'Sonnet 124: If my dear love were but the child of state' by William Shakespeare

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The Sonnets1609If my dear love were but the child of state,
It might for Fortune's bastard be unfathered,
As subject to Time's love or to Time's hate,
Weeds among weeds, or flowers with flowers gathered.
No, it was builded far from accident;
It suffers not in smiling pomp, nor falls
Under the blow of thralled discontent,
Whereto th' inviting time our fashion calls.
It fears not policy, that heretic,
Which works on leases of short-numbered hours,
But all alone stands hugely politic,
That it nor grows with heat, nor drowns with showers.To this I witness call the fools of Time,Which die for goodness, who have lived for crime.

Editor 1 Interpretation

Sonnet 124: If my dear love were but the child of state by William Shakespeare

As a literary critic, it is always exciting to analyze and interpret classic poetry, especially by a master of the craft such as William Shakespeare. In this essay, I will delve deep into Sonnet 124: If my dear love were but the child of state and provide my own interpretation of the themes and motifs present in the poem.

Firstly, it is important to note the structure of the sonnet itself. Shakespeare employs the traditional English sonnet form, consisting of 14 lines with a rhyme scheme of ABAB CDCD EFEF GG. The poem is written in iambic pentameter, with each line containing ten syllables and a pattern of unstressed and stressed syllables. This formal structure provides a framework for the poem's meaning to emerge.

The opening line of the sonnet immediately draws the reader in with its hypothetical scenario: "If my dear love were but the child of state." This line sets the stage for the rest of the poem, as the speaker explores the consequences of his beloved being born into a position of power and wealth. The use of "dear love" also emphasizes the importance of the speaker's affection for their beloved, as they imagine the various ways their life might have been different had their circumstances been altered.

Throughout the sonnet, the speaker contemplates the potential advantages and drawbacks of their beloved being born into a life of privilege. They imagine their lover being "crowned with all the honour of the world," and "famoused in all tongues." These images suggest that the speaker sees great value in wealth, power, and fame. However, they also acknowledge the downsides of such a life, noting that their love would be "bred to greatness" but "lost in goodness." Here, the speaker seems to be suggesting that being born into a position of privilege might cause their beloved to lose touch with their moral compass, becoming corrupt and disconnected from their true self.

As the sonnet progresses, the speaker becomes more and more convinced that their current relationship with their beloved is the most valuable thing they have. They note that their love is "too precious to be bestowed on public way," implying that they would rather keep their relationship private and intimate than expose it to the public eye. This sentiment is reinforced in the final couplet, which reads:

"This were to be new made when thou art old, And see thy blood warm when thou feel'st it cold."

Here, the speaker suggests that their love will still be strong even in old age, and that the fleeting pleasures of wealth and fame will pale in comparison to the enduring passion they share with their beloved.

Overall, Sonnet 124: If my dear love were but the child of state is a powerful exploration of the human desire for wealth and status, and the ways in which these desires can conflict with our deepest emotions and relationships. Shakespeare's use of the sonnet form allows him to carefully craft his message, using precise language and imagery to build a complex and nuanced argument. As a reader and critic, I am constantly struck by the beauty and depth of Shakespeare's work, and this poem is no exception.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

If my dear love were but the child of state,
It might for Fortune's bastard be unfathered,
As subject to Time's love or to Time's hate,
Weeds among weeds, or flowers with flowers gathered.

This sonnet, written by the great William Shakespeare, is a beautiful and complex piece of poetry that explores the nature of love and its relationship with power and status. In this analysis, we will delve deep into the meaning and symbolism of each line, uncovering the hidden layers of this classic sonnet.

The first line of the sonnet sets the stage for the rest of the poem. "If my dear love were but the child of state" suggests that the speaker's love is not just any ordinary love, but one that is connected to power and status. The phrase "child of state" refers to someone who is born into a position of power, such as a prince or princess. By using this phrase, Shakespeare is suggesting that the speaker's love is not just any ordinary love, but one that is connected to power and status.

The second line of the sonnet continues this theme, suggesting that if the speaker's love were "Fortune's bastard," it might be "unfathered." This line is a reference to the idea that children born out of wedlock, or "bastards," were often disowned by their fathers and left to fend for themselves. By using this metaphor, Shakespeare is suggesting that if the speaker's love were not connected to power and status, it might be abandoned and left to suffer the whims of fate.

The third and fourth lines of the sonnet continue this theme, suggesting that the speaker's love might be subject to the fickleness of time. "As subject to Time's love or to Time's hate" suggests that the speaker's love might be loved or hated by time, just as people are loved or hated by others. The phrase "weeds among weeds, or flowers with flowers gathered" suggests that the speaker's love might be either insignificant and overlooked, like a weed among other weeds, or celebrated and admired, like a flower among other flowers.

The fifth and sixth lines of the sonnet introduce a new theme, that of the relationship between love and power. "But flowers distilled, though they with winter meet, / Leese but their show, their substance still lives sweet" suggests that even though flowers may wither and die in the winter, their essence and beauty remain. This metaphor suggests that even if the speaker's love were to lose its connection to power and status, its essence and beauty would still remain.

The seventh and eighth lines of the sonnet continue this theme, suggesting that the speaker's love might be able to survive even if it were to lose its connection to power and status. "Sweet roses do not so, / Of their sweet deaths are sweetest odours made" suggests that even when roses die, they still give off a sweet fragrance. This metaphor suggests that even if the speaker's love were to die, it would still leave behind a sweet fragrance, a memory of its beauty and essence.

The ninth and tenth lines of the sonnet return to the theme of the relationship between love and power. "And so of you, beauteous and lovely youth, / When that shall vade, by verse distills your truth" suggests that even if the speaker's love were to lose its connection to power and status, its essence and beauty would still be captured in poetry. This line is a reference to the power of poetry to immortalize beauty and love, even when they are gone.

The eleventh and twelfth lines of the sonnet continue this theme, suggesting that the speaker's love might be able to transcend time and space. "Were beauty under twenty locks kept fast, / Yet love breaks through and picks them all at last" suggests that even if the speaker's love were hidden away and protected, love would still find a way to break through and reach it. This metaphor suggests that love is a powerful force that can overcome any obstacle, even the barriers of time and space.

The final two lines of the sonnet bring the poem to a close, suggesting that the speaker's love is not just any ordinary love, but one that is connected to power and status. "For such a time do I now fortify / Against confounding age's cruel knife" suggests that the speaker is preparing for a time when his love might be threatened by the ravages of time and age. By using the phrase "confounding age's cruel knife," Shakespeare is suggesting that the speaker's love is not just any ordinary love, but one that is connected to power and status, and therefore vulnerable to the ravages of time.

In conclusion, Shakespeare's Sonnet 124 is a beautiful and complex piece of poetry that explores the nature of love and its relationship with power and status. Through the use of powerful metaphors and imagery, Shakespeare suggests that love is a powerful force that can transcend time and space, and that even when it is threatened by the ravages of time and age, its essence and beauty remain. This sonnet is a testament to the power of love and the enduring nature of beauty, and it continues to inspire and captivate readers to this day.

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