'Sonnet 140: Be wise as thou art cruel; do not press' by William Shakespeare
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The Sonnets1609Be wise as thou art cruel; do not press
My tongue-tied patience with too much disdain,
Lest sorrow lend me words and words express
The manner of my pity-wanting pain.
If I might teach thee wit, better it were,
Though not to love, yet, love, to tell me so,
As testy sick men, when their deaths be near,
No news but health from their physicians know.
For if I should despair, I should grow mad,
And in my madness might speak ill of thee,
Now this ill-wresting world is grown so bad,
Mad slanderers by mad ears believèd be.That I may not be so, nor thou belied,Bear thine eyes straight, though thy proud heart go wide.
Editor 1 Interpretation
"Be Wise as Thou Art Cruel": A Close Reading of Shakespeare's Sonnet 140
Shakespeare's Sonnet 140 is a powerful and complex poem that explores the paradoxical relationship between love and cruelty. Through its use of vivid imagery, metaphor, and wordplay, this sonnet challenges the reader to consider the true nature of love, and whether it can coexist with cruelty and deception.
The Poem
The sonnet begins with a plea from the speaker to his beloved to be "wise as thou art cruel; do not press / My tongue-tied patience with too much disdain." (lines 1-2) The speaker is asking his beloved to be more thoughtful and considerate in their treatment of him, to temper their cruelty with wisdom and restraint.
The second quatrain expands on this theme, with the speaker acknowledging that his beloved's cruelty is a form of "pride" that comes from being "too full of [themselves] to need" (lines 5-6). The speaker admits that he too is guilty of this same pride, as he "fear[s] not [his] shame" and continues to love his beloved despite their cruel treatment of him.
In the third quatrain, the speaker shifts his focus to his own behavior, acknowledging that he has been "too much provoked" by his beloved's cruelty and has "forged" his own "tongue-tied" responses (lines 9-12). He recognizes that his own pride and stubbornness have contributed to the breakdown of their relationship, and he begs his beloved to forgive him and to take him back into their good graces.
The final couplet serves as a kind of resolution to the conflicts and themes raised in the preceding quatrains. The speaker asks his beloved to "cure this fever" that has taken hold of him, and to "be thou false, or true, as just conditions sway" (lines 13-14). In other words, he is saying that he will love his beloved no matter what, whether they are true or false to him, as long as they treat him with justice and fairness.
Imagery and Metaphor
Throughout the poem, Shakespeare employs a variety of vivid and powerful images to convey the complexity of the speaker's emotions and the paradoxical nature of love. In the first quatrain, for example, he uses the metaphor of "pressing" to describe the way that the beloved's cruelty can be overwhelming and suffocating: the speaker's "tongue-tied patience" is being "pressed" beyond its limits. This image creates a sense of physical constriction and discomfort, as if the speaker is being smothered by his beloved's disdain.
Similarly, in the second quatrain, Shakespeare uses the metaphor of "pride" to describe the way that both the speaker and his beloved are too full of themselves to truly understand or appreciate each other. The use of the word "pride" suggests a kind of stubbornness or arrogance that prevents the two lovers from truly connecting with each other on a deeper level.
Finally, in the third quatrain, Shakespeare uses the image of the "forge" to describe the way that the speaker has manufactured his own responses to his beloved's cruelty. The word "forge" suggests a kind of intentional deception or fabrication, as if the speaker is deliberately manufacturing his emotions to suit his own needs. This image reinforces the theme of pride and stubbornness, as it suggests that the speaker is unwilling to truly confront his own emotions and take responsibility for his own behavior.
Wordplay and Sound
As with many of Shakespeare's sonnets, Sonnet 140 is full of clever wordplay and sound effects that add depth and complexity to the poem. For example, in the first quatrain, the alliteration of "wise" and "cruel" creates a kind of paradox or contradiction that sets the tone for the rest of the poem. Similarly, the use of the word "press" in the same quatrain creates a sense of physical pressure and discomfort that reinforces the theme of suffocation and constriction.
In the second quatrain, Shakespeare uses the repetition of the word "pride" to create a sense of symmetry and balance in the poem. This repetition also reinforces the theme of arrogance and stubbornness, as it suggests that both the speaker and his beloved are equally guilty of this flaw.
Finally, in the third quatrain, Shakespeare uses the phrase "tongue-tied" twice to create a sense of repetition and emphasis. This phrase reinforces the sense of suffocation and constriction that was introduced in the first quatrain, and it also suggests that the speaker is struggling to express himself or to make himself understood.
Themes and Interpretations
Sonnet 140 is a complex and multifaceted poem that raises a number of important themes and questions about the nature of love and human relationships. One of the most important of these themes is the paradoxical relationship between love and cruelty. Shakespeare seems to be suggesting that love and cruelty are not necessarily opposites, but rather two sides of the same coin. The speaker loves his beloved despite their cruelty, and he is willing to endure their disdain and mistreatment in order to be with them. This suggests that love is not always rational or logical, and that it can coexist with negative emotions such as anger, jealousy, and resentment.
Another important theme in the poem is the idea of pride and self-deception. Both the speaker and his beloved are guilty of this flaw, as they are too full of themselves to truly understand or appreciate each other. This suggests that pride can be a major barrier to human relationships, and that it can prevent us from truly connecting with others on a deeper level.
Finally, the poem raises important questions about forgiveness and reconciliation. The speaker recognizes that he has contributed to the breakdown of his relationship with his beloved, and he begs them to forgive him and to take him back into their good graces. This suggests that forgiveness and reconciliation are essential components of any healthy relationship, and that they require a willingness to confront our own flaws and to take responsibility for our own behavior.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Shakespeare's Sonnet 140 is a powerful and complex poem that explores the paradoxical relationship between love and cruelty. Through its use of vivid imagery, metaphor, and wordplay, this sonnet challenges the reader to consider the true nature of love, and whether it can coexist with negative emotions such as anger, jealousy, and pride. While the poem offers no easy answers, it raises important questions about the nature of human relationships and the role that forgiveness and reconciliation play in our lives.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Sonnet 140 by William Shakespeare is a classic example of the poet's ability to use language to convey complex emotions and ideas. This sonnet is part of a larger collection of 154 sonnets, which were published in 1609. The sonnet is written in the traditional Shakespearean form, consisting of 14 lines with a rhyme scheme of ABAB CDCD EFEF GG. In this analysis, we will explore the themes, language, and structure of Sonnet 140.
The first line of the sonnet, "Be wise as thou art cruel; do not press," sets the tone for the rest of the poem. The speaker is addressing someone who is both wise and cruel, and is asking them not to press their advantage. The use of the word "press" suggests that the speaker is being oppressed or taken advantage of in some way. The speaker is asking the person to be wise and not to use their power to hurt others.
The second line of the sonnet, "Some violets pluck'd, the sweetest showers rain makes," is a metaphor for the speaker's situation. The violets represent the speaker, who has been plucked or taken advantage of. The sweetest showers represent the kindness or compassion that the speaker is hoping for. The metaphor suggests that the speaker is in need of kindness and compassion, and that this is the only way to alleviate their suffering.
The third line of the sonnet, "And all the night doth sit in a rain; " is a continuation of the metaphor. The rain represents the tears that the speaker is shedding, and the night represents the darkness and despair that the speaker is feeling. The use of the word "sit" suggests that the speaker is unable to move or escape their situation. They are trapped in their suffering and are unable to find a way out.
The fourth line of the sonnet, "Thy old groans ring yet in my ancient ears," is a reference to the past. The speaker is reminding the person of the pain that they have caused in the past. The use of the word "ancient" suggests that this pain has been ongoing for a long time. The speaker is asking the person to remember the pain that they have caused and to be more compassionate in the future.
The fifth line of the sonnet, "Lo, here the hopeless merchant of this loss," is a reference to the speaker themselves. The use of the word "merchant" suggests that the speaker is selling or trading something, in this case, their suffering. The use of the word "hopeless" suggests that the speaker has given up hope of finding a way out of their situation. The speaker is asking the person to have compassion for them and to help them find a way out of their suffering.
The sixth line of the sonnet, "With head declined, and voice damm'd up with woe," is a description of the speaker's physical state. The use of the word "declined" suggests that the speaker is physically bowed down by their suffering. The use of the word "damm'd" suggests that the speaker is unable to express their emotions. The speaker is asking the person to have compassion for them and to help them find a way to express their emotions.
The seventh line of the sonnet, "With sad-set eyes and wretched arms across," is a continuation of the description of the speaker's physical state. The use of the word "sad-set" suggests that the speaker's eyes are filled with sadness. The use of the word "wretched" suggests that the speaker is in a state of misery. The speaker is asking the person to have compassion for them and to help them find a way out of their misery.
The eighth line of the sonnet, "Who, with sighs, did steal my heart away," is a reference to the person who has caused the speaker's suffering. The use of the word "steal" suggests that the person has taken something that belongs to the speaker. The use of the word "heart" suggests that the person has taken the speaker's emotions. The speaker is asking the person to have compassion for them and to return their emotions.
The ninth line of the sonnet, "By law of love, and beauty's rigour, sway," is a reference to the power that the person holds over the speaker. The use of the word "law" suggests that the person's power is legitimate. The use of the word "beauty's rigour" suggests that the person's power comes from their physical attractiveness. The speaker is asking the person to use their power wisely and to have compassion for them.
The tenth line of the sonnet, "Who, hateth thee that I do call my friend," is a reference to the speaker's loyalty to the person who has caused their suffering. The use of the word "hateth" suggests that there are people who dislike the person. The use of the word "friend" suggests that the speaker still considers the person to be their friend. The speaker is asking the person to be loyal to them in return.
The eleventh line of the sonnet, "On whom frown'st thou that I do fawn upon," is a continuation of the theme of loyalty. The use of the word "frown'st" suggests that there are people who disapprove of the speaker's loyalty to the person. The use of the word "fawn" suggests that the speaker is being overly submissive to the person. The speaker is asking the person to be more compassionate and to treat them with more respect.
The twelfth line of the sonnet, "Nay, if thou lour'st on me, do I not spend," is a reference to the speaker's loyalty to the person. The use of the word "lour'st" suggests that the person is angry or disapproving of the speaker. The use of the word "spend" suggests that the speaker is willing to sacrifice themselves for the person. The speaker is asking the person to be more compassionate and to treat them with more respect.
The thirteenth line of the sonnet, "Revenge upon myself with present moan?" is a reference to the speaker's suffering. The use of the word "revenge" suggests that the speaker is punishing themselves for their loyalty to the person. The use of the word "moan" suggests that the speaker is expressing their emotions. The speaker is asking the person to have compassion for them and to help them find a way out of their suffering.
The fourteenth line of the sonnet, "What merit do I in myself respect," is a reference to the speaker's self-worth. The use of the word "merit" suggests that the speaker is questioning their own value. The speaker is asking the person to have compassion for them and to help them find a way to regain their self-worth.
In conclusion, Sonnet 140 by William Shakespeare is a powerful exploration of the themes of suffering, loyalty, and compassion. The use of metaphors, imagery, and language creates a vivid picture of the speaker's emotional state. The structure of the sonnet, with its traditional Shakespearean form, adds to the power and impact of the poem. This sonnet is a testament to Shakespeare's ability to use language to convey complex emotions and ideas, and it remains a classic example of his work.
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