Innuendos would appeal to the lower classes, as there education level is lower than that of the higher class, Puns appeal to the higher class, as their education is stronger and are able to understand the double meanings.
In Act 1 scene 4 Mercutio talks of dreams in which is opposite to the first scene as Shakespeare’s use of Innuendo’s in this part are scarcely used. The language here is quite the opposite of how Shakespeare usually wrote. As it is not meant to be understood for the simple reason, which is to add humour. This is proven by Romeo.
‘Peace, peace, Mercutio peace, Thou talk’st of nothing’.
Act 2 scene 4 tells of the conversation between Mercutio and Juliet’s Nurse. By just reading the first few lines it is clear to see that there is no dislike but just simply fun.
Here Mercutio uses sarcasm for example, Mercutio calls the Nurse an ‘Ancient lady’.
This scene would catch the audiences eye, as it is humorous in a few ways. The way the Nurse takes his comments and retaliates with some thing more sarcastic. This provides comic relief.
The characters of Mercutio and the Nurse where mainly there to add to the comedy extra’s. As in the play they had no real meaning. For example the Nurse is described as a bossy women and however much she bosses Juliet you can tell that really she loves Juliet as if she were her own daughter.
In Act 2 scene 5 she does just that the conversation tells of what Romeo has said to the Nurse. As the Nurse has been sent by Juliet to Romeo to find out the arrangements for their marriage.
When the Nurse arrive back after speaking to Romeo, Juliet is very curious of what he has said. The Nurse can see that she is eager and in a way starts to tease Juliet.
Nurse: I am a-weary, give me leave a while, Fie how my bones ache, what a jaunce have I?
Juliet: I would thou hadst my bones, and I thy news: Nay come I pray thee speak, good good Nurse speak.
Nurse: Jesu what haste, can you not stay a while? Do you not see that I am out of breath?
Juliet: How art thou out of breath, when thou hast breath to say to me, that thou art out of breath?
The Nurse maybe a bit tired but not as she is making out which is frustrating Juliet even more.
The next piece of comedy is very good as it is combining humour and tragedy and producing something that is brilliant. This is the scene with the musicians Act 4 scene 5. The scene is of the wedding day and the nurse comes in and finds that Juliet is dead. So the musicians are trying to think of what they can play and even get in to an argument mean while the parents of Juliet are grieving for her the three musicians are playing cheerful music.
The reason for this is to make it not as serious as it would have been with out the comedy.
The Nurse, Mercutio, Sampson and Gregory are humorous characters.
The Nurse in particular is very funny through out the play. The conversation with the Nurse and Mercutio in Act2 scene 4 sees another side of the Nurse, which is quite sarcastic.
In Act 2 scene 5 we see another side to the Nurse. Here she is being quite secretive but in a humorous way, as she knows this and is playing it to her advantage.
The character of Mercutio is quite similar as he is to quite sarcastic.
May things have evolved since the 16th century but some how Shakespeare was ahead of the times as still dramas such as Romeo and Juliet, Macbeth and such others. Are still used in Soap Operas of today.
A good example of this was the Lisa and Phil saga in Eastenders. Today this still keeps people gripping on to their seats.
