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All Site ContentRomeo and JulietAct 2Scene 4
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"white wench's black eye"
Wordplay
Act 2,
Scene 4
Lines 6-16

An explanation of the phrase “white wench’s black eye” in Act 2, Scene 4 of myShakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet.

Benvolio

Tybalt, the kinsman of old Capulet,
Hath sent a letter to his father's house.

Mercutio

A challenge, on my life.

Benvolio

                                          Romeo will answer it.

Mercutio

Any man that can write may answer a letter.

Benvolio

Nay, he will answer the letter's master — how he dares,
being dared.

Mercutio

Alas poor Romeo! He is already dead, stabbed with
a white wench's black eye, run through the ear with a
love-song, the very pin of his heart cleft with the blind
bow-boy's butt-shaft — and is he a man to encounter
Tybalt?

Shakespeare describes Rosaline as a "white wench," which creates an alliteration on the W sound. Then, by giving that "white wench" a "black eye," he creates an antithesis, a pair of opposites.