded by critic and fan alike for his eloquent and dynamic use of the English language. He forged paths for the best writings of the modern age by exemplifying the art of puns, using them to their fullest, non-corny potential. His use of puns allowed for a meaning that was buried deep in Romeo and Juliet to be revealed only by those who took the time to read between the puns.