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It was offensive, too, in Shakespeare’s time, to wish the plague on someone and while “a plague on both your houses” later became an English idiom, Mercutio meant it: it shows how much he resented having to forfeit his life in the interests of a meaningless feud. 1 reply. “A Plague on both your houses” is an idiom meaning “I’m not ...
A plague o’ both your houses! I am sped. Is he gone, and hath nothing? The houses are those of the Montague and Capulet families, the feud between whom caused Juliet so much grief and was the source of her ‘ O Romeo, Romeo! wherefore art thou Romeo ‘ speech. Shakespeare was fond of the word plague and used it hundreds of times in his plays.
BENVOLIO. I pray thee, good Mercutio, let’s retire. The day is hot; the Capulets, abroad; And if we meet we shall not ’scape a brawl, For now, these hot days, is the mad blood stirring. BENVOLIO. I’m begging you, good Mercutio, let’s go home. It’s hot, and the Capulets are all over the place.
Mercutio wishes that a "plague" (a horrible illness) will fall on both of the houses of Capulet and Montague (remember, that, the prologue begins "Two houses, both alike in dignity") because he ...
- Origin of A Plague on Both Your Houses
- Examples of A Plague on Both Your Houses
- More Examples
- Summary
This expression comes from the play Romeo and Juliet. The English playwright William Shakespeare wrote this in the year 1592. One of the characters curses the two main families in the play: the Capulets and the Montagues. These two families feuded for many years, and this fight caused many problems. MERCUTIO: I am hurt. A plague o’ both your houses...
In this example, two sisters are talking to their divorced parents about plans for Christmas. Amy: So, Mom, what are we doing for Christmas this year? Mom: I thought we’d go to my parents’ house and you could see your grandparents. You haven’t seen them all year long. Kimberly: That sounds fun! Dad: Actually, I thought you should come to my parents...
This excerpt uses the quote to refer to the American political parties. 1. Some people say that there is no real difference between Republicans and Democrats. Whether that is said because of being too lazy to examine the differences or because it makes some people feel exalted to say, in effect, “a plague on both your houses,” it is a dangerous sel...
The phrase a plague on both your houses is a famous line from the play Romeo and Julietthat involves a dying character cursing two families that caused great problems.
Yale University Art Gallery, New Haven. A plague o' both your houses! is a catchphrase from William Shakespeare 's tragedy Romeo and Juliet. The phrase is used to express irritation and irony regarding a dispute or conflict between two parties. It is considered one of the most famous expressions attributed to Shakespeare.
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Background: This expression comes from Act III, Scene 1 of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet (1592). It is spoken by Mercutio who, despite being Romeo's best friend, has avoided taking a side in the ancient feud between the two families, and has remained good-natured and optimistic. Even when wounded by Juliet's cousin Tybalt while defending Romeo ...
