Skip to main content

What are three subjects Mercutio and Romeo make puns about in Scene 4, lines 44-70?

Romeo says that love "pricks like thorn"; in other words, he feels injured by love.  Mercutio, however, tells him to "be rough with love / Prick love for pricking, and you beat love down."  Prickmeans to poke, and this is the way Romeo uses the word, but Mercutio's response relies on the other meaning of prick, creating the pun.  A prick is also a slang term for a penis.  Therefore, Mercutio's pun implies that...

Romeo says that love "pricks like thorn"; in other words, he feels injured by love.  Mercutio, however, tells him to "be rough with love / Prick love for pricking, and you beat love down."  Prick means to poke, and this is the way Romeo uses the word, but Mercutio's response relies on the other meaning of prick, creating the pun.  A prick is also a slang term for a penis.  Therefore, Mercutio's pun implies that Romeo should have his way with love rather than allow it to hurt him.


While Romeo's friends are attempting to goad him into going to the Capulets' party, Romeo says that he is done.  Mercutio responds, "Tut, dun’s the mouse, the constable’s own word. / If thou art dun, we’ll draw thee from the mire [...]."  The pun is on the word dun.  First, Romeo says that he is done, meaning finished, and then Mercutio uses a popular expression that essentially means "Be still," and then says that if Romeo is dun/done, then they will pull him like a stick from the mud and get him to go to the party.


Then, Romeo says that "[He] dreamt a dream tonight," and Mercutio responds that he did too.  Romeo asks him what it was, and Mercutio says that "dreamers often lie" (1.4.56).  Romeo replies back, "In bed asleep while they do dream things true" (1.4.57).  Here, the pun is on the word lie.  Mercutio means to suggest that someone might be dishonest, but Romeo changes it to the other meaning, as in to recline or lie down. 

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

What is the meaning of "juggling fiends" in Macbeth?

Macbeth is beginning to realize that the three witches have been deceiving him since he first encountered them. Like jugglers, they have kept changing their forecasts in order create confusion. This is particularly apparent when the Second Apparition they raise in Act IV,   Scene 1 tells him that no man of woman born can overcome him in hand-to-hand battle--and then Macbeth finds himself confronted by the one man he has been avoiding out of a... Macbeth is beginning to realize that the three witches have been deceiving him since he first encountered them. Like jugglers, they have kept changing their forecasts in order create confusion. This is particularly apparent when the Second Apparition they raise in Act IV,   Scene 1 tells him that no man of woman born can overcome him in hand-to-hand battle--and then Macbeth finds himself confronted by the one man he has been avoiding out of a sense of guilt, and that man tells him: Despair thy charm. And let the angel whom thou still hast serve...

In Martel's Life of Pi, how does writing a diary help Pi Patel build on his leadership skills?

At the end of chapter 73, Pi first divulges the fact that he had started a diary after about a week alone at sea. Pi claims that he wrote about "practical stuff" (208) such as what he caught for food, foreseeable problems and solutions, Richard Parker, and reflections about specific events that occurred. In a sense, Pi is the captain of his ship; therefore, he must take responsibility for himself and his crew. He can... At the end of chapter 73, Pi first divulges the fact that he had started a diary after about a week alone at sea. Pi claims that he wrote about "practical stuff" (208) such as what he caught for food, foreseeable problems and solutions, Richard Parker, and reflections about specific events that occurred. In a sense, Pi is the captain of his ship; therefore, he must take responsibility for himself and his crew. He can do this by writing down events, problems and solutions, and reflections to look back on when confronted with repeated problems. It can ...

Why did Tybalt attack and kill Mercutio instead of Romeo, who he had originally been targeting?

Though Tybalt's quarrel is with Romeo, he begins the momentous duel in Act 3 by fighting with and killing Mercutio instead. Tybalt ultimately attacks Mercutio because the garrulous and hot-headed character insults Tybalt and goads him into a duel to protect Romeo's honor. From the beginning of the encounter in Act 3, Scene 1, it's clear that Mercutio is itching for a fight. For instance, when Tybalt signals that he wants to talk to Mercutio... Though Tybalt's quarrel is with Romeo, he begins the momentous duel in Act 3 by fighting with and killing Mercutio instead. Tybalt ultimately attacks Mercutio because the garrulous and hot-headed character insults Tybalt and goads him into a duel to protect Romeo's honor. From the beginning of the encounter in Act 3, Scene 1, it's clear that Mercutio is itching for a fight. For instance, when Tybalt signals that he wants to talk to Mercutio and Benvolio, Mercutio responds "And but one word with one of us?/ Couple it w...