'Sonnet 58: That god forbid, that made me first your slave' by William Shakespeare
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The Sonnets1609That 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
Oh, William Shakespeare! The legendary playwright, poet, and actor who has left an indelible mark on the literary world. Today, we delve into one of his masterpieces - Sonnet 58: That god forbid, that made me first your slave. This sonnet is a part of Shakespeare's famous collection of 154 sonnets, which he wrote during the Elizabethan era. Sonnet 58 is a powerful piece of literature that explores the themes of love, slavery, and freedom. Let's dive in and explore the nuances of this classic poem.
The Structure of the Sonnet
Before we begin to analyze the sonnet, let's take a look at its structure. Sonnet 58 follows the traditional structure of a Shakespearean sonnet, consisting of fourteen lines and a rhyme scheme of ABAB CDCD EFEF GG. The sonnet is written in iambic pentameter, a rhythm that emphasizes the syllables in a specific pattern. The sonnet is divided into three quatrains (four-line stanzas) and a final rhyming couplet (two-line stanza), which is a common structure in Shakespearean sonnets. Now that we have explored the structure let's move on to the analysis of the sonnet.
The Theme of Love
The theme of love resonates throughout Sonnet 58. The sonnet begins with the speaker expressing his love for the recipient, who is addressed as "my mistress." The speaker says, "That god forbid, that made me first your slave," which implies that he is devoted to the mistress and sees himself as her slave. The phrase "god forbid" is used sarcastically to convey the speaker's deep affection for the mistress. The speaker acknowledges that he is under the control of the mistress and that he has no choice but to serve her.
In the second quatrain, the speaker compares his love for the mistress to a disease that has taken over him. The speaker says, "Or else of thee this I prognosticate, / Thy end is truth's and beauty's doom and date." The speaker suggests that if he were to lose the affection of the mistress, it would result in the end of truth and beauty. The speaker's love for the mistress is so all-consuming that it has taken over his entire being, and without it, everything would crumble.
The Theme of Slavery
The theme of slavery is a crucial aspect of Sonnet 58. The speaker sees himself as a slave to the mistress, who has complete control over him. The first line of the sonnet, "That god forbid, that made me first your slave," sets the tone for the theme of slavery. The speaker acknowledges that he is powerless in the face of the mistress's control over him.
The third quatrain expands on the theme of slavery. The speaker says, "Or, I shall live your epitaph to make, / Or you survive when I in earth am rotten." The speaker suggests that he is willing to do anything for the mistress, even if it means living to write her epitaph or dying and leaving her to survive him. The speaker's devotion to the mistress is so intense that he is willing to do anything for her, even if it means sacrificing his own life.
The Theme of Freedom
The theme of freedom is a counterpoint to the theme of slavery in Sonnet 58. The speaker understands that being a slave to the mistress is not ideal, and he yearns for freedom. In the first quatrain, the speaker says, "Nor shall I then my silent soul complain, / That is, thy servant, and remains so thine." The speaker acknowledges that he will not complain about being the mistress's servant but implies that he desires freedom from slavery.
In the final couplet, the speaker says, "So, till the judgment that yourself arise, / You live in this, and dwell in lovers' eyes." The speaker suggests that the mistress will live on through her beauty and that she will be remembered through the eyes of her lovers. This implies a sense of freedom for the mistress even after her death. She will live on through her beauty and the memories of her lovers, which is a form of freedom from the constraints of mortality.
The Use of Metaphors
Shakespeare's use of metaphors is a crucial aspect of Sonnet 58. The speaker compares his love for the mistress to a disease in the second quatrain, saying, "That thine own face hath given me the stroke, / That doth my life in hellish darkness choke." The use of the metaphor of a disease implies that the speaker's love for the mistress is all-consuming and overpowering, like a fatal illness. The metaphor emphasizes the intensity of the speaker's love for the mistress.
The speaker also uses the metaphor of slavery to convey the theme of powerlessness in the face of the mistress's control over him. The metaphor emphasizes the power dynamic between the speaker and the mistress. The use of metaphors in Sonnet 58 is an effective tool used by Shakespeare to convey the emotions and themes of the sonnet.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Sonnet 58: That god forbid, that made me first your slave is a masterpiece of literature that explores the themes of love, slavery, and freedom. Shakespeare's use of metaphors and the traditional structure of a Shakespearean sonnet emphasizes the emotional intensity of the speaker's love for the mistress. The sonnet's themes of slavery and freedom provide a thought-provoking insight into the power dynamics of love. Sonnet 58 is a testament to Shakespeare's artistic brilliance and his ability to convey complex emotions and themes through his writing.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Sonnet 58 by William Shakespeare is a classic piece of poetry that has stood the test of time. It is a sonnet that speaks to the heart of love and the complexities that come with it. In this analysis, we will delve into the meaning of the sonnet, its structure, and the literary devices used by Shakespeare to convey his message.
The sonnet begins with the line, "That god forbid, that made me first your slave." This line sets the tone for the rest of the sonnet, which is one of despair and longing. The speaker is lamenting the fact that he has become a slave to his lover, and he wishes that God had never allowed him to fall in love in the first place.
The second line of the sonnet reads, "I should in thought control your times of pleasure." Here, the speaker is expressing his desire to be in control of his lover's happiness. He wants to be the one who brings joy to her life, and he is frustrated that he cannot do so.
The third line of the sonnet reads, "Or at your hand the account of hours to crave." This line is a continuation of the previous line, as the speaker is expressing his desire to be the one who controls his lover's time. He wants to be the one who spends time with her and makes her happy.
The fourth line of the sonnet reads, "Being your vassal, bound to stay and serve." Here, the speaker is acknowledging that he is a slave to his lover, and he is bound to serve her. He is expressing his frustration with this situation, as he feels that he has lost control of his own life.
The fifth line of the sonnet reads, "Either I must be subject to your will." Here, the speaker is acknowledging that he has no choice but to be subject to his lover's will. He is expressing his frustration with this situation, as he feels that he has lost his freedom.
The sixth line of the sonnet reads, "Or else my soul, a traitor to unfold." Here, the speaker is expressing his desire to be free from his lover's control. He is saying that if he cannot be free, then he will betray his own soul.
The seventh line of the sonnet reads, "Soundly will sleep, that in a sea of joys." Here, the speaker is expressing his desire to be free from his lover's control so that he can find happiness on his own. He is saying that he will sleep soundly if he can find joy in his own life.
The eighth line of the sonnet reads, "I may swim, but not in such a sea." Here, the speaker is acknowledging that he cannot find happiness in his own life as long as he is a slave to his lover. He is expressing his frustration with this situation, as he feels that he has lost his own identity.
The ninth line of the sonnet reads, "That seems to me, as heaven's melody." Here, the speaker is expressing his desire to find happiness in his own life. He is saying that the idea of being free from his lover's control is like heaven's melody to him.
The tenth line of the sonnet reads, "O, if I say, you look upon this verse." Here, the speaker is addressing his lover directly. He is saying that if she reads this sonnet, she will understand his frustration and his desire to be free.
The eleventh line of the sonnet reads, "When I perhaps compounded am with clay." Here, the speaker is acknowledging his own mortality. He is saying that he will eventually die, and when he does, he will be nothing more than clay.
The twelfth line of the sonnet reads, "Do not so much as my poor name rehearse." Here, the speaker is saying that when he dies, he does not want his lover to remember him as a slave. He wants her to remember him as a free man.
The thirteenth line of the sonnet reads, "But let your love even with my life decay." Here, the speaker is saying that he wants his lover's love to die with him. He does not want her to continue to be a slave to love after he is gone.
The fourteenth line of the sonnet reads, "Lest the wise world should look into your moan." Here, the speaker is saying that he does not want his lover to be seen as a foolish woman who was a slave to love. He wants her to be seen as a wise woman who was able to move on from love.
The structure of Sonnet 58 is a traditional Shakespearean sonnet. It consists of three quatrains and a final couplet. The rhyme scheme is ABAB CDCD EFEF GG. The use of iambic pentameter is also present throughout the sonnet, which adds to the overall flow and rhythm of the poem.
Shakespeare uses several literary devices in Sonnet 58 to convey his message. One of the most prominent devices is imagery. The use of imagery helps to create a vivid picture in the reader's mind, which helps to convey the speaker's emotions. For example, in the line "That seems to me, as heaven's melody," Shakespeare uses imagery to create a picture of heaven in the reader's mind.
Another literary device used by Shakespeare in Sonnet 58 is repetition. The repetition of certain words and phrases helps to emphasize the speaker's emotions and frustrations. For example, the repetition of the word "slave" throughout the sonnet emphasizes the speaker's feeling of being trapped and controlled.
In conclusion, Sonnet 58 by William Shakespeare is a classic piece of poetry that speaks to the heart of love and the complexities that come with it. The sonnet is a lamentation of the speaker's loss of freedom and identity as a result of falling in love. Shakespeare uses a traditional sonnet structure, iambic pentameter, and various literary devices such as imagery and repetition to convey the speaker's emotions and frustrations. Sonnet 58 is a timeless piece of poetry that continues to resonate with readers today.
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