Question

The use of puns allowed Shakespeare to appeal to more than one level of society at the same time. Define pun, explain how it would appeal to more than one level of society and give at least two examples used in Julius Caesar.

Answer 1

Answer: pun is a joke that has more than 1 meaning.

Explanation:

One of the first puns in Julius Caesar comes in Act II scene i. Two tribunes (a type of government official during Caesar's time) are patrolling the streets and attempting to clear out the crowds of people who are celebrating Caesar's recent victory. Since all the workers have taken a holiday to celebrate, the tribunes ask the men who they are and why they are not in their shops. One man responds by saying 'I am a mender of bad soles.' The officials press him further and he tells them to not be angry with him, but if their soles are worn out, he can fix them. When the word 'sole' is spoken, it could be interpreted as 'soul.' The cobbler is playing on the fact that sole has more than one meaning, depending on the context.