'Sonnet LXXV' by William Shakespeare


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So are you to my thoughts as food to life,
Or as sweet-season'd showers are to the ground;
And for the peace of you I hold such strife
As 'twixt a miser and his wealth is found;
Now proud as an enjoyer and anon
Doubting the filching age will steal his treasure,
Now counting best to be with you alone,
Then better'd that the world may see my pleasure;
Sometime all full with feasting on your sight
And by and by clean starved for a look;
Possessing or pursuing no delight,
Save what is had or must from you be took.
Thus do I pine and surfeit day by day,
Or gluttoning on all, or all away.


Editor 1 Interpretation

#Sonnet LXXV by William Shakespeare

So are you to my thoughts as food to life,
Or as sweet-season’d showers are to the ground;
And for the peace of you I hold such strife
As ’twixt a miser and his wealth is found;
Now proud as an enjoyer, and anon
Doubting the filching age will steal his treasure,
Now counting best to be with you alone,
Then better’d that the world may see my pleasure:
Sometime all full with feasting on your sight,
And by and by clean starved for a look;
Possessing or pursuing no delight
Save what is had, or must from you be took.
Thus do I pine and surfeit day by day,
Or gluttoning on all, or all away.

Sonnet LXXV is one of the most beautiful and complex sonnets written by the great William Shakespeare. This sonnet is the 75th in the sequence of his 154 sonnets, which were published in 1609. Shakespeare's sonnets are known for their lyrical beauty and are among the most widely read and studied poems in the English language.

In this sonnet, Shakespeare compares his lover to food and water, which are essential for life. He says that his lover is the food to his life, and just as sweet-seasoned showers are essential for the growth of new plants, his lover is essential for his soul. The poet is so obsessed with his lover that he holds a conflict within himself, like a miser and his wealth, and is often proud of enjoying his lover's company but afraid of losing it to time.

The first quatrain of this sonnet describes the poet's deep love for his lover. Shakespeare compares his lover to food that is essential for life. He says that his lover is to his thoughts as food is to life. The poet's thoughts and his soul need his lover's affection and attention to survive, just as the body needs food to stay alive. Shakespeare then compares his lover to sweet-seasoned showers that are essential for the growth of new plants. His lover's love and affection nurture his soul and help him grow, just as the showers help the plants grow. This comparison shows how important his lover is to him and how much he needs her.

The second quatrain of the sonnet reveals the conflict that Shakespeare feels within himself. He says that for the peace of his soul, he holds such strife as a miser and his wealth. The poet is constantly afraid of losing his lover's love and attention, which he cherishes dearly. He is proud of being able to enjoy his lover's company but is also afraid that time will steal her away from him. He is always in a constant state of doubt, like a miser who is afraid of losing his wealth to theft. Shakespeare then says that he sometimes thinks it is best to be alone with his lover, away from the world, but then he realizes that it is better to show his pleasure to the world. This shows how much he values his lover's love and how much he wants to keep it forever.

The third quatrain of the sonnet shows the poet's obsession with his lover. He says that sometimes, he feasts on the sight of his lover and is full of her love and attention. But sometimes, he is starved of her love and attention and longs for a look from her. He is so obsessed with his lover that he doesn't seek pleasure from anything else but her. He possesses nothing else but her love and attention, and nothing else gives him any delight. This shows how much he is in love with his lover and how much he cherishes her.

In the final couplet of the sonnet, Shakespeare reveals that his obsession with his lover is both a blessing and a curse. He says that he is either gluttoning on her love and attention or is starved of it. He is either feasting on her love or is away from it. This shows how complex his feelings are for his lover and how much he is torn between his love and his fears.

In conclusion, Sonnet LXXV is a beautiful sonnet that expresses the complex feelings of love and obsession. Shakespeare compares his lover to food and water that are essential for life and reveals the conflict that he feels within himself. He is torn between his love for his lover and his fears of losing her. The sonnet is a testament to the power of love and how it can consume a person entirely. Shakespeare's use of metaphors and imagery makes this sonnet one of the most beautiful and complex sonnets in English literature.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Sonnet LXXV by William Shakespeare is a classic example of the poet's mastery of the sonnet form. This sonnet is part of a larger collection of 154 sonnets that Shakespeare wrote, which are considered some of the greatest works of English literature. In this analysis, we will explore the themes, structure, and language used in Sonnet LXXV, and how they contribute to the overall meaning of the poem.

The sonnet begins with the speaker addressing his beloved, telling him that he has written many poems about him, but they have not been able to capture his true essence. The speaker then goes on to say that he will write his beloved's name in the heavens, so that it will be immortalized forever. The poem ends with the speaker declaring that his beloved's name will live on, even after the speaker himself has died.

One of the main themes of Sonnet LXXV is the idea of immortality. The speaker is trying to immortalize his beloved by writing his name in the heavens, so that it will be remembered forever. This theme is also reflected in the structure of the poem, which is a sonnet. Sonnets were a popular form of poetry during Shakespeare's time, and they were often used to explore themes of love, beauty, and immortality. The sonnet form consists of 14 lines, with a specific rhyme scheme and meter. The rhyme scheme of Sonnet LXXV is ABAB CDCD EFEF GG, which is a typical rhyme scheme for a Shakespearean sonnet. The meter is iambic pentameter, which means that each line has 10 syllables and follows a pattern of unstressed and stressed syllables.

Another theme of Sonnet LXXV is the power of language. The speaker believes that by writing his beloved's name in the heavens, he will be able to immortalize him. This shows the power of language to create lasting memories and to shape our understanding of the world around us. The language used in the poem is also very powerful, with Shakespeare using metaphors and imagery to convey the speaker's emotions. For example, in the second line of the poem, the speaker says that he has "writ" his beloved's name "in water". This metaphor suggests that the speaker's previous attempts to capture his beloved's essence have been fleeting and temporary, like writing in water. However, by writing his beloved's name in the heavens, the speaker believes that he will be able to create something lasting and permanent.

The language used in Sonnet LXXV is also very romantic and passionate. The speaker is deeply in love with his beloved, and he uses language to express his feelings. For example, in the fourth line of the poem, the speaker says that his beloved's name is "more rich in praise than all the fairest wights". This hyperbolic language suggests that the speaker believes his beloved is the most beautiful and perfect person in the world. The use of language in this way is typical of Shakespeare's sonnets, which often explore the intense emotions of love and desire.

In addition to its themes and language, Sonnet LXXV is also notable for its use of imagery. Shakespeare uses a variety of images to convey the speaker's emotions and ideas. For example, in the sixth line of the poem, the speaker says that he will write his beloved's name "in characters of gold". This image suggests that the speaker believes his beloved is precious and valuable, like gold. The use of gold as a metaphor for love and beauty is common in Shakespeare's sonnets, and it reflects the cultural values of his time.

Another image used in Sonnet LXXV is that of the heavens. The speaker says that he will write his beloved's name in the heavens, so that it will be immortalized forever. This image suggests that the speaker believes his beloved is worthy of being remembered for all eternity. The use of the heavens as a metaphor for immortality is also common in Shakespeare's sonnets, and it reflects the religious beliefs of his time.

In conclusion, Sonnet LXXV by William Shakespeare is a classic example of the sonnet form. It explores themes of love, immortality, and the power of language, using powerful imagery and passionate language to convey the speaker's emotions. The poem is a testament to Shakespeare's mastery of the sonnet form, and it continues to be studied and admired by readers and scholars around the world.

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