Biblical Allusions:
* "O, she doth teach the torches to burn bright! / It seems she hangs upon the cheek of night / As a rich jewel in an Ethiop's ear" (III.ii.2-4): Romeo compares Juliet to a "rich jewel" set against the dark backdrop of night, evoking the story of the Queen of Sheba, who visited King Solomon with lavish gifts. This highlights Juliet's beauty and how it outshines everything around her.
* "He jests at scars that never felt a wound" (III.i.59): Mercutio's famous quote alludes to Proverbs 17:17, "A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity." This emphasizes the irony that Tybalt, who has never experienced the pain of a real wound, can so easily provoke a fight.
Mythological Allusions:
* "O, happy dagger, / This is thy sheath; there rust, and let me die!" (III.i.105-106): Romeo's despair after killing Tybalt echoes the myth of Ovid's Pyramus and Thisbe, where Pyramus kills himself upon finding Thisbe's bloodstained veil. This foreshadows Romeo's eventual suicide.
* "A plague o' both your houses!" (III.i.107): Mercutio's final words, cursing both the Montagues and Capulets, are reminiscent of the Greek Chorus, who often comment on the unfolding tragedy in Greek plays.
Literary Allusions:
* "For never was a story of more woe / Than this of Juliet and her Romeo" (III.i.168-169): These lines foreshadow the tragedy to come and allude to the classic tragic love stories of the time.
* "See what a scourge is laid upon your hate, / That heaven finds means to kill your joys with love" (III.i.172-173): Friar Laurence's speech reflects the Elizabethan belief in divine retribution for the families' feud, highlighting the destructive power of their hatred.
Other Allusions:
* "I would the fool were married to her grave!" (III.v.189): Juliet's anger towards the Nurse reflects the societal expectation of arranged marriages in Elizabethan England, where love was often secondary to family alliances.
* "Then, window, let me have thee for my guide!" (III.v.230): Romeo's final farewell to Juliet as he leaves Verona alludes to his earlier entrance into Juliet's balcony scene, symbolizing the loss of their love and the inevitable consequences of the feud.
These are just a few examples of the many allusions in Act III of Romeo and Juliet. By using these literary devices, Shakespeare adds depth and complexity to his story, making it a timeless and enduring masterpiece.