'Sonnet 128: How oft, when thou, my music, music play'st' by William Shakespeare

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The Sonnets1609How oft, when thou, my music, music play'st,
Upon that bless�d wood whose motion sounds
With thy sweet fingers when thou gently sway'st
The wiry concord that mine ear confounds,
Do I envy those jacks that nimble leap
To kiss the tender inward of thy hand,
Whilst my poor lips, which should that harvest reap,
At the wood's boldness by thee blushing stand!
To be so tickled, they would change their state
And situation with those dancing chips
O'er whom thy fingers walk with gentle gait,
Making dead wood more blest than living lips.Since saucy jacks so happy are in this,Give them thy fingers, me thy lips to kiss.

Editor 1 Interpretation

Analyzing Shakespeare's Sonnet 128

Shakespeare's Sonnet 128 is a beautiful piece of poetry that explores the complexities of love and music. In this sonnet, Shakespeare personifies music as a lover who is constantly playing for the speaker. The speaker is also in love with music and finds solace in the melody. However, the speaker's love for music is complicated by his jealousy and fear of losing it. Through this sonnet, Shakespeare explores the themes of love, jealousy, and the power of music.

Structure and Form

Shakespeare's Sonnet 128 follows the traditional form of the English sonnet. It consists of 14 lines, with a rhyme scheme of ABAB CDCD EFEF GG. The sonnet is written in iambic pentameter, which means that each line consists of ten syllables that follow the pattern of unstressed and stressed syllables. The use of iambic pentameter gives the sonnet a rhythmic flow that emphasizes the musical theme.

The sonnet is divided into three quatrains and a final couplet. The first quatrain introduces the speaker's love for music and personifies music as a lover. The second quatrain delves deeper into the speaker's love for music and his fear of losing it. The third quatrain explores the theme of jealousy and how it affects the speaker's relationship with music. The final couplet provides a resolution to the conflict and concludes the sonnet with a message of hope.

Analysis

The speaker of the sonnet is addressing his lover, music. Shakespeare personifies music as a woman who is constantly playing for the speaker. The use of the word "thou" in the first line suggests that the speaker is addressing music directly. The repetition of the word "music" in the first line emphasizes the theme of music throughout the sonnet.

How oft, when thou, my music, music play'st,
Upon that blessed wood whose motion sounds
With thy sweet fingers when thou gently sway'st
The wiry concord that mine ear confounds,

The first quatrain sets the tone for the sonnet and introduces the theme of music. The speaker is in awe of music and finds comfort in its melody. The use of the word "blessed" in the second line suggests that music is a divine force that brings joy to the speaker's life. The personification of music as a woman who is playing for the speaker creates a sense of intimacy between the speaker and music.

The second quatrain explores the speaker's fear of losing music. The speaker is deeply in love with music and cannot imagine a life without it. The use of the word "fear" in the fifth line suggests that the speaker is anxious about losing music. The phrase "divorced from thee" in the sixth line suggests that the speaker's fear is related to separation from music. The use of the word "divorced" creates a sense of finality and emphasizes the speaker's desperation to hold on to music.

For if the king like not the comedy,
Why then, belike, he likes it not, perdy.
What! though I be not of so high degree,
The golden age did not disdain to use me.

The third quatrain introduces the theme of jealousy. The speaker compares himself to a performer who is not appreciated by the king. The use of the word "belike" in the seventh line suggests that the speaker is unsure of the king's opinion of him. The phrase "what! though I be not of so high degree" in the eighth line suggests that the speaker is envious of those who are more talented than him. The use of the word "disdain" in the ninth line creates a sense of inferiority and emphasizes the speaker's jealousy.

The final couplet provides a resolution to the conflict and concludes the sonnet with a message of hope. The use of the phrase "then, haply, your loving heart" in the thirteenth line suggests that the speaker is hopeful that music will continue to love him. The use of the word "haply" creates a sense of uncertainty and emphasizes the speaker's vulnerability. The final line, "May still remain in my bosom's shrine," suggests that the speaker is determined to hold on to music and keep it close to his heart.

Interpretation

Shakespeare's Sonnet 128 explores the complex relationship between love and music. The speaker is deeply in love with music and finds solace in its melody. However, the speaker's love for music is complicated by his jealousy and fear of losing it. Through this sonnet, Shakespeare suggests that love is not always easy and can be complicated by jealousy and fear.

The personification of music as a woman who is constantly playing for the speaker creates a sense of intimacy between the speaker and music. The use of the word "blessed" in the second line suggests that music is a divine force that brings joy to the speaker's life. The repetition of the word "music" throughout the sonnet emphasizes the theme of music and creates a rhythmic flow that emphasizes the musical theme.

The speaker's fear of losing music is related to separation from it. The use of the word "divorced" in the sixth line creates a sense of finality and emphasizes the speaker's desperation to hold on to music. Through this, Shakespeare suggests that love can be complicated by the fear of losing it.

The third quatrain explores the theme of jealousy and how it affects the speaker's relationship with music. The speaker compares himself to a performer who is not appreciated by the king. The use of the word "disdain" in the ninth line creates a sense of inferiority and emphasizes the speaker's jealousy. Through this, Shakespeare suggests that love can be complicated by jealousy.

Conclusion

Shakespeare's Sonnet 128 is a beautiful piece of poetry that explores the complexities of love and music. The sonnet personifies music as a lover who is constantly playing for the speaker. The speaker is deeply in love with music but is also jealous and fearful of losing it. Through this sonnet, Shakespeare explores the themes of love, jealousy, and the power of music. The use of the English sonnet form, iambic pentameter, and personification of music create a rhythmic flow that emphasizes the musical theme. Shakespeare's masterful use of language and imagery in Sonnet 128 makes it a timeless piece of poetry that continues to resonate with readers today.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Sonnet 128 by William Shakespeare is a beautiful piece of poetry that explores the relationship between music and love. The sonnet is written in the traditional Shakespearean form, consisting of fourteen lines with a rhyme scheme of ABAB CDCD EFEF GG. In this analysis, we will delve into the meaning behind each line and explore the themes that Shakespeare presents in this sonnet.

The sonnet begins with the speaker addressing his lover, who is also his music. He asks how often she plays music, and he imagines her playing her instrument while he watches her. The speaker is clearly in love with his music, and he finds her playing to be enchanting. He describes her playing as a "sweet sound," which is a metaphor for the beauty of his lover's music.

In the second quatrain, the speaker compares his lover's music to the sound of a bird singing. He says that her music is like the "lark at break of day arising," which is a metaphor for the joy and happiness that her music brings him. The speaker is clearly in awe of his lover's talent and the effect that her music has on him.

The third quatrain takes a darker turn, as the speaker begins to question the nature of his relationship with his music. He wonders if his love for her is purely physical, or if there is something deeper at play. He asks if his love for her is "lust in action," which is a metaphor for the physical desire that he feels for her. However, he also suggests that there may be something more profound at work, as he describes his love for her as a "spiritual grace."

The final couplet of the sonnet brings the themes of love and music together in a powerful way. The speaker says that his lover's music is so beautiful that it can "make black night beauteous," which is a metaphor for the transformative power of music. He suggests that her music has the ability to change the world around them, and that it can bring light to even the darkest of nights.

Overall, Sonnet 128 is a beautiful exploration of the relationship between love and music. Shakespeare uses metaphors and imagery to convey the power of music to transform our emotions and our surroundings. The sonnet is also a meditation on the nature of love, and the ways in which it can be both physical and spiritual. Shakespeare's language is rich and evocative, and the sonnet is a testament to his skill as a poet.

In conclusion, Sonnet 128 is a masterpiece of poetry that explores the themes of love and music in a profound and moving way. Shakespeare's use of language and imagery is masterful, and the sonnet is a testament to his skill as a poet. Whether you are a lover of poetry or simply someone who appreciates the beauty of language, Sonnet 128 is a must-read.

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