Question

In Romeo and Juliet, when Sampson says he will not "carry coals" what does he mean? What literary technique is being used in this silly exchange between Sampson and Gregory?

Answer 1

When Sampson says he will not "carry coals," he means that he will not take insults from a Montague. In this silly exchange Sampson is making a pun about coal.

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Answer 2

Answer:

He means that he will not take insults from any member of the Montague family.

The literary device used is a "pun".

Explanation:

In William Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet", the two families of the protagonists, Montague and Capulet are sworn enemies. They couldn't see eye to eye, so even this enmity spreads to the whole branch of the household members and their friends. The characters of Sampson and Gregory are from the house of Capulet.

Act I scene i begins with Sampson claiming that they "will not carry coals", by which he meant to say that they will not endure or even take any insults from any Montague. This use of  "pun" is significant of the fact that those who carry coals are called colliers.