The Tradegy of Romeo and Juliet

The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet is a near perfect play written by William Shakespeare. Shakespeare uses double meaning often in his work, and this play, was no different. Dramatic irony is used in Act III, Scene 5 when Lady Capulet finds Juliet bawling in her room. Double meaning is when one says something and one person interprets it one way, but the speaker means it another. There are a few examples of it in the play.

One example of double meaning in The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet is when Juliet says, "Let me weep for such a feeling loss." (III, iiiii.ll.97-101). Juliet is talking to her mother, Lady Capulet, and Lady Capulet thinks she is referring to their Kinsman, Tybalt. But, Juliet is in fact referring to her love, Romeo. Juliet is crying because she misses Romeo and fears that she will never see him again. That is one place where double meaning is shown in in The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet.

A second place in the play where double meaning is used and portrayed is also in Act III. Juliet says, "Indeed I never shall be satisfied with Romeo till I behold him-dead-is my poor heart so for a kinsman vexed." (III, iii.II.94-96). Juliet is saying that she does not want Romeo dead, and that she is dead without him. While Lady Capulet thinks that Juliet is saying that she wants Romeo dead, in revenge for Tybalt's death. They are completely opposite, but Lady Capulet does not realize that.

Shakespeare uses double meaning in The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet in different places throughout the tragedy. A big area where it is used is in Act III when Juliet is talking to her mother, while she is weeping. Juliet uses double meaning while her mother does not know. Two examples of this are quotes that say, "Let me weep for such a feeling loss," (III, iiiii.ll.97-101) and, "Indeed I never shall be satisfied with Romeo till I behold him-dead-is my poor heart so for a kinsman vexed." (III, iii.II.94-96). William Shakespeare was a brilliant author. Many plays today are conducted based off of his work.

...