Shakespeare didn’t just write plays - he weaponised words. His puns and double meanings weren’t just for laughs; they were tools of wit, social commentary, and sometimes outright chaos. If you’ve ever struggled to understand why a Shakespearean crowd erupted in laughter at a seemingly innocent line, this guide will help decode the linguistic mischief.
Why Puns Matter in Shakespeare
Puns in Shakespeare’s time weren’t just dad jokes - they were a sign of intelligence, a way to show off linguistic dexterity. The Elizabethan audience loved them, and Shakespeare delivered. His wordplay often served multiple purposes:
- Hiding subversive ideas (censorship was a real concern)
- Adding layers of meaning for different social classes (groundlings vs. nobility)
- Making crude humour palatable to high society
The Dirty Bits: Shakespeare’s Raunchy Wordplay
Shakespeare’s plays are full of sexual innuendo, often flying over modern heads. Take Much Ado About Nothing - the title itself is a pun. In Elizabethan slang, 'nothing' was a euphemism for female genitalia (as in 'Othello': 'Thy hand, a maiden’s, is moist and hot - 'tis not good for a woman to know her own nothing').
Nothing
/ˈnʌθɪŋ/“Female genitalia (archaic slang)”
Mercutio in Romeo and Juliet is another master of this. When he says 'the bawdy hand of the dial is now upon the prick of noon,' he’s not just telling time - he’s making a very crude joke about sex.
Homophonic Puns: When Words Sound Alike
Shakespeare loved words that sounded similar but meant different things. In Hamlet, the prince tells Polonius he’s reading 'words, words, words' - but 'word' sounded like 'whored' in Elizabethan English, implying a jab at Ophelia’s chastity.
Word
/wɜːd/“Whored (phonetic pun)”
Another classic is the 'ass' pun in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, where Bottom’s transformation into a donkey isn’t just visual - it’s a linguistic joke on his name ('Bottom' sounding like 'bottome,' an old term for a loom’s core, but also slang for buttocks).
Political Wordplay: Censorship and Subversion
Shakespeare’s puns weren’t all bawdy. Some were dangerously political. In Richard II, the line 'Within the hollow crown / That rounds the mortal temples of a king' plays on 'crown' as both monarchy and skull - a subtle dig at the fragility of power. This kind of wordplay could’ve landed him in prison if too obvious.
How to Spot Shakespearean Puns Today
If you’re reading Shakespeare and a line seems oddly emphasised or out of place, it’s probably a pun. Look for:
- Words with multiple meanings (e.g., 'die' for orgasm/death)
- Names that sound like other words (e.g., 'Malvolio' = 'ill-will')
- Repetition of a word in quick succession (often a sign of wordplay)
For more on how Shakespeare shaped English, check out our article on Shakespeare's influence on the English language.
Final Thought: Why It Still Matters
Shakespeare’s puns aren’t just relics - they show how language evolves. Words that were scandalous then are tame now, and vice versa. By understanding his wordplay, you’re not just decoding jokes; you’re seeing how English itself is a living, twisting thing, much like the Bard’s own quill.
