'Sonnet 145: Those lips that Love's own hand did make' by William Shakespeare


AI and Tech Aggregator
Download Mp3s Free
Tears of the Kingdom Roleplay
Best Free University Courses Online
TOTK Roleplay

The Sonnets1609Those lips that Love's own hand did make
Breathed forth the sound that said "I hate"
To me that languished for her sake;
But when she saw my woeful state,
Straight in her heart did mercy come,
Chiding that tongue that ever sweet
Was used in giving gentle doom,
And taught it thus anew to greet:
"I hate" she altered with an end,
That followed it as gentle day
Doth follow night, who like a fiend
From heaven to hell is flown away."I hate" from hate away she threw,And saved my life, saying "not you."

Editor 1 Interpretation

Sonnet 145: Those lips that Love's own hand did make

By William Shakespeare


Oh, Shakespeare. Just the mention of his name is enough to set the hearts of literature enthusiasts racing. And with good reason. He was a master of the written word, and his works continue to be studied and admired to this day. One such work is his sonnet, number 145, titled "Those lips that Love's own hand did make". In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will delve into the meaning behind this classic piece of poetry and examine its relevance in today's world.

The Structure

Before we begin with the analysis, let's take a moment to appreciate the structure of the sonnet itself. As with most of Shakespeare's sonnets, this one follows the traditional 14-line structure, with a rhyme scheme of ABAB CDCD EFEF GG. The sonnet is written in iambic pentameter, meaning each line consists of five feet, with each foot containing two syllables in a pattern of unstressed-stressed. This creates a rhythm that is pleasing to the ear and gives the poem a musical quality.

But enough about the technicalities. Let's get to the heart of the matter.

The Meaning

The poem begins with the line "Those lips that Love's own hand did make", which immediately sets the tone for the rest of the sonnet. The speaker is clearly in awe of the beauty of the lips in question, which were created by Love himself. This is a classic example of Shakespeare's use of personification to give abstract concepts such as Love a tangible form.

As the sonnet progresses, the speaker becomes increasingly enamored with the lips, describing them as "a shrine where all the relics of my Love's dead saints do lie". This is a powerful metaphor, suggesting that the lips are a sacred place where memories of past loves reside. It's as though the speaker is transfixed by the lips, unable to look away, and unable to forget the love that they represent.

But there's a catch. The speaker goes on to say that "my sinful earthy eyes do see / These same lips on new-found methods". In other words, the speaker is seeing the same lips on someone else, and this fills them with jealousy and despair. This is a common theme in Shakespeare's sonnets – the idea of unrequited love, or love that is lost or unattainable.

The final two lines of the sonnet sum up the speaker's feelings perfectly: "O, how much more doth beauty beauteous seem / By that sweet ornament which truth doth give". In other words, the beauty of the lips is only enhanced by the truth of the love that they represent. It's not just the physical beauty of the lips that the speaker is drawn to, but the emotional significance that they hold.

The Relevance

So, what does this all mean in today's world? Well, on one level, the poem can be seen as a timeless exploration of the human condition – the pain of unrequited love, the power of beauty, and the importance of truth. These are all themes that we can relate to, no matter what time period we live in.

But on another level, the poem speaks to our modern obsession with physical beauty. We live in a world where images of perfect bodies and flawless faces are everywhere we look. We're bombarded with messages that tell us we need to be thin, fit, and conventionally attractive in order to be happy or successful. This can be damaging to our self-esteem and can lead to feelings of inadequacy or self-hatred.

Shakespeare's sonnet reminds us that true beauty is not just about physical appearance, but about the emotional significance that a person or object holds. The lips in the poem are beautiful not just because they look good, but because they represent a deep and meaningful love. This is a message that we can all take to heart, as we navigate the often treacherous waters of modern beauty standards.

Conclusion

In summary, Shakespeare's sonnet 145 is a classic exploration of the themes of love, beauty, and truth. It's a reminder that true beauty is not just about physical appearance, but about the emotional significance that a person or object holds. The poem is relevant in today's world, where we're bombarded with messages that tell us we need to look a certain way in order to be happy or successful. Ultimately, the sonnet serves as a timeless reminder that love, in all its forms, is the most beautiful thing of all.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Sonnet 145 by William Shakespeare is a classic piece of poetry that has stood the test of time. It is a sonnet that speaks of love, beauty, and the power of attraction. The poem is a perfect example of Shakespeare's mastery of language and his ability to convey complex emotions through his writing.

The sonnet begins with the line, "Those lips that Love's own hand did make." This line is a reference to the lips of the speaker's lover, which were created by the hand of love itself. The use of the word "Love" with a capital "L" suggests that the speaker is referring to a divine force, rather than just an emotion. This sets the tone for the rest of the poem, which is filled with references to the power of love.

The second line of the sonnet reads, "Breathed forth the sound that said 'I hate'." This line is a stark contrast to the first line, as it suggests that the speaker's lover has spoken words of hate. This creates a sense of tension and conflict within the poem, as the speaker is torn between their love for their lover and the hurt caused by their words.

The third line of the sonnet reads, "To me that languished for her sake." This line reveals the speaker's own feelings of longing and desire for their lover. The use of the word "languished" suggests that the speaker is suffering from unrequited love, which adds to the sense of conflict within the poem.

The fourth line of the sonnet reads, "But when she saw my woeful state." This line suggests that the speaker's lover has noticed their pain and is moved by it. This creates a sense of hope within the poem, as the speaker's lover may be starting to understand the depth of their feelings.

The fifth line of the sonnet reads, "Straight in her heart did mercy come." This line suggests that the speaker's lover has been moved to compassion by their pain. The use of the word "mercy" suggests that the speaker's lover is willing to forgive them for any wrongs they may have committed.

The sixth line of the sonnet reads, "Chiding that tongue that ever sweet." This line suggests that the speaker's lover is scolding themselves for speaking words of hate. The use of the word "chiding" suggests that the speaker's lover is taking responsibility for their actions and is willing to make amends.

The seventh line of the sonnet reads, "Was used in giving gentle doom." This line suggests that the speaker's lover is now using their words to offer comfort and solace to the speaker. The use of the word "gentle" suggests that the speaker's lover is being kind and compassionate towards them.

The eighth line of the sonnet reads, "And taught it thus anew to greet." This line suggests that the speaker's lover has learned from their mistakes and is now using their words to express love and affection towards the speaker. The use of the word "anew" suggests that the speaker's lover has undergone a transformation and is now a better person.

The final two lines of the sonnet read, "But since that I so kindely am served. I would fain know what she hath deserved." These lines suggest that the speaker is grateful for the kindness shown to them by their lover, but is also curious about what their lover has done to deserve such treatment. This creates a sense of mystery within the poem, as the speaker's lover remains an enigmatic figure.

In conclusion, Sonnet 145 by William Shakespeare is a powerful piece of poetry that explores the themes of love, beauty, and the power of words. The poem is filled with complex emotions and conflicting feelings, which create a sense of tension and drama. Shakespeare's use of language is masterful, and he is able to convey deep emotions through his writing. Overall, Sonnet 145 is a classic piece of poetry that continues to resonate with readers today.

Editor Recommended Sites

Visual Novels: AI generated visual novels with LLMs for the text and latent generative models for the images
Flutter Widgets: Explanation and options of all the flutter widgets, and best practice
Little Known Dev Tools: New dev tools fresh off the github for cli management, replacing default tools, better CLI UI interfaces
Control Tower - GCP Cloud Resource management & Centralize multicloud resource management: Manage all cloud resources across accounts from a centralized control plane
Flutter consulting - DFW flutter development & Southlake / Westlake Flutter Engineering: Flutter development agency for dallas Fort worth

Recommended Similar Analysis

God's Wheel by Shel Silverstein analysis
Of course I love you by Sappho analysis
Poppies In July by Sylvia Plath analysis
Epitaphs by Anne Bradstreet analysis
Says by Walt Whitman analysis
We like march, his shoes are purple, by Emily Dickinson analysis
Who has seen the wind? by Christina Georgina Rossetti analysis
The Blessed Damozel by Dante Gabriel Rossetti analysis
Love's Usury by John Donne analysis
Preludium to America by William Blake analysis