Romeo and Juliet

Tamika Beason

English 318

November 22, 2005

Whenever a person commits suicide, society views the occurrence as tragedy. Accordingly, two suicides equal double the tragedy. The Shakespearian play Romeo and Juliet is often referred to as a tragedy. Feuding between the Montague’s and the Capulet’s, and lead to the two main characters committing suicide. While, suicide is generally regarded as tragic, Shakespeare uses high and low comedy in the play which subsequently changes the theme of Romeo and Juliet from tragedy to comedy.

Low comedy is presented through situation. It is commonly referred to as

slapstick comedy, and often requires no thought. Shakespeare inserts many moments of low comedy in the play. In the first scene while men are fighting for honor and respect low comedy is invoked. Lord Capulet asks his wife for his sword to defend his name: “What noise is this? Give me my long sword, ho!” and she replies, “A crutch, a crutch! Why call you for a sword?” (1.1. 75-76). In a very serious situation laughter is imposed. She is mocking him. He is too old to be fighting and he needs a cane not a sword.

Low comedy is also presented as the nurse tells the story of Juliet falling on her face as a child. The nurse’s husband said, “fall’st upon thy face? / Thou wilt fall backward when thou comest to age, / Wilt thou not, Jule?” (1.3.56-58.). Once again, laughter is presented in a serious situation. Nevertheless, the nurse’s husband makes sexual references of her lying on her back when she gets older. A young Juliet is crying and hurt because she has just fallen. This is low comedy in one of its richest forms, burlesque. After being depicted as a young child, the audience is forced to picture her having sex when she is grown.

Finally, the character Mercutio uses mockery throughout the play that present low comedy. When Romeo and Mercutio speak of Romeo’s love life, Mercutio is usually mocking him. Mercutio tells him dreams are a waste of time and makes fun of Romeo “without his roe,” meaning Romeo has had too much sex. After the two banter for awhile Mercutio tells him, “Nay, if our wits run the wild-goose chase, I/ am done, for thou hast more of the wild goose…Was I with you for the goose?” (2.4270-73). In this situation love is the topic. Mercutio mocks Romeo and tells him they need not continue talking because Romeo can talk forever.

Even while dying Mercutio uses low comedy. Mercutio has been stabbed and is dying: “…Ask for me tomorrow, and you shall find me a grave man…” (3.1.95-102). Mercutio uses a pun on