'Sonnet 29: When in disgrace with Fortune and men's eyes' by William Shakespeare
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When, in disgrace with Fortune and men's eyes,
I all alone beweep my outcast state,
And trouble deaf heaven with my bootless cries,
And look upon myself and curse my fate,
Wishing me like to one more rich in hope,
Featured like him, like him with friends possessed,
Desiring this man's art and that man's scope,
With what I most enjoy contented least;
Yet in these thoughts myself almost despising,
Haply I think on thee, and then my state,
Like to the lark at break of day arising
From sullen earth, sings hymns at heaven's gate;
For thy sweet love remembered such wealth brings
That then I scorn to change my state with kings.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Sonnet 29: When in disgrace with Fortune and men's eyes by William Shakespeare
Have you ever felt like the world was against you? Like nothing was going your way and you were constantly being judged by those around you? If so, then you can relate to the speaker in William Shakespeare's Sonnet 29. In this classic poem, Shakespeare explores the theme of self-doubt and social exclusion, offering a powerful commentary on the human condition.
The Poem
When in disgrace with Fortune and men's eyes, I all alone beweep my outcast state, And trouble deaf heaven with my bootless cries, And look upon myself and curse my fate, Wishing me like to one more rich in hope, Featured like him, like him with friends possessed, Desiring this man's art and that man's scope, With what I most enjoy contented least; Yet in these thoughts myself almost despising, Haply I think on thee, and then my state, Like to the lark at break of day arising From sullen earth, sings hymns at heaven's gate; For thy sweet love remembered such wealth brings That then I scorn to change my state with kings.
The poem begins with the speaker feeling low and isolated. He is "in disgrace with Fortune and men's eyes," an expression which suggests that he feels rejected by both fate and society. The repetition of the word "and" in the first line creates a sense of continued struggle and despair. The speaker is not just in a bad situation, but he is also alone in his misery, "beweeping" his outcast state. The verb "beweep" creates an image of someone crying uncontrollably, emphasizing the speaker's emotional turmoil.
The second quatrain introduces the idea of the speaker's relationship with heaven, as he "trouble[s] deaf heaven with [his] bootless cries." The phrase "bootless cries" implies that the speaker's pleas are in vain and that he feels powerless to change his situation. He also "curse[s] his fate," indicating that he feels that he is a victim of circumstance rather than in control of his own destiny. The repetition of the word "him" in the third line implies envy, as the speaker desires to be like others who are more successful than he is. He wishes he had their "art" and "scope," indicating that he wants their talents and opportunities.
The third quatrain shows the speaker questioning his own worth, as he feels that he is "almost despising" himself. However, the speaker's mood changes in the final couplet, as he remembers someone who brings him joy and hope: "For thy sweet love remembered such wealth brings/That then I scorn to change my state with kings." The phrase "sweet love" suggests that the speaker has someone special in his life who brings him happiness. This realization changes the speaker's perspective, and he feels that he has everything he needs, despite his initial feelings of inferiority.
Interpretation
Sonnet 29 is one of Shakespeare's most famous sonnets and has been widely analyzed and interpreted. At its core, the poem is about the human experience of feeling isolated and alone, as well as the power of love to bring us out of that darkness.
The first quatrain of the sonnet introduces the themes of despair and isolation. The speaker feels that he is in "disgrace with Fortune and men's eyes," indicating that he is not only struggling with his own circumstances but also feels judged by others. This is a common experience that many people can relate to. When we feel like we are not living up to society's expectations, we can feel disconnected and alone.
The second quatrain brings up the idea of the speaker's relationship with heaven. The speaker is crying out to the heavens, but he feels like his pleas are going unheard. This is a powerful metaphor for the human experience of feeling that we are alone in our struggles, despite our best efforts to reach out for help.
The third quatrain shows the speaker questioning his own worth and feeling envious of others who seem to have more than he does. This is another common experience, as we often compare ourselves to others and feel inadequate when we don't measure up.
However, the poem takes a positive turn in the final couplet. The speaker remembers someone special in his life who brings him happiness, and this realization changes his perspective. He feels that he has everything he needs and would not trade his life for that of a king's. This message is incredibly powerful, as it reminds us that love and relationships are the most valuable things we have in life.
Literary Devices
Shakespeare employs a number of literary devices in Sonnet 29 to create a powerful emotional impact. One of the most important is the use of repetition. The repetition of the word "and" in the first line creates a sense of continued struggle and despair, while the repetition of the word "him" in the third line emphasizes the speaker's envy of others.
Another important literary device is the use of metaphor. The phrase "trouble deaf heaven with my bootless cries" is a powerful metaphor for the human experience of feeling that our struggles go unheard by the universe. Similarly, the image of the "lark at break of day arising/From sullen earth" is a metaphor for the speaker's own mood lifting and changing from despair to joy.
The sonnet also employs the use of rhyme and meter. The poem is written in iambic pentameter, which means that each line has ten syllables and follows a specific pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables. This creates a musical quality to the poem that adds to its emotional impact. The sonnet is also written in a specific rhyme scheme, with each quatrain following the pattern ABAB and the final couplet rhyming CC.
Conclusion
Sonnet 29 is a powerful poem that explores the human experience of feeling isolated and alone. Through the use of repetition, metaphor, and rhyme, Shakespeare creates a sense of emotional turmoil that many people can relate to. However, the poem also offers a message of hope, reminding us that love and relationships are the most valuable things we have in life. This message is as relevant today as it was when Shakespeare wrote the poem over 400 years ago.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Sonnet 29: When in disgrace with Fortune and men's eyes, written by the legendary William Shakespeare, is a classic poem that has stood the test of time. The poem is a sonnet, which is a 14-line poem with a specific rhyme scheme. Shakespeare's sonnets are known for their intricate language, deep emotions, and timeless themes. In this analysis, we will explore the meaning and significance of Sonnet 29.
The poem begins with the speaker expressing his feelings of disgrace and shame. He feels that he is out of favor with fortune and that people are looking down on him. The opening line, "When in disgrace with Fortune and men's eyes," sets the tone for the rest of the poem. The speaker is in a state of despair, and he feels that he is alone in his suffering.
The second line of the poem, "I all alone beweep my outcast state," reveals that the speaker is isolated and feels like an outcast. He is crying alone, and no one is there to comfort him. The use of the word "beweep" is significant because it implies that the speaker is not just crying, but he is mourning. He is grieving for his lost status and reputation.
In the third line, the speaker expresses his desire to be like other men who are more successful and popular. He says, "And trouble deaf heaven with my bootless cries." The phrase "trouble deaf heaven" means that the speaker wants to make so much noise that even the gods will hear him. He wants to be heard and recognized, even if it means disturbing the peace of heaven.
The fourth line of the poem, "And look upon myself and curse my fate," reveals the speaker's self-loathing. He is so unhappy with his current situation that he curses his own fate. He feels that he is a victim of circumstances and that he has no control over his life.
The fifth line of the poem, "Wishing me like to one more rich in hope," shows the speaker's desire to be like someone else. He wishes that he had more hope and optimism, like other people who are more successful. The use of the word "rich" is significant because it implies that the speaker feels poor and lacking in something.
In the sixth line, the speaker says, "Featured like him, like him with friends possessed." He wants to be like someone else who is more attractive and has more friends. The use of the word "featured" means that the speaker wants to be more physically attractive. He feels that if he were more attractive, he would have more friends and be more successful.
The seventh and eighth lines of the poem, "Desiring this man's art and that man's scope, With what I most enjoy contented least," reveal the speaker's envy of other people's talents and abilities. He wants to be like other people who are more skilled and talented. He is not content with what he has and feels that he is lacking in some way.
In the ninth line of the poem, the speaker says, "Yet in these thoughts myself almost despising." He is aware that his thoughts are negative and self-destructive. He knows that he is despising himself, but he cannot help it.
The tenth line of the poem, "Haply I think on thee, and then my state," reveals the turning point in the poem. The speaker thinks of someone who brings him comfort and joy. This person is not named, but it is assumed that it is someone the speaker loves. The use of the word "haply" means that the speaker thinks of this person by chance or accident.
In the eleventh line of the poem, the speaker says, "Like to the lark at break of day arising." This is a simile that compares the speaker's state of mind to a lark rising at dawn. The lark is a symbol of hope and joy, and the speaker feels that he is rising out of his despair.
The twelfth line of the poem, "From sullen earth sings hymns at heaven's gate," continues the simile of the lark. The lark is singing hymns at heaven's gate, which is a metaphor for the speaker's renewed sense of hope and joy. He feels that he is no longer trapped in his despair and that he is rising up to a higher place.
The thirteenth line of the poem, "For thy sweet love remembered such wealth brings," reveals that the person the speaker is thinking of is someone he loves. This person brings him wealth, not in a material sense, but in a spiritual sense. The use of the word "sweet" implies that the speaker's love for this person is pure and innocent.
The final line of the poem, "That then I scorn to change my state with kings," is a powerful statement of the speaker's newfound confidence and self-worth. He no longer feels that he is inferior to others. He is content with his current state and feels that he is as valuable as a king. The use of the word "scorn" implies that the speaker has a newfound sense of pride and dignity.
In conclusion, Sonnet 29: When in disgrace with Fortune and men's eyes is a powerful poem that explores the themes of despair, self-loathing, envy, and love. The poem takes the reader on a journey from the depths of despair to the heights of hope and joy. The use of language, imagery, and metaphor is masterful, and the poem has stood the test of time as a classic work of literature.
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