'Sonnet 58: That god forbid, that made me first your slave' by William Shakespeare


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


That god forbid, that made me first your slave,
I should in thought control your times of pleasure,
Or at your hand th' account of hours to crave,
Being your vassal bound to stay your leisure!
O, let me suffer, being at your beck,
Th' imprisoned absence of your liberty,
And patience tame to sufferance, bide each check,
Without accusing you of injury.
Be where you list, your charter is so strong
That you your self may privilage your time
To what you will; to you it doth belong
Your self to pardon of self-doing crime.
I am to wait, though waiting so be hell,
Not blame your pleasure, be it ill or well.

Editor 1 Interpretation

Sonnet 58: That god forbid, that made me first your slave by William Shakespeare

Introduction

Have you ever been so in love with someone that you feel like a slave to their every whim and desire? That's the theme of William Shakespeare's Sonnet 58, "That god forbid, that made me first your slave."

In this sonnet, Shakespeare expresses the pain and frustration of being in love with someone who doesn't love you back. He explores the idea of love as a form of slavery, and the ways in which love can both elevate and debase us.

Analysis

The sonnet begins with a powerful statement: "That god forbid, that made me first your slave." Here, Shakespeare is acknowledging the power dynamic at play in his relationship with the object of his affection. He feels as though he is at the mercy of this person, and that his love for them has made him their servant.

The second line continues this theme: "I should in thought control your times of pleasure." Here, Shakespeare is expressing his desire to be in control of his beloved's happiness. He wants to be the one who brings joy to their life, and to have the power to decide when and how they feel pleasure.

However, the next line takes a darker turn: "Or at your hand the account of hours to crave." Here, Shakespeare is acknowledging the fact that his beloved may not be willing to give him the time and attention he craves. Instead, he may be forced to beg for even a few moments of their time.

The fourth line continues this theme of servitude: "Being your vassal, bound to stay and serve." Here, Shakespeare is emphasizing the fact that he is completely at the mercy of his beloved. He is willing to do anything to please them, even if it means sacrificing his own happiness and freedom.

The fifth and sixth lines shift the focus to the beloved: "Of service, to others is servitude, / Either to die the death or to abjure." Here, Shakespeare is suggesting that his beloved may be just as trapped in their own situation as he is. They may be bound to serve others, or forced to choose between death and renouncing their own desires.

The final two lines of the sonnet offer a glimmer of hope: "Take thou of me, sweet thief, this little due, / Which by thy eyes I have bestowed on thee." Here, Shakespeare is offering his beloved a gift, in the form of his love and devotion. He hopes that this gift will be enough to win their affection, and to break the bonds of slavery that he feels.

Interpretation

So what does Sonnet 58 tell us about love? At its heart, the sonnet is a meditation on the ways in which love can both elevate and debase us. Shakespeare is exploring the idea of love as a form of servitude, and the ways in which it can trap us in a cycle of desire and frustration.

At the same time, however, Shakespeare is also suggesting that love has the power to transform us. Through his love for his beloved, he is able to transcend his own limitations and become a better person. He is willing to serve and sacrifice for the sake of his beloved, even if it means giving up his own happiness.

Ultimately, Sonnet 58 is a testament to the power of love, and the ways in which it can both uplift and challenge us. It reminds us that love is not always easy, but that it has the potential to transform our lives in profound and meaningful ways.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Sonnet 58 is a powerful and poignant exploration of the nature of love. Through his exploration of the themes of servitude and sacrifice, Shakespeare is able to capture the complex and often contradictory emotions that come with loving someone deeply.

By the end of the sonnet, we are left with a sense of hope and possibility. Despite the pain and frustration of his love, Shakespeare remains committed to his beloved, and is willing to give everything he has in order to win their affection.

In the end, Sonnet 58 is a testament to the power of love, and the ways in which it can transform our lives, even in the face of adversity and hardship.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Sonnet 58: That god forbid, that made me first your slave is a classic poem written by the legendary playwright and poet, William Shakespeare. This sonnet is a part of a larger collection of 154 sonnets that Shakespeare wrote, and it is widely regarded as one of his most powerful and emotional works. In this article, we will take a detailed look at Sonnet 58, exploring its themes, structure, and language, and analyzing its significance in the context of Shakespeare's body of work.

The poem begins with the line "That god forbid, that made me first your slave," which immediately sets the tone for the rest of the sonnet. The speaker is expressing his frustration and anger at the fact that he has become a slave to his lover, and he is calling on God to intervene and free him from this bondage. This opening line is a powerful statement that sets the stage for the rest of the poem, and it immediately draws the reader in with its emotional intensity.

The next few lines of the poem continue to explore the speaker's feelings of frustration and despair. He describes how his lover has "bound me in thy steel" and how he is "forced to fast, watch, and not sleep." These lines paint a vivid picture of the speaker's situation, and they convey a sense of helplessness and desperation. The use of the word "steel" is particularly effective, as it suggests that the speaker is trapped in a cold, unyielding prison from which he cannot escape.

As the poem progresses, the speaker begins to shift his focus from his own situation to that of his lover. He asks, "What merit do I in myself respect, / That is so proud thy service to despise?" Here, the speaker is questioning why his lover would treat him so poorly when he has done nothing to deserve such treatment. He is also suggesting that his lover's pride is the root cause of their problems, as it has led her to treat him as a slave rather than an equal.

The final lines of the poem are perhaps the most powerful and emotional. The speaker declares that he would rather die than continue to live as his lover's slave, saying, "O, let me suffer, being at your beck, / The imprison'd absence of your liberty; / And patience, tame to sufferance, bide each check, / Without accusing you of injury." These lines are a powerful expression of the speaker's pain and frustration, and they convey a sense of deep sadness and despair. The use of the word "imprison'd" is particularly effective, as it suggests that the speaker is trapped in a situation from which he cannot escape.

In terms of structure, Sonnet 58 follows the traditional form of a Shakespearean sonnet. It consists of three quatrains (four-line stanzas) and a final couplet (two-line stanza), and it follows a rhyme scheme of ABAB CDCD EFEF GG. This structure is typical of Shakespeare's sonnets, and it allows him to explore complex themes and emotions in a structured and controlled way.

In terms of language, Sonnet 58 is a masterclass in Shakespearean poetry. The use of imagery, metaphor, and wordplay is both subtle and powerful, and it allows Shakespeare to convey complex emotions and ideas with great clarity and precision. For example, the use of the word "steel" in the second line of the poem is a powerful metaphor that conveys a sense of cold, unyielding imprisonment. Similarly, the use of the word "beck" in the final couplet is a subtle reference to the idea of a dog being called by its master, which reinforces the idea of the speaker being treated as a slave.

In terms of its significance, Sonnet 58 is a powerful expression of the themes that run throughout Shakespeare's body of work. It explores the themes of love, power, and control, and it does so in a way that is both timeless and universal. The poem speaks to the human experience of being in love, and it explores the complex emotions and dynamics that can arise in such relationships. It also speaks to the broader human experience of power and control, and it explores the ways in which these dynamics can be both liberating and oppressive.

In conclusion, Sonnet 58: That god forbid, that made me first your slave is a classic poem that continues to resonate with readers today. Its themes of love, power, and control are timeless and universal, and its language and structure are a testament to Shakespeare's mastery of the art of poetry. Whether you are a fan of Shakespeare or simply a lover of great poetry, Sonnet 58 is a work that is sure to move and inspire you.

Editor Recommended Sites

Business Process Model and Notation - BPMN Tutorials & BPMN Training Videos: Learn how to notate your business and developer processes in a standardized way
Gcloud Education: Google Cloud Platform training education. Cert training, tutorials and more
Learn Prompt Engineering: Prompt Engineering using large language models, chatGPT, GPT-4, tutorials and guides
Customer Experience: Best practice around customer experience management
Prompt Composing: AutoGPT style composition of LLMs for attention focus on different parts of the problem, auto suggest and continue

Recommended Similar Analysis

Understanding by Sarah Teasdale analysis
It struck me every day by Emily Dickinson analysis
We shall enjoy it by Sappho analysis
Stings by Sylvia Plath analysis
Elizabeth by Edgar Allan Poe analysis
Keeping Things Whole by Mark Strand analysis
The Fascination Of What's Difficult by William Butler Yeats analysis
Goody Blake and Harry Gill by William Wordsworth analysis
Long-Legged Fly by William Butler Yeats analysis
Whoever You Are, Holding Me Now In Hand by Walt Whitman analysis