Throughout the entirety of Shakespeare's classic play Romeo And Juliet, Shakespeare incorporates a plethora of puns not only for humor but also to enhance the storyline.
Many of the puns put into this play are obviously for humor. For example, in Act 3, Scene 1 where Tybalt and Mercutio dual. After Tybalt fatally wounds Mercutio, Mercutio (being the joker that he is) continues making jokes. "Ay, ay, a scratch, a scratch." (III. i. 97). And a few lines later, "Ask for me tomorrow, and you shall find me a grave man." (III. i. 101-102). While Shakespeare uses puns for humor very often in the book, there are many times where you can find them that enhance the story line. As early as the 26th line we have, "Ay, the heads of the maids, or their maiden-heads. Take it in what sense thou wilt." (I. i. 26-27). That line is from the beginning of the book when Gregory and Sampson are spewing puns out at each other, each pun twisting the meaning of the previous one. Another example of Shakespeare using his puns for a reason other than humor comes in Act 3, Scene 2. Juliet carefully uses the syllable "I" in many different ways with many different meanings. .
"Hath Romeo slain himself? Say thou but "Ay," And that bare vowel "I" shall poison more than the death-darting eye of cockatrice. I am not I if there be such an "I," or those eyes shut that makes thee answer "Ay." If he be slain, say "Ay," or if not, "No." Brief sounds determine my weal or woe" (III. i. 51-58).
Juliet is talking to the nurse in this scene, trying to find out if Romeo is dead or not while the nurse stumbles on her words and confuses Juliet. Finally, another pun intently used to enhance the play, comes in Act 3, Scene 5. The speaker is Juliet once again. Her mother is talking to her about the tragic death of Tybalt early in the Act. "I never shall be satisfied with Romeo till I behold him--dead--is my poor heart, so for a kinsman vexed." (III. v.
