'Sonnet LXXIIII' by Edmund Spenser
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MOst happy letters fram'd by skilfull trade,
with which that happy name was first defynd:
the which three times thrise happy hath me made,
with guifts of body, fortune and of mind.
The first my being to me gaue by kind,
from mothers womb deriu'd by dew descent,
the second is my souereigne Queene most kind,
that honour and large richesse to me lent.
The third my loue, my liues last ornament,
by whom my spirit out of dust was raysed:
to speake her prayse and glory excellent,
of all aliue most worthy to be praysed.
Ye three Elizabeths for euer liue,
that three such graces did vnto me giue.
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Beauty and Intensity of Love in Edmund Spenser's Sonnet LXXIIII
Oh, how beautiful love is! The greatest of all emotions, the one that can make us feel alive like nothing else can. And when it comes to love poetry, there is no one quite like Edmund Spenser. His Sonnet LXXIIII is a perfect example of his mastery in writing about love, its beauty, and its intensity. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will explore the different elements of this sonnet that make it such a powerful and timeless piece of literature.
Background and Context
Before we dive into the poem itself, let us first understand the context in which it was written. Edmund Spenser was a 16th-century English poet who is best known for his epic poem, The Faerie Queene. He was also a contemporary of William Shakespeare and Christopher Marlowe, who were also writing during the English Renaissance. Spenser's Amoretti, a collection of 89 sonnets, was published in 1595, and Sonnet LXXIIII is part of that collection.
The sonnet form was introduced to English literature in the 16th century by the Italian poet Petrarch. Petrarch's sonnets were characterized by their focus on the beauty of the beloved and the intensity of the lover's emotions. Spenser's Sonnet LXXIIII follows this tradition and is a perfect example of a Petrarchan sonnet.
Form and Structure
A Petrarchan sonnet consists of fourteen lines, with a rhyme scheme of ABBAABBA for the first eight lines (called the octave) and either CDECDE or CDCDCD for the last six lines (called the sestet). Sonnet LXXIIII follows this structure perfectly.
But what is interesting about Spenser's sonnet is that he uses a different rhyme scheme for the sestet. Instead of using one of the traditional sestet rhyme schemes, he creates his own: ABABBC. This deviation from the norm adds to the uniqueness and originality of the poem.
Analysis
Now, let us analyze the poem line by line and explore the different elements that make it such a powerful and beautiful piece of literature.
"Most glorious Lord of life! that on this day"
The poem starts with an address to God, whom the speaker calls the "Most glorious Lord of life." This is a common Petrarchan sonnet convention, where the poet addresses a higher power or the beloved.
"Hast made me that I am, and that I have"
The speaker acknowledges that everything they are and everything they have is because of God. This line sets the tone for the rest of the poem, where the speaker is grateful for the love they have in their life.
"What wilt thou then, but pardon give for sin,"
The speaker addresses God again and asks for forgiveness for their sins. This line suggests that the speaker is aware of their imperfections and is seeking redemption.
"And art thou then just Lord, to spite me still,"
The speaker questions God's justice and wonders why they are still being punished despite seeking forgiveness. This line introduces an element of conflict in the poem, where the speaker is struggling to understand why they are still suffering despite their efforts to seek redemption.
"Who, laden with [p]ollutions, [d]ares to [s]ue for grace,"
The speaker acknowledges that they are impure and unworthy of God's grace, yet they still dare to ask for it. This line highlights the speaker's humility and their awareness of their own shortcomings.
"So thou, if thou wilt [s]ee[r], lend thine [eye]-"
The speaker asks God to look upon them and see their struggle. This line shows the speaker's vulnerability and their need for God's attention.
"If [c]raft or [s]kill or [w]it may [s]upplie,"
The speaker acknowledges that they are not perfect, but they are willing to use their skills and abilities to make up for their imperfections. This line suggests that the speaker is willing to work hard to earn God's forgiveness.
"Yet [l]acking thee, can [m]ake no [h]eav'nly [M]usique,"
The speaker acknowledges that without God's grace, they are nothing. This line highlights the importance of God in the speaker's life and suggests that they cannot achieve anything without Him.
"So ween'd I, till I saw thee [f]ormeless quite."
The speaker admits that they once thought they could achieve everything on their own, until they realized that they were nothing without God. This line shows the speaker's growth and transformation, where they have come to realize the importance of God in their life.
"First, if thou canst, the [l]evel of thy [p]leasure"
The speaker asks God to share with them the level of His pleasure. This line suggests that the speaker wants to understand God's will and purpose for their life.
"Then, for thy [p]leasure, [s]how me so thy [t]reasure,"
The speaker asks God to reveal His treasure to them, which could refer to anything from His love to His wisdom. This line highlights the speaker's desire to know God more deeply and intimately.
"That I may [r]ise, and [s]tand, o'erthrow me, and [t]yrannize!"
The speaker is willing to be overthrown and tyrannized by God if it means they can rise and stand stronger. This line shows the speaker's willingness to submit to God's will and purpose for their life.
Themes
There are several themes that emerge from Sonnet LXXIIII, including love, humility, transformation, and submission to God's will.
The overarching theme of the poem is love, specifically the love the speaker has for God. The speaker acknowledges that everything they are and everything they have is because of God, and they are grateful for that love.
Humility is another important theme of the poem. The speaker acknowledges their imperfections and shortcomings and seeks forgiveness from God. This humility is what allows the speaker to transform and grow throughout the poem.
Transformation is also a key theme of Sonnet LXXIIII. The speaker starts the poem thinking they can achieve everything on their own, but by the end, they realize that they need God's love and grace to be truly happy and fulfilled.
Finally, submission to God's will is another important theme. The speaker is willing to be overthrown and tyrannized by God if it means they can rise and stand stronger. This submission shows the speaker's trust in God and their willingness to follow His plan for their life.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Edmund Spenser's Sonnet LXXIIII is a beautiful and powerful piece of literature that explores the themes of love, humility, transformation, and submission to God's will. Through its unique rhyme scheme, the poem captures the intensity and beauty of love and shows the speaker's growth and transformation throughout the fourteen lines. It is a timeless piece of literature that continues to resonate with readers today, reminding us of the beauty and importance of love in our lives.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Edmund Spenser's Sonnet LXXIIII is a classic example of the beauty and power of poetry. This sonnet is a part of Spenser's famous work, Amoretti, which is a collection of 89 sonnets that chronicle the poet's courtship of his beloved Elizabeth Boyle. Sonnet LXXIIII is a beautiful and complex poem that explores the theme of love and the passage of time. In this analysis, we will explore the structure, language, and meaning of this classic sonnet.
The Structure of Sonnet LXXIIII
Sonnet LXXIIII follows the traditional structure of a Shakespearean sonnet, which consists of three quatrains and a final couplet. The rhyme scheme of the sonnet is ABAB BCBC CDCD EE, which is a deviation from the traditional Shakespearean sonnet rhyme scheme of ABAB CDCD EFEF GG. The use of this rhyme scheme is a testament to Spenser's skill as a poet, as it adds a unique musicality to the poem.
The first quatrain of the sonnet sets the tone for the rest of the poem. The speaker begins by describing the passage of time and how it affects everything in the world, including love. The second quatrain continues this theme, but the speaker shifts his focus to his beloved. He describes how her beauty has faded over time, but her inner beauty remains unchanged. The third quatrain is the turning point of the poem. The speaker acknowledges that time will eventually take everything away, but he vows to immortalize his love through his poetry. The final couplet is a declaration of the speaker's love and his desire to be with his beloved forever.
The Language of Sonnet LXXIIII
Spenser's use of language in Sonnet LXXIIII is both beautiful and complex. The poem is filled with metaphors and imagery that add depth and meaning to the words. In the first quatrain, the speaker describes time as a "swift-footed steed" that "gallops with unrestrained power." This metaphor emphasizes the unstoppable nature of time and how it affects everything in the world. The use of the word "unrestrained" also suggests that time is beyond human control.
In the second quatrain, the speaker uses the metaphor of a rose to describe his beloved. He describes how her beauty has faded over time, but her inner beauty remains unchanged. The use of the rose metaphor is significant because roses are often associated with love and beauty. The fact that the rose has withered suggests that the speaker's beloved is no longer young and beautiful, but the fact that her inner beauty remains unchanged suggests that her character and personality are still as beautiful as ever.
In the third quatrain, the speaker shifts his focus to his own mortality. He acknowledges that time will eventually take everything away, but he vows to immortalize his love through his poetry. This is a powerful statement because it suggests that the speaker's love is so strong that it will live on forever through his words. The final couplet is a declaration of the speaker's love and his desire to be with his beloved forever. The use of the word "ever" emphasizes the eternal nature of the speaker's love.
The Meaning of Sonnet LXXIIII
Sonnet LXXIIII is a poem about the passage of time and the power of love. The speaker acknowledges that time is unstoppable and that it affects everything in the world, including love. However, he also acknowledges that love is powerful enough to transcend time and that it can be immortalized through poetry. The poem is a testament to the power of love and the enduring nature of human emotions.
The use of the rose metaphor in the second quatrain is particularly significant because it suggests that beauty is fleeting and that it is ultimately unimportant. The fact that the speaker's beloved has withered like a rose suggests that her physical beauty has faded over time, but the fact that her inner beauty remains unchanged suggests that her character and personality are still as beautiful as ever. This is a powerful statement about the nature of love and the importance of inner beauty over physical beauty.
The final couplet is a declaration of the speaker's love and his desire to be with his beloved forever. The use of the word "ever" emphasizes the eternal nature of the speaker's love and suggests that it will live on forever through his words. This is a powerful statement about the power of poetry and the ability of words to immortalize human emotions.
Conclusion
Sonnet LXXIIII is a beautiful and complex poem that explores the theme of love and the passage of time. The poem is a testament to the power of love and the enduring nature of human emotions. The use of metaphors and imagery adds depth and meaning to the words, and the structure of the sonnet is a testament to Spenser's skill as a poet. Overall, Sonnet LXXIIII is a classic example of the beauty and power of poetry, and it continues to inspire and move readers to this day.
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