Romeoo and Juliet

Romeo and Juliet was classified as a comedy during the ages when it was born, but can a comedy end in sorrow as this one does? What makes Romeo and Juliet such a comedy when others think of it more of a tragedy? In some ways, yes, it is a comedy, but people would have to be looking for humour to find it, but tragedy was mixed throughout the play. Puns, or plays on words, were the main source of, so called, humour but the book was filled with hints of irony as well. For sorrow and tragedy: deaths, arguments, and ignorance played a big part.

What makes Romeo and Juliet such a comedy was based mainly around Shakespeare’s use of puns and irony. An example of this was at the very beginning of the book, when Gregory and Sampson invade the house. Where both Gregory and Sampson make puns about what is going to happen to the maids of the Montague. “Therefore I will push Montague’s men from the wall, and thrust his maids to the wall” (I.i.18-20). This shows that Shakespeare intended to put humour into a more serious act. Many of the scenes were far more tragic. For instance, Mercutio lies wounded on the streets of Verona, and this was most upsetting to Romeo because they were such great friends. In this instance, tragedy won, for many people would have felt sorrow at the misfortune of such a lovable character. Another point of humorous interest is the irony displayed throughout the book. In multiple scenes, advice given to both Romeo and Juliet switched back and forth, which ironically led up to their death. On the other hand, when Juliet rejects her Dad’s command to marry a fine, young man Paris, he becomes mad and almost blackmails her that if she doesn’t marry Paris, then he will force her onto the streets and call her nothing more than trash. “Hang thee, young baggage! Disobedient wretch! I tell thee what-get thee to church a Thursday or never after look me in the face. Speak not, reply not, do not answer me! My fingers itch. Wife we scarce thought us blest that God lent us but this only child; but now I see this one is one too much, and that we have a curse in having her. Out on her, hilding!” ((iii.V. 161-169). After this confrontation with her father, Juliet seeks advice from her mother which is fruitless because her mother does not intend to help. “Talk not to me, for I’ll not speak a word. (iii.V. 204) All these facts prove that both comedy and tragedy are in fact there throughout the story.

Shakespeare rides the line between tragedy and comedy. The obvious death of both Romeo and Juliet was the end, and was definitely the most wretched scene of the story, but it also happened to be one of the most humorous. Juliet had taken