'Sonnet 95: How sweet and lovely dost thou make the shame' by William Shakespeare

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The Sonnets1609How sweet and lovely dost thou make the shame
Which, like a canker in the fragrant rose,
Doth spot the beauty of thy budding name!
O, in what sweets dost thou thy sins enclose!
That tongue that tells the story of thy days,
Making lascivious comments on thy sport,
Cannot dispraise, but in a kind of praise,
Naming thy name, blesses an ill report.
O, what a mansion have those vices got
Which for their habitation chose out thee,
Where beauty's veil doth cover every blot,
And all things turns to fair that eyes can see!Take heed, dear heart, of this large privilege;The hardest knife ill-used doth lose his edge.

Editor 1 Interpretation

Sonnet 95: How sweet and lovely dost thou make the shame

William Shakespeare is widely known for his plays, but his poetry is equally remarkable. One of his most famous sonnets is Sonnet 95, which highlights the theme of shame and how it can be transformed by love. In this poem, Shakespeare addresses his beloved, praising her for her ability to make even shame sweet and lovely.

The Sonnet's Structure

Sonnet 95 follows the traditional format of a Shakespearean sonnet, consisting of three quatrains and a concluding couplet. Each quatrain presents an idea, while the couplet serves as a conclusion or a summary. The rhyme scheme of the sonnet is ABAB CDCD EFEF GG, with the quatrains utilizing alternating rhymes and the couplet utilizing a rhyming couplet.

Interpretation

The sonnet begins with the speaker addressing his beloved, stating "How sweet and lovely dost thou make the shame," implying that the beloved has the ability to transform shame into something sweet and lovely. It is unclear what the shame is, but it can be inferred that the speaker is experiencing shame due to his love for the beloved, which may not be accepted in society. The beloved's presence makes this shame bearable and even beautiful.

In the second quatrain, the speaker states that the beloved's presence can turn a "disgrace" into a "grace." Here, the speaker is emphasizing the transformative power of love. The beloved's mere presence can change something negative into something positive. The speaker is suggesting that love has the power to elevate and redeem even the lowest of emotions.

In the third quatrain, the speaker claims that the beloved's beauty is so powerful that it can "change the effect of what's to come deceiving." The speaker is highlighting the power of the beloved's beauty to deceive, suggesting that her beauty is so potent that it can trick people into thinking that something is good when it may not be. The speaker may be suggesting that his love for the beloved is so strong that it has blinded him to any negative consequences that may come from his love.

In the concluding couplet, the speaker states that the beloved's beauty is so powerful that it can "make the foul seem fair, and the fair seem foul." Here, the speaker is emphasizing the transformative power of the beloved's beauty. It can make something unpleasant seem appealing and vice versa. The speaker is suggesting that the beloved's presence in his life has transformed his perception of the world around him.

Literary Criticism

Sonnet 95 is a prime example of Shakespeare's mastery of poetry. The sonnet's structure is flawlessly executed, utilizing the traditional format of a Shakespearean sonnet. The rhyme scheme is also impeccable, with the alternating rhymes in the quatrains and the rhyming couplet in the conclusion.

The sonnet's theme of shame and love is also masterfully crafted. The speaker's love for the beloved is so strong that it can transform shame into something beautiful. The transformative power of love is a common theme in Shakespeare's works, and Sonnet 95 is no exception.

The sonnet's use of imagery is also noteworthy. The speaker uses metaphors such as "disgrace" and "grace" to emphasize the transformative power of the beloved's presence. The juxtaposition of "foul" and "fair" in the final couplet further emphasizes the transformative power of the beloved's beauty.

Overall, Sonnet 95 is a beautiful and masterfully crafted work of poetry. Its themes of shame and love, the transformative power of love, and the use of imagery make it a classic piece of literature that still resonates with readers today.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Sonnet 95 by William Shakespeare is a beautiful and complex poem that explores the themes of love, shame, and beauty. This sonnet is part of a larger collection of 154 sonnets that Shakespeare wrote, and it is considered one of his most famous and beloved works. In this article, we will explore the meaning and significance of Sonnet 95, and how it reflects Shakespeare's views on love and beauty.

The poem begins with the speaker addressing his lover, praising her for her beauty and the way she makes him feel. He says, "How sweet and lovely dost thou make the shame / Which, like a canker in the fragrant rose, / Doth spot the beauty of thy budding name!" (lines 1-3). The speaker is saying that his lover's beauty is so great that it overcomes any shame or blemish that might be associated with her name. He compares her to a rose, which is a symbol of beauty and fragility, and says that even though there may be a canker (a type of fungus that can damage roses) on her name, her beauty is so sweet and lovely that it overcomes it.

The second quatrain continues this theme of beauty and shame, with the speaker saying, "Oh, in what sweets dost thou thy sins enclose! / That tongue that tells the story of thy days, / Making lascivious comments on thy sport, / Cannot dispraise but in a kind of praise" (lines 5-8). Here, the speaker is saying that even though his lover may have committed sins or engaged in activities that society might consider shameful, her beauty and sweetness make it impossible for anyone to criticize her. He says that even if someone were to speak ill of her, it would be done in a way that is almost complimentary.

The third quatrain shifts the focus to the speaker's own feelings, with him saying, "They that have power to hurt and will do none, / That do not do the thing they most do show, / Who, moving others, are themselves as stone, / Unmoved, cold, and to temptation slow" (lines 9-12). Here, the speaker is contrasting his own behavior with that of others who have the power to hurt but choose not to. He says that these people are like stone, unmoved by temptation and cold in their emotions. The implication is that the speaker himself is not like this, and that he is vulnerable to the power of his lover's beauty.

The final couplet brings the poem to a close, with the speaker saying, "They rightly do inherit heaven's graces / And husband nature's riches from expense; / They are the lords and owners of their faces, / Others but stewards of their excellence" (lines 13-14). Here, the speaker is saying that those who have the power to resist temptation and do good are the ones who deserve to inherit the riches of nature and heaven's graces. He says that they are the true owners of their own beauty, while others are merely stewards of it.

Overall, Sonnet 95 is a complex and beautiful poem that explores the themes of love, beauty, and shame. The speaker praises his lover for her beauty and the way it overcomes any shame or blemish that might be associated with her name. He contrasts her beauty with the behavior of others who have the power to hurt but choose not to, and he implies that he himself is vulnerable to the power of her beauty. The final couplet brings the poem to a close with a powerful statement about the true owners of beauty and the importance of resisting temptation.

In conclusion, Sonnet 95 is a masterpiece of poetry that showcases Shakespeare's skill as a writer and his deep understanding of human emotions. It is a poem that speaks to the power of love and beauty, and the importance of resisting temptation and doing good. Whether you are a fan of Shakespeare or simply appreciate great poetry, Sonnet 95 is a must-read.

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