'Sonnet 131: Thou art as tyrannous, so as thou art' by William Shakespeare
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Thou art as tyrannous, so as thou art,
As those whose beauties proudly make them cruel;
For well thou know'st to my dear doting heart
Thou art the fairest and most precious jewel.
Yet, in good faith, some say that thee behold
Thy face hath not the power to make love groan;
To say they err I dare not be so bold,
Although I swear it to myself alone.
And to be sure that is not false I swear,
A thousand groans but thinking on thy face,
One on another's neck do witness bear
Thy black is fairest in my judgment's place.
In nothing art thou black save in thy deeds,
And thence this slander, as I think, proceeds.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Sonnet 131: Thou art as tyrannous, so as thou art
Sonnet 131 is one of the lesser-known sonnets written by William Shakespeare, but it is no less impactful than the more famous ones. In this sonnet, Shakespeare takes on the role of a jilted lover who is frustrated with his mistress. He compares her to a tyrant and suggests that her beauty is both the cause and source of his heartache.
The Structure of the Sonnet
Shakespeare's sonnets typically follow the structure of three quatrains, followed by a final couplet. This sonnet is no exception. The first three quatrains are written in iambic pentameter, with the final couplet written in iambic tetrameter. The rhyme scheme is ABAB CDCD EFEF GG.
The first quatrain compares the mistress to a tyrant, with the second quatrain expanding on the metaphor. The third quatrain delves into the paradoxical nature of the writer's feelings for his mistress, and the final couplet concludes the sonnet with a plea for the mistress to change her ways.
The Comparison to a Tyrant
The comparison to a tyrant is a common one in Shakespeare's sonnets, but it is particularly fitting in this case. The mistress is described as "tyrannous," which suggests that she has a great deal of power over the writer. This power is likely derived from her beauty, which is both the cause and source of the writer's suffering.
The comparison to a tyrant is also fitting because it suggests that the mistress is cruel and dictatorial. She is described as "proud," "despotic," and "rude." These are all qualities that are typically associated with tyrants. The writer is clearly frustrated with the way that the mistress treats him, and the comparison to a tyrant reinforces the idea that he is powerless in the face of her beauty.
Paradoxical Nature of the Writer's Feelings
The third quatrain delves into the paradoxical nature of the writer's feelings for his mistress. He acknowledges that he loves her, despite the fact that she is cruel and unkind to him. He compares his love to a prison, which suggests that he feels trapped by his feelings for her.
The paradoxical nature of the writer's feelings is further underscored by the fact that he suggests that his love for the mistress is what makes her cruel. He writes, "And sweetest things turn sourest by their deeds." This suggests that the writer's love for the mistress has caused her to become cruel and tyrannical.
The Final Couplet
The final couplet of the sonnet is a plea for the mistress to change her ways. The writer acknowledges that he loves her and is willing to suffer for her, but he asks her to treat him more kindly. He writes, "Make but my name thy love, and love that still, / And then thou lov'st me for my name is Will." This final couplet is both a plea and a statement of the writer's own worth.
Interpretation
Sonnet 131 is a powerful exploration of the paradoxical nature of love. The writer is clearly frustrated and hurt by his mistress, but he cannot help but love her. The comparison to a tyrant is particularly fitting, as it suggests that the mistress has a great deal of power over the writer.
The paradoxical nature of the writer's feelings is also incredibly powerful. He loves the mistress, despite the fact that she is cruel and unkind to him. This suggests that love can be both beautiful and painful at the same time.
The final couplet is a plea for the mistress to change her ways, but it is also a statement of the writer's own worth. He suggests that if the mistress were to love him for who he is, rather than for his suffering, then their love would be more genuine.
Conclusion
Sonnet 131 is a lesser-known sonnet by William Shakespeare, but it is no less impactful than the more famous ones. It explores the paradoxical nature of love and the power that beauty can have over us. The comparison to a tyrant is particularly fitting, as it suggests that the mistress has a great deal of power over the writer. The final couplet is a plea for the mistress to change her ways, but it is also a statement of the writer's own worth. In all, Sonnet 131 is a powerful exploration of the nature of love and the complexities that come with it.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Sonnet 131: Thou art as tyrannous, so as thou art, written by William Shakespeare, is a classic poem that explores the theme of love and its complexities. This sonnet is one of the 154 sonnets written by Shakespeare, and it is a part of the Fair Youth sequence. In this sonnet, Shakespeare compares his lover to a tyrant, highlighting the power dynamics in their relationship. Through the use of vivid imagery and metaphors, Shakespeare presents a complex and nuanced portrayal of love.
The sonnet begins with the line, "Thou art as tyrannous, so as thou art," which immediately sets the tone for the poem. The word "tyrannous" suggests that the speaker's lover is controlling and domineering, and the phrase "so as thou art" implies that this is an inherent quality of the lover. The speaker is acknowledging that their lover has power over them, and that this power is not necessarily a positive thing.
The second line of the sonnet reads, "As those whose beauties proudly make them cruel." Here, Shakespeare is drawing a comparison between his lover and other beautiful people who use their beauty as a weapon. The word "cruel" suggests that these people are not kind or compassionate, but rather use their beauty to manipulate and control others. By making this comparison, Shakespeare is suggesting that his lover's beauty is a source of power, and that they use this power to control the speaker.
In the third and fourth lines of the sonnet, Shakespeare continues to explore the theme of power dynamics in the relationship. He writes, "For well thou know'st to my dear doting heart / Thou art the fairest and most precious jewel." The phrase "dear doting heart" suggests that the speaker is deeply in love with their lover, and the word "precious" implies that the lover is valuable and important to the speaker. However, the use of the word "jewel" also suggests that the lover is an object to be possessed, rather than a person with agency and autonomy.
In the fifth and sixth lines of the sonnet, Shakespeare uses a metaphor to further explore the theme of power dynamics. He writes, "Yet, in good faith, some say that thee behold, / Thy face hath not the power to make love groan." The phrase "in good faith" suggests that the speaker is being honest and sincere, and the word "some" implies that there are others who do not share the speaker's opinion. The phrase "make love groan" suggests that the speaker's lover has the power to arouse desire in others, but the use of the word "power" also implies that this is a form of control.
In the seventh and eighth lines of the sonnet, Shakespeare continues to explore the theme of power dynamics through the use of vivid imagery. He writes, "To say they err, I dare not be so bold, / Although I swear it to myself alone." The phrase "to say they err" suggests that the speaker is hesitant to contradict others, and the phrase "I dare not be so bold" implies that the speaker is afraid of the consequences of speaking out. The phrase "swear it to myself alone" suggests that the speaker is keeping their true feelings hidden, and that they are afraid of the power their lover holds over them.
In the final six lines of the sonnet, Shakespeare shifts the focus to the theme of love and its complexities. He writes, "And to be sure that is not false I swear, / A thousand groans but thinking on thy face, / One on another's neck do witness bear / Thy black is fairest in my judgment's place. / In nothing art thou black save in thy deeds, / And thence this slander, as I think, proceeds." The phrase "to be sure that is not false I swear" suggests that the speaker is trying to convince themselves of the truth of their feelings. The phrase "a thousand groans but thinking on thy face" suggests that the speaker is deeply in love with their lover, and that their lover's beauty has a powerful effect on them.
The phrase "thy black is fairest in my judgment's place" is a reference to the idea of the "dark lady" in Shakespeare's sonnets. The "dark lady" is a woman who is described as having dark hair and skin, and who is often portrayed as being sexually promiscuous. In this line, Shakespeare is suggesting that his lover's dark features are beautiful and desirable, despite the negative connotations associated with the "dark lady" figure.
The final two lines of the sonnet, "In nothing art thou black save in thy deeds, / And thence this slander, as I think, proceeds," suggest that the speaker's lover is not actually a tyrant, but rather that they have been unfairly judged by others. The phrase "in nothing art thou black save in thy deeds" implies that the lover's actions are the only thing that could be considered negative, and the phrase "this slander, as I think, proceeds" suggests that the negative perception of the lover is based on false rumors and gossip.
In conclusion, Sonnet 131: Thou art as tyrannous, so as thou art, is a complex and nuanced exploration of the theme of love and its complexities. Through the use of vivid imagery and metaphors, Shakespeare presents a portrayal of love that is both beautiful and dangerous. The poem highlights the power dynamics in relationships, and suggests that love can be a source of both joy and pain. Ultimately, the poem suggests that love is a complex and multifaceted emotion that cannot be easily understood or explained.
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