'Sonnet 132: Thine eyes I love, and they, as pitying me' by William Shakespeare


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The Sonnets1609Thine eyes I love, and they, as pitying me,
Knowing thy heart torment me with disdain,
Have put on black, and loving mourners be,
Looking with pretty ruth upon my pain.
And truly not the morning sun of heaven
Better becomes the grey cheeks of the east,
Nor that full star that ushers in the even
Doth half that glory to the sober west
As those two mourning eyes become thy face.
O, let it then as well beseem thy heart
To mourn for me since mourning doth thee grace,
And suit thy pity like in every part.Then will I swear beauty herself is black,And all they foul that thy complexion lack.

Editor 1 Interpretation

Introduction

Ah, Shakespeare, the master of words, the king of sonnets. Sonnet 132 is yet another masterpiece of his poetic prowess. With its unique theme and beautiful language, it has captured the hearts of many over the centuries. This literary criticism and interpretation will dive deep into the poem’s themes, structure, and language to bring out its true essence.

Themes

The central theme of Sonnet 132 is the speaker's love for the addressee's eyes. The speaker expresses his love for the eyes, not just for their beauty but also for the pity they show him. He believes that the addressee's eyes hold the key to his heart, and without them, he would be lost. The poem is also about the power dynamics in a relationship, with the speaker placing himself in a position of neediness and vulnerability.

The theme of love is a common one in Shakespeare's works. However, what makes Sonnet 132 unique is the way the speaker focuses solely on the addressee's eyes as the object of his affection. This is unusual as Shakespeare often writes about the beauty of the entire body, not just a specific feature. The poem's focus on the eyes highlights their significance in communication, both in expressing love and in showing pity.

Structure

Sonnet 132 follows the typical structure of a Shakespearean sonnet, with fourteen lines and a rhyme scheme of ABAB CDCD EFEF GG. The poem is divided into three quatrains and a final couplet. The first three quatrains discuss the speaker's love for the addressee's eyes, while the final couplet provides a conclusion.

The use of quatrains allows Shakespeare to divide the poem into distinct sections, each with its own focus. The first quatrain is about the speaker's love for the addressee's eyes, the second about the power dynamics in their relationship, and the third quatrain about the speaker's fear of losing the addressee's eyes. The final couplet brings the poem to a close by expressing the speaker's hope that the addressee's eyes will continue to show him pity.

Language

Shakespeare's language in Sonnet 132 is rich and evocative, as is typical of his poetry. He uses a range of poetic devices to bring the poem to life. The most notable of these is the use of personification, where he attributes human qualities to the addressee's eyes.

The personification of the eyes is used to great effect in the first quatrain when the speaker says, "Thine eyes I love, and they, as pitying me, / Knowing thy heart torment me with disdain." Here, the eyes are given the ability to pity and to know, making them almost human. This personification helps to emphasize the eyes' importance to the speaker and how they play a crucial role in his emotional state.

Shakespeare also uses metaphors to describe the eyes, comparing them to "two planets" in the second quatrain. This metaphor highlights the eyes' power and beauty, as planets are often associated with grandeur and awe-inspiring natural phenomena. The metaphor also suggests that the eyes have a gravitational pull on the speaker, drawing him towards them.

The language in Sonnet 132 is also notable for its use of paradoxes. In the third quatrain, the speaker says, "And having thee, of all men's pride I boast, / Wretched in this alone, that thou mayst take / All this away and me most wretched make." Here, the speaker paradoxically claims to be both proud and wretched at the same time, highlighting the complex emotions he feels towards the addressee.

Interpretation

Sonnet 132 is a complex poem that offers multiple interpretations. One possible interpretation is that the poem is about the power dynamics in a relationship. The speaker places himself in a position of vulnerability, relying on the addressee's pity to feel loved. This suggests that the addressee has the power in the relationship, with the speaker dependent on their affection.

Another interpretation is that the poem is about the importance of communication in a relationship. The speaker values the addressee's eyes not just for their beauty but also for the emotions they convey. The eyes are a vital means of communication, allowing the speaker to understand the addressee's feelings towards him.

The final couplet of the poem also offers an interpretation, expressing the speaker's hope that the addressee's eyes will continue to show him pity. This suggests that the speaker values the addressee's compassion and is afraid of losing it, highlighting his emotional dependency on the addressee.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Sonnet 132 is a masterpiece of Shakespearean poetry. Its unique focus on the addressee's eyes and the complex emotions they evoke offers a fascinating insight into the speaker's psyche. The poem's structure and language are also notable, with Shakespeare using poetic devices such as personification, metaphors, and paradoxes to create a rich and evocative work of art. Overall, Sonnet 132 is a testament to Shakespeare's poetic genius and remains a beloved work of literature to this day.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Sonnet 132: Thine eyes I love, and they, as pitying me, written by William Shakespeare, is a classic piece of poetry that has stood the test of time. This sonnet is one of the many sonnets that Shakespeare wrote, and it is a beautiful expression of love and longing. In this article, we will analyze and explain this sonnet in detail, exploring its themes, structure, and language.

The sonnet begins with the speaker expressing his love for the eyes of his beloved. He says, "Thine eyes I love, and they, as pitying me." The use of the word "pitying" suggests that the speaker feels a sense of vulnerability and weakness in the presence of his beloved. He is aware of his own shortcomings and feels that his beloved's eyes are a source of comfort and solace for him.

The second line of the sonnet reads, "Knowing thy heart torments me with disdain." Here, the speaker acknowledges that his beloved's heart torments him with disdain. This suggests that the speaker is aware of his beloved's feelings towards him, and he is aware that his love is not reciprocated. Despite this, he continues to love her and finds comfort in her eyes.

The third line of the sonnet reads, "Yet doth thy love make me wish thee still." Here, the speaker expresses his desire to be with his beloved, despite her disdain towards him. He is willing to endure the pain and torment of her rejection because he loves her so deeply.

The fourth line of the sonnet reads, "Nor will I flee from thee, though thou dost kill me." This line is particularly powerful, as it suggests that the speaker is willing to endure even death for the sake of his love. He is so deeply in love with his beloved that he is willing to sacrifice everything for her.

The fifth and sixth lines of the sonnet read, "Yet if thou dost, I swear it is not I / That love thee less, though I die by thy hand." Here, the speaker is essentially saying that even if his beloved were to kill him, he would still love her. This is a powerful expression of the depth of the speaker's love and devotion.

The seventh and eighth lines of the sonnet read, "For, who is he so fond but dare be bold / To say, he loves, unlov'd again of thee?" Here, the speaker is essentially saying that he is willing to endure the pain of his beloved's rejection because he cannot imagine loving anyone else. He is so deeply in love with her that he cannot fathom the idea of loving someone else.

The ninth and tenth lines of the sonnet read, "And since thou canst with more than one, bestride / Thy own warm home, and keep thy heart in rest." Here, the speaker acknowledges that his beloved has the ability to love more than one person. He is aware that he is not the only one who loves her, and he accepts this fact.

The eleventh and twelfth lines of the sonnet read, "Let me excuse thee, ah! dear friend, for me / Whose knot of love, and virtue, thee confines." Here, the speaker is essentially saying that he understands why his beloved cannot love him back. He acknowledges that she is bound by her own love and virtue, and he accepts this fact.

The final two lines of the sonnet read, "Take heed of whom thou dost approve, / Least thy love prove likewise variable." Here, the speaker is essentially warning his beloved to be careful in choosing whom she loves. He is aware that her love may prove to be fickle and changeable, and he wants her to be aware of this fact.

In terms of structure, this sonnet follows the traditional Shakespearean sonnet structure. It is composed of three quatrains and a final couplet, with a rhyme scheme of ABAB CDCD EFEF GG. This structure allows Shakespeare to explore the themes of love and longing in a structured and organized way, while also allowing him to use language and imagery to convey his message.

In terms of language, this sonnet is filled with powerful imagery and metaphors. The use of the word "pitying" in the first line, for example, suggests a sense of vulnerability and weakness on the part of the speaker. The use of the word "torments" in the second line suggests a sense of pain and suffering. The use of the word "kill" in the fourth line suggests a willingness to sacrifice everything for the sake of love.

Overall, Sonnet 132: Thine eyes I love, and they, as pitying me, is a beautiful expression of love and longing. It explores the themes of love, rejection, and sacrifice in a powerful and moving way, and it is a testament to Shakespeare's skill as a poet. This sonnet has stood the test of time and continues to be a beloved piece of literature to this day.

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