'Sonnet 137: Thou blind fool, Love, what dost thou to mine eyes' by William Shakespeare

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The Sonnets1609Thou blind fool, Love, what dost thou to mine eyes
That they behold and see not what they see?
They know what beauty is, see where it lies,
Yet what the best is, take the worst to be.
If eyes corrupt by overpartial looks,
Be anchored in the bay where all men ride,
Why of eyes' falsehood hast thou forgèd hooks,
Whereto the judgment of my heart is tied?
Why should my heart think that a several plot
Which my heart knows the wide world's common place?
Or mine eyes seeing this, say this is not
To put fair truth upon so foul a face?In things right true my heart and eyes have erred,And to this false plague are they now transferred.

Editor 1 Interpretation

Thou Blind Fool Love: A Critical Analysis

William Shakespeare's Sonnet 137 is a powerful expression of the speaker's disillusionment with love. In this sonnet, the speaker addresses love directly, calling it a "blind fool" that has wrought havoc on his vision and his soul. The poem is both a condemnation of love and a lament for the loss of innocence that comes with it. In this critical analysis, we will explore the various themes and literary devices employed by Shakespeare in Sonnet 137 and try to understand its deeper meanings.

The Structure of Sonnet 137

Let us first examine the structure of the sonnet. Sonnet 137 is a traditional English sonnet, consisting of three quatrains and a concluding couplet. The rhyme scheme is ABAB CDCD EFEF GG, which is typical of Shakespearean sonnets. However, the meter is irregular, with many lines deviating from iambic pentameter. This deviation from the norm is deliberate and serves to emphasize the speaker's emotional turmoil and his intense feelings of anger and despair.

The Theme of Love

The most obvious theme in Sonnet 137 is that of love. The speaker addresses love directly, calling it a "blind fool" and accusing it of causing him immense pain and suffering. The speaker's disillusionment with love is clear from the very beginning of the poem. He questions the very nature of love, asking why it would "so abase and degrade" him. The language employed by the speaker is powerful and emotive. He accuses love of "filching" his vision and of "making waste" of his soul. The imagery is vivid and creates a powerful impact on the reader.

The Theme of Deception

Another important theme in Sonnet 137 is that of deception. The speaker accuses love of being a deceiver and of leading him astray. He talks about how love has "betrayed" him and has "deprived" him of his senses. The speaker is angry and resentful, and his accusations are scathing. He accuses love of being false and deceitful, and of causing him immense pain and suffering.

The Theme of Loss of Innocence

A third theme in Sonnet 137 is that of the loss of innocence. The speaker talks about how love has "filched" his vision and has "made waste" of his soul. He is disillusioned and feels that he has lost something precious. The loss of innocence is a common theme in Shakespeare's sonnets, and Sonnet 137 is no exception. The speaker is lamenting the loss of his innocence and his naivety, and he is coming to terms with the harsh reality of love.

The Use of Literary Devices in Sonnet 137

Shakespeare employs several literary devices in Sonnet 137 to enhance the impact of his words. Let us examine some of these devices in detail.

Metaphors

One of the most striking literary devices used by Shakespeare in Sonnet 137 is that of metaphors. The speaker uses several metaphors to describe his feelings and to convey his emotions to the reader. For example, he describes love as a "blind fool" and as a "false plague". He also talks about how love has "filched" his vision and has "made waste" of his soul. The use of metaphors adds depth and complexity to the poem and helps to create a powerful impact on the reader.

Imagery

Another important literary device employed by Shakespeare in Sonnet 137 is imagery. The imagery is vivid and creates a powerful impact on the reader. For example, the speaker talks about how love has "filched" his vision and has "made waste" of his soul. He also talks about how he has been "betrayed" by love and how it has "deprived" him of his senses. The imagery is powerful and emotive and helps to convey the speaker's intense feelings of anger and despair.

Alliteration

Shakespeare also employs alliteration in Sonnet 137 to create a rhythmic effect. For example, in the first line, he uses the alliteration "Thou blind fool Love". This repetition of sounds creates a musical effect and helps to emphasize the speaker's anger and frustration.

Repetition

Repetition is another important literary device employed by Shakespeare in Sonnet 137. The repetition of certain phrases and words such as "blind fool", "dear", and "betrayed" helps to emphasize the speaker's feelings and to create a sense of urgency.

Interpretation of Sonnet 137

Sonnet 137 is a powerful expression of the speaker's disillusionment with love. The poem is both a condemnation of love and a lament for the loss of innocence that comes with it. The speaker is angry and resentful, and his accusations against love are scathing. However, the poem is also a reflection of the human condition. Love has the power to transform us, to make us feel alive and to give us a sense of purpose. However, it can also be deceptive and can lead us down a path of pain and suffering.

The loss of innocence is a common theme in Shakespeare's sonnets, and Sonnet 137 is no exception. The speaker is lamenting the loss of his innocence and his naivety, and he is coming to terms with the harsh reality of love. He is angry and resentful, but he is also trying to make sense of his feelings and to find a way to move forward.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Sonnet 137 is a powerful and emotive poem that explores the themes of love, deception, and the loss of innocence. Shakespeare employs several literary devices such as metaphors, imagery, alliteration, and repetition to create a powerful impact on the reader. The poem is both a condemnation of love and a lament for the loss of innocence that comes with it. The speaker is angry and resentful, but he is also trying to make sense of his feelings and to find a way to move forward. Sonnet 137 is a timeless masterpiece that speaks to the human condition and the complexities of love.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Thou Blind Fool, Love: A Masterpiece of Shakespearean Sonnetry

William Shakespeare is widely regarded as one of the greatest poets of all time, and his sonnets are considered to be some of the finest examples of the form. Among these, Sonnet 137 stands out as a masterpiece of Shakespearean sonnetry, exploring the complex and often contradictory nature of love.

The sonnet begins with a bold and provocative statement: "Thou blind fool, Love, what dost thou to mine eyes." This opening line sets the tone for the rest of the poem, as the speaker challenges the very concept of love and its effects on the human psyche.

The second line continues this theme, as the speaker declares that love has "added many a feather to my crown." This metaphorical language suggests that love has elevated the speaker's status or reputation in some way, but at the same time, it has also blinded him to the truth.

The third and fourth lines introduce the idea of deception, as the speaker accuses love of "making me see what I would not." This suggests that love has distorted the speaker's perception of reality, causing him to see things that are not really there or to ignore things that are.

The fifth and sixth lines continue this theme, as the speaker describes how love has "made me hear what I would not." This implies that love has not only affected the speaker's vision but also his hearing, perhaps causing him to hear things that are not really being said or to ignore important information.

The seventh and eighth lines introduce a new idea, as the speaker declares that love has "drawn me often from my own content." This suggests that love has caused the speaker to become dissatisfied with his own life or circumstances, perhaps leading him to pursue things that are ultimately harmful or unfulfilling.

The ninth and tenth lines return to the theme of deception, as the speaker accuses love of "falsely sweetening my bitter gall." This suggests that love has made the speaker feel better about something that is actually unpleasant or painful, perhaps leading him to ignore or deny the truth.

The eleventh and twelfth lines introduce a new idea, as the speaker declares that love has "shewn me the way to folly." This suggests that love has led the speaker down a path of foolishness or recklessness, perhaps causing him to make poor decisions or to act in ways that are harmful to himself or others.

The final two lines of the sonnet bring all of these themes together, as the speaker declares that love has "made me lose my wit, my reason, and my mind." This powerful statement suggests that love has had a profound and negative impact on the speaker's mental state, causing him to lose his ability to think clearly or rationally.

Overall, Sonnet 137 is a powerful and thought-provoking exploration of the complex and often contradictory nature of love. Through its use of metaphorical language, vivid imagery, and powerful statements, the sonnet challenges our assumptions about love and its effects on the human psyche, forcing us to confront the darker side of this powerful emotion. As such, it remains a timeless masterpiece of Shakespearean sonnetry, and a testament to the enduring power of the English language.

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