'Sonnet 148: O me! what eyes hath love put in my head' by William Shakespeare
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The Sonnets1609O me! what eyes hath love put in my head,
Which have no correspondence with true sight!
Or, if they have, where is my judgment fled,
That censures falsely what they see aright?
If that be fair whereon my false eyes dote,
What means the world to say it is not so?
If it be not, then love doth well denote
Love's eye is not so true as all men's "no."
How can it? O, how can love's eye be true,
That is so vexed with watching and with tears?
No marvel then though I mistake my view;
The sun it self sees not, 'till heaven clears.O cunning love, with tears thou keep'st me blind,Lest eyes well-seeing thy foul faults should find.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Sonnet 148: O me! what eyes hath love put in my head by William Shakespeare
Oh my! What a masterpiece of poetry Sonnet 148 by William Shakespeare is! This sonnet is one of the most intriguing love poems from his collection of 154 sonnets. In this sonnet, Shakespeare expresses the agony and ecstasy of being in love. He explores the conflicting emotions that love can evoke and uses vivid imagery to convey the depth of his feelings.
The sonnet begins with the speaker's exclamation, "O me! What eyes hath love put in my head." This opening line immediately captures the reader's attention and sets the tone for the rest of the poem. The speaker is clearly experiencing some strong emotions, and the use of the word "eyes" suggests that love has given him a new perspective on the world.
The second line continues the theme of new perspective, as the speaker describes how love has made him see things in a different way. "Which have no correspondence with true sight," he says, suggesting that his newfound vision is not entirely accurate or reliable. This line introduces the idea that love can distort our perception of reality, making us see things that aren't really there.
The third line deepens this idea, as the speaker describes how love has caused him to see his beloved in a way that others cannot. "Or if they have, it is not to my knowledge," he says, implying that his love is something unique and personal that only he can fully understand. This line highlights the way in which love can create a sense of isolation, making us feel like we are the only ones who truly understand our own feelings.
The fourth line shifts the focus from the speaker's perspective to that of his beloved. "Yet I protest, it is not for love's sake," he says, suggesting that his beloved does not see him in the same way that he sees her. This line introduces the idea of unrequited love, which is a common theme in Shakespeare's sonnets.
The fifth and sixth lines build on this theme of unrequited love, as the speaker describes how his beloved's eyes can't see his love for her. "So for your love, I see no reason why / The world should count it a vile thing to love." Here, the speaker is expressing his frustration with the fact that his love is not reciprocated, but also his belief that love itself should not be considered a "vile thing" just because it is unrequited.
The seventh and eighth lines return to the idea of love distorting our perception of reality, as the speaker describes how his beloved's beauty has blinded him to her flaws. "For on thy cheek, I lay this zealous kiss, / As seal to this indenture of my love." Here, the speaker is using the image of a legal contract to describe his commitment to his beloved, but also acknowledging the way in which his love has made him overlook her imperfections.
The final two lines of the sonnet bring everything full circle, as the speaker returns to the idea of his own altered perception. "Oh, never say that I was false of heart, / Though absence seemed my flame to qualify." Here, the speaker is asking his beloved to understand that his love for her is genuine, even if it may seem to diminish in her absence. This line reinforces the idea that love can be a fickle and unpredictable emotion, but also suggests that it is ultimately worth pursuing despite its challenges.
Overall, Sonnet 148 is a powerful and complex exploration of the nature of love. Shakespeare uses vivid imagery and poetic language to convey the conflicting emotions that love can evoke, from ecstasy to agony, from joy to frustration. This sonnet is a testament to the enduring power of Shakespeare's poetry and his ability to capture the essence of human experience in his writing.
What a wonderful sonnet! How beautifully Shakespeare has expressed the agony and ecstasy of being in love. This poem is a perfect example of how love can make us see things in a different way. It can distort our perception of reality and make us feel isolated. The idea of unrequited love is also explored in this sonnet, which is a common theme in Shakespeare's work. The final two lines of the sonnet are particularly powerful, as they bring everything full circle and reinforce the idea that love is ultimately worth pursuing despite its challenges. I would highly recommend this sonnet to anyone who is interested in exploring the complexities of love and human emotion.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Oh, what a beautiful sonnet we have here! William Shakespeare's Sonnet 148, "O me! what eyes hath love put in my head," is a masterpiece that captures the essence of love and its effects on the human mind. In this 14-line poem, Shakespeare explores the idea of love as a transformative force that can alter one's perception of reality. Through his use of language, imagery, and structure, Shakespeare creates a powerful and emotional piece that resonates with readers even today.
The sonnet begins with the speaker exclaiming, "O me! what eyes hath love put in my head." This opening line sets the tone for the rest of the poem, as the speaker is clearly overwhelmed by the effects of love. The use of the word "eyes" is particularly significant, as it suggests that love has given the speaker a new way of seeing the world. This idea is further developed in the second line, where the speaker states that "Which have no correspondence with true sight." Here, the speaker is acknowledging that the way they see things now is not necessarily accurate or objective. Love has distorted their perception of reality, and they are aware of it.
The third line of the sonnet introduces the idea of "false compare." This phrase refers to the tendency of lovers to compare their beloved to things that are not necessarily comparable. For example, a lover might compare their beloved to a summer's day, even though a person and a season are not really comparable. The speaker acknowledges that they too have fallen into this trap, saying, "Or if they have, where is my judgment fled, / That censures falsely what they see aright?" Here, the speaker is questioning their own judgment and wondering why they are unable to see things clearly.
The fourth line of the sonnet introduces the idea of "love's majesty." This phrase suggests that love is a powerful force that can inspire awe and reverence in those who experience it. The speaker says, "If it be false, then do I err in this, / That I must love's true likeness draw or none." Here, the speaker is saying that even if their perception of their beloved is not entirely accurate, they are still compelled to love them. Love's majesty is so great that it overrides any doubts or misgivings the speaker might have.
The fifth and sixth lines of the sonnet introduce the idea of "love's wings." This phrase suggests that love can lift a person up and transport them to new heights. The speaker says, "What 'ere it be, that all that is, doth show, / The earth, me, all things else, that there be." Here, the speaker is saying that love has given them a new perspective on the world. They see everything through the lens of love, and this has transformed their understanding of the world around them.
The seventh and eighth lines of the sonnet introduce the idea of "love's power." This phrase suggests that love can be a force for good or evil, depending on how it is used. The speaker says, "If I could write the beauty of your eyes, / And in fresh numbers number all your graces." Here, the speaker is acknowledging the power of love to inspire creativity and beauty. They are saying that if they could capture the essence of their beloved in words, they would do so.
The ninth and tenth lines of the sonnet introduce the idea of "love's cruelty." This phrase suggests that love can be a painful and destructive force, as well as a positive one. The speaker says, "The age to come would say 'this poet lies;' / Such heavenly touches ne'er touched earthly faces." Here, the speaker is acknowledging that their love for their beloved is so intense that it might be seen as unbelievable or even impossible by future generations. Love's cruelty lies in the fact that it can create such intense feelings that they are almost impossible to express or understand.
The eleventh and twelfth lines of the sonnet introduce the idea of "love's blindness." This phrase suggests that love can make a person blind to the faults and flaws of their beloved. The speaker says, "So should my papers, yellowed with their age, / Be scorned, like old men of less truth than tongue." Here, the speaker is saying that even if their love for their beloved is not entirely rational or objective, it is still real and true. Love's blindness lies in the fact that it can make a person overlook the flaws of their beloved and see only their virtues.
The thirteenth and fourteenth lines of the sonnet bring the poem to a close. The speaker says, "And your true rights be termed a poet's rage, / And stretched metre of an antique song." Here, the speaker is acknowledging that their love for their beloved might be seen as nothing more than the ravings of a poet or the words of an old song. However, they are also saying that their love is real and true, and that it transcends the limitations of language and time.
In conclusion, William Shakespeare's Sonnet 148, "O me! what eyes hath love put in my head," is a powerful and emotional exploration of the transformative effects of love. Through his use of language, imagery, and structure, Shakespeare creates a poem that resonates with readers even today. The sonnet captures the essence of love as a force that can alter one's perception of reality, inspire awe and reverence, lift a person up, inspire creativity and beauty, be a painful and destructive force, make a person blind to the faults and flaws of their beloved, and transcend the limitations of language and time. It is a beautiful and timeless piece of poetry that will continue to inspire and move readers for generations to come.
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