"A plague on our houses" -- metaphor? allusion?

Question

Please explain what this statement means when used in this manner: "There's a plague on our houses..."

Answer 1

This is from Romeo and Juliet by Shakespeare, when Mercutio intervenes in the duel between Tybalt and Romeo and is mortally wounded, and says, "A plague on both your houses." He means that both families should suffer for causing his death. It is probably closest to personification, but not too close.

Answer 2

Well, an allusion is a reference to something well known reference, so it can't be that. Metaphor is comparing 2 things w/out using like or as, but what are you comparing? I think it would be personification because the phrase is plaguing houses. (plague is a human action, a house isn't)