'Sonnet 57: Being your slave, what should I do but tend' by William Shakespeare


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Being your slave, what should I do but tend
Upon the hours and times of your desire?
I have no precious time at all to spend,
Nor services to do, till you require.
Nor dare I chide the world-without-end hour,
Whilst I, my sovereign, watch the clock for you,
Nor think the bitterness of absence sour
When you have bid your servant once adieu.
Nor dare I question with my jealous thought
Where you may be, or your affairs suppose,
But, like a sad slave, stay and think of naught
Save where you are, how happy you make those.
So true a fool is love that in your will,
Though you do any thing, he thinks no ill.

Editor 1 Interpretation

Sonnet 57: Being your slave, what should I do but tend

William Shakespeare is a name that needs no introduction. His plays and sonnets have captivated readers and audiences for centuries, and continue to do so. One of his most famous sonnets, Sonnet 57, is a perfect example of why he is regarded as one of the greatest writers in the English language.

Analysis of the Poem

The poem begins with a line that immediately grabs the reader's attention: "Being your slave, what should I do but tend." The speaker of the poem is addressing the object of his affection, whom he regards as his "master." The language used here is significant, as it highlights the power dynamic between the two. The speaker is subservient to his master, and sees himself as being at their mercy.

The second line of the poem continues this theme: "Upon the hours and times of your desire?" Here, the speaker is emphasising the fact that he is at the beck and call of his master. He is willing to do whatever his master desires, whenever they desire it.

In the third line, the speaker asks a rhetorical question: "I have no precious time at all to spend." This line highlights the fact that the speaker's life is entirely devoted to serving his master. He has no time for anything else, as his every waking moment is consumed by his desire to tend to his master's every need.

The fourth line of the poem continues this theme: "Nor services to do, till you require." Here, the speaker is emphasising the fact that he is entirely at his master's disposal. He has no life of his own, and exists solely to serve his master.

The fifth line of the poem is significant, as it marks a shift in the speaker's tone: "Nor dare I chide the world-without-end hour." Here, the speaker is acknowledging that his servitude is perpetual. He will serve his master until the end of time, and he accepts this as his fate. However, there is a hint of sadness in this line, as the speaker seems resigned to his fate.

The sixth line of the poem continues this theme: "Whilst I, my sovereign, watch the clock for you." Here, the speaker is emphasising his loyalty to his master. He is willing to spend his entire life watching the clock, waiting for his master's command.

The final couplet of the poem is significant, as it offers a glimmer of hope for the speaker: "Nor think the bitterness of absence sour/When you have bid your servant once adieu." Here, the speaker is suggesting that even though he is a slave to his master, he is willing to endure the bitterness of absence. He will wait patiently for his master to return, and will be ready to serve them once again.

Interpretation of the Poem

Sonnet 57 is a poem about love and devotion. The speaker of the poem is deeply in love with their master, and is willing to do whatever it takes to please them. However, the poem also highlights the power dynamic between the two, with the speaker being subservient to their master.

The language used in the poem is significant. The use of the word "slave" in the opening line highlights the fact that the speaker sees themselves as being completely at their master's mercy. This is further emphasised by the use of words such as "tend," "require," and "watch." The speaker is entirely devoted to their master, and their life is consumed by their love for them.

However, there is also a sense of sadness in the poem. The speaker's life is entirely devoted to their master, and they have no time for anything else. They are resigned to their fate, but there is a hint of bitterness in their acceptance of their servitude.

Overall, Sonnet 57 is a beautiful poem about love and devotion, but it also highlights the dangers of power dynamics in relationships. The speaker is entirely subservient to their master, and this can be seen as a warning against giving too much power to one person in a relationship.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Sonnet 57 is a beautiful poem that highlights the power of love and devotion. The language used in the poem is significant, as it emphasises the power dynamic between the speaker and their master. The poem also offers a warning against the dangers of giving too much power to one person in a relationship. Overall, Sonnet 57 is a wonderful example of Shakespeare's skill as a poet, and it continues to captivate readers and audiences today.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Sonnet 57: Being your slave, what should I do but tend, written by the legendary William Shakespeare, is a classic poem that has stood the test of time. This sonnet is a part of the collection of 154 sonnets that Shakespeare wrote, and it is one of the most popular ones. In this article, we will analyze and explain this sonnet in detail, exploring its themes, structure, and literary devices.

The sonnet begins with the line "Being your slave, what should I do but tend," which immediately sets the tone for the poem. The speaker is addressing his lover, whom he considers his master. The word "slave" here is used metaphorically, and it represents the speaker's complete submission to his lover. The speaker is willing to do anything for his lover, and he sees himself as a servant who is at his lover's beck and call.

The second line of the sonnet reads, "Upon the hours and times of your desire?" Here, the speaker is asking his lover what he should do with his time. He is willing to dedicate all his time and energy to his lover's desires and needs. The use of the word "hours" and "times" emphasizes the idea of time being a precious commodity that the speaker is willing to give up for his lover.

The third line of the sonnet reads, "I have no precious time at all to spend." Here, the speaker is emphasizing the idea that he has no time for anything else but his lover. He is willing to sacrifice everything else in his life to serve his lover. The use of the word "precious" here emphasizes the idea that time is a valuable commodity that the speaker is willing to give up for his lover.

The fourth line of the sonnet reads, "Nor services to do, till you require." Here, the speaker is saying that he has no other services to offer except those that his lover requires. He is willing to do anything that his lover asks of him, and he sees himself as a tool that his lover can use to fulfill his desires.

The fifth line of the sonnet reads, "Nor dare I chide the world-without-end hour." Here, the speaker is saying that he cannot complain about the time that he spends serving his lover. He is willing to give up his time and energy without any complaints or reservations. The use of the phrase "world-without-end hour" emphasizes the idea that the speaker is willing to serve his lover for eternity.

The sixth line of the sonnet reads, "Whilst I, my sovereign, watch the clock for you." Here, the speaker is emphasizing the idea that he is completely devoted to his lover. He sees his lover as his sovereign, and he is willing to watch the clock for him. The use of the word "sovereign" emphasizes the idea that the speaker sees his lover as someone who has complete control over him.

The seventh line of the sonnet reads, "Nor think the bitterness of absence sour." Here, the speaker is saying that he does not feel bitter about the time that he spends away from his lover. He is willing to endure any hardship or pain as long as he can serve his lover. The use of the word "bitterness" emphasizes the idea that the speaker is willing to endure any kind of pain or hardship for his lover.

The eighth line of the sonnet reads, "When you have bid your servant once adieu." Here, the speaker is saying that he is willing to say goodbye to his lover whenever his lover requires it. He sees himself as a servant who is at his lover's disposal, and he is willing to do anything that his lover asks of him.

The ninth line of the sonnet reads, "Nor dare I question with my jealous thought." Here, the speaker is saying that he cannot question his lover's actions or motives. He is completely devoted to his lover, and he trusts him completely. The use of the phrase "jealous thought" emphasizes the idea that the speaker is willing to give up his own thoughts and desires for his lover.

The tenth line of the sonnet reads, "Where you may be, or your affairs suppose," Here, the speaker is saying that he does not care where his lover is or what he is doing. He is willing to serve his lover no matter where he is or what he is doing. The use of the phrase "your affairs suppose" emphasizes the idea that the speaker is willing to give up his own affairs and interests for his lover.

The eleventh line of the sonnet reads, "But, like a sad slave, stay and think of nought." Here, the speaker is saying that he is willing to stay and do nothing as long as he can serve his lover. He sees himself as a sad slave who is completely devoted to his master. The use of the word "sad" emphasizes the idea that the speaker is willing to give up his own happiness for his lover.

The final line of the sonnet reads, "Save, where you are how happy you make those." Here, the speaker is saying that the only thing that matters to him is his lover's happiness. He is willing to do anything to make his lover happy, and he sees his lover's happiness as his own. The use of the phrase "how happy you make those" emphasizes the idea that the speaker is willing to give up his own happiness for the happiness of others.

In terms of structure, Sonnet 57 follows the traditional Shakespearean sonnet structure. It consists of three quatrains and a final couplet. The rhyme scheme is ABAB CDCD EFEF GG. The use of iambic pentameter gives the sonnet a rhythmic and musical quality.

In terms of literary devices, Sonnet 57 makes use of several metaphors and personifications. The use of the metaphor "slave" emphasizes the idea that the speaker is completely devoted to his lover. The use of the personification "watch the clock" emphasizes the idea that the speaker is willing to give up his time for his lover. The use of the metaphor "sovereign" emphasizes the idea that the speaker sees his lover as someone who has complete control over him.

In conclusion, Sonnet 57: Being your slave, what should I do but tend, is a classic poem that explores the themes of love, devotion, and sacrifice. The speaker is completely devoted to his lover, and he is willing to give up everything for him. The use of metaphors and personifications gives the sonnet a poetic and musical quality. Overall, Sonnet 57 is a timeless masterpiece that continues to inspire and move readers even after centuries.

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