'Sonnet 146: Poor soul, the centre of my sinful earth' by William Shakespeare
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Poor soul, the centre of my sinful earth,
My sinful earth these rebel powers array,
Why dost thou pine within and suffer dearth,
Painting thy outward walls so costly gay?
Why so large cost, having so short a lease,
Dost thou upon thy fading mansion spend?
Shall worms, inheritors of this excess,
Eat up thy charge? is this thy body's end?
Then soul live thou upon thy servant's loss,
And let that pine to aggravate thy store;
Buy terms divine in selling hours of dross;
Within be fed, without be rich no more.
So shall thou feed on Death, that feeds on men,
And Death once dead, there's no more dying then.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Sonnet 146: Poor soul, the centre of my sinful earth
William Shakespeare's Sonnet 146 is a powerful and haunting exploration of the human soul's struggles with sin and temptation. This poem is one of the most famous and celebrated of all Shakespeare's sonnets, and it is easy to see why. With its evocative language, vivid imagery, and deeply felt emotion, Sonnet 146 captures the essence of human experience in a way that few other poems can.
The Poem
Poor soul, the centre of my sinful earth,
My sinful earth these rebel powers array,
Why dost thou pine within and suffer dearth,
Painting thy outward walls so costly gay?
Why so large cost, having so short a lease,
Dost thou upon thy fading mansion spend?
Shall worms, inheritors of this excess,
Eat up thy charge? Is this thy body's end?
Then, soul, live thou upon thy servant's loss,
And let that pine to aggravate thy store;
Buy terms divine in selling hours of dross;
Within be fed, without be rich no more.
So shalt thou feed on Death, that feeds on men,
And Death once dead, there's no more dying then.
Analysis
The poem addresses the soul, which is described as the "centre" of the speaker's "sinful earth." From the very beginning, the speaker establishes the soul as the most important and valuable aspect of the human experience, even though it is surrounded by sin and temptation. The soul is a victim of the powers that surround it, and the speaker acknowledges the struggles that the soul faces within its sinful environment.
The poem then asks a series of rhetorical questions, each of which highlights the soul's struggle to find meaning and purpose in a world that seems to be focused only on material possessions and physical pleasures. The speaker questions why the soul "paints" its "outward walls so costly gay." This line suggests that the soul is trying to cover up its true nature with material possessions and physical beauty. It is as if the soul is trying to compensate for its sinful environment by creating a false sense of beauty and worth.
The speaker then asks why the soul would spend so much time and effort on its "fading mansion," which is a metaphor for the body. The speaker suggests that the body is nothing more than a temporary dwelling, and that it is a waste of time and resources to invest so much in something that will eventually be eaten by worms. This idea of the body as a temporary dwelling is a common theme in Shakespeare's sonnets, and it serves to remind the reader that there is something deeper and more meaningful than physical beauty and pleasure.
The poem then takes a turn, as the speaker suggests that the soul should "live...upon thy servant's loss." In other words, the soul should find its value and worth in the sacrifice of others. This idea is reminiscent of Christ's sacrifice on the cross, and it suggests that the true value of the soul lies in its own sacrifice for the sake of others.
The poem concludes with the suggestion that the soul should "feed on Death, that feeds on men." This line is a powerful image, as it suggests that the soul should find its true nourishment in the sacrifice of others. The idea of "feeding on Death" is both gruesome and beautiful, as it suggests that the soul can find its true value and worth in the sacrifice of others. The final line of the poem is a powerful reminder that death is not the end, and that the soul can find eternal life by sacrificing itself for the sake of others.
Interpretation
Sonnet 146 is a powerful and evocative exploration of the human soul's struggles with sin and temptation. The poem suggests that the soul is the most important and valuable aspect of the human experience, and that it is our duty to find our true value and worth in the sacrifice of others.
The poem suggests that we should not invest too much in the physical world, as it is temporary and ultimately meaningless. Instead, we should focus on the spiritual world, and find our true value and worth in the sacrifice of others.
The poem also suggests that death is not the end, and that the soul can find eternal life by sacrificing itself for the sake of others. This is a powerful message, as it suggests that the true value and worth of the human experience lies in our ability to sacrifice ourselves for the sake of others.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Sonnet 146 is a powerful and haunting exploration of the human soul's struggles with sin and temptation. The poem suggests that the soul is the most important and valuable aspect of the human experience, and that it is our duty to find our true value and worth in the sacrifice of others. The poem also suggests that death is not the end, and that the soul can find eternal life by sacrificing itself for the sake of others. Shakespeare's sonnet is a powerful reminder that there is something deeper and more meaningful than physical beauty and pleasure, and that our true value and worth lies in our ability to sacrifice ourselves for the sake of others.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Sonnet 146: Poor soul, the centre of my sinful earth by William Shakespeare is a classic poem that has stood the test of time. This sonnet is a powerful and emotional piece that explores the inner turmoil of the speaker. In this analysis, we will delve into the meaning and significance of this sonnet, and explore the themes and literary devices used by Shakespeare to convey his message.
The sonnet begins with the line "Poor soul, the centre of my sinful earth," which immediately sets the tone for the rest of the poem. The speaker is addressing his own soul, which he sees as the center of his sinful existence. This line is significant because it highlights the speaker's inner conflict between his spiritual and earthly desires.
The second line, "My sinful earth these rebel powers array," further emphasizes the speaker's struggle with sin. The word "rebel" suggests that the speaker's desires are in opposition to what he knows is right. The use of the word "powers" suggests that these desires are strong and difficult to resist.
In the third line, the speaker describes his soul as "Why dost thou pine within and suffer dearth." The word "pine" suggests that the soul is suffering and in pain. The word "dearth" suggests that the soul is lacking something essential. This line highlights the speaker's concern for his soul and his desire to understand why it is suffering.
The fourth line, "Painting thy outward walls so costly gay," suggests that the speaker is trying to hide his inner turmoil by putting on a façade of happiness and contentment. The use of the word "costly" suggests that this façade is expensive and requires a lot of effort to maintain.
The fifth line, "Why so large cost, having so short a lease," suggests that the speaker is aware that his earthly desires are fleeting and temporary. The use of the word "lease" suggests that life is short and that the speaker's time on earth is limited.
The sixth line, "Dost thou upon thy fading mansion spend," suggests that the speaker is wasting his time and energy on things that are temporary and will eventually fade away. The use of the word "fading" suggests that these things are not permanent and will eventually disappear.
The seventh line, "What need'st thou wound with cunning when thy will," suggests that the speaker is aware that his desires are causing him pain and that he is using his intelligence to justify his actions. The use of the word "cunning" suggests that the speaker is using his intelligence to deceive himself and others.
The eighth line, "Is this fair mansion which thou dost adorn," suggests that the speaker is questioning the value of the things he is pursuing. The use of the word "fair" suggests that these things may seem attractive, but they are not worth the effort and expense.
The ninth line, "Or the earthy body of death's night," suggests that the speaker is aware of his mortality and that he is questioning the value of pursuing earthly desires when he knows that he will eventually die.
The final couplet, "No, no, 'tis all men's office to speak patience," suggests that the speaker is acknowledging that everyone struggles with sin and that it is important to be patient with oneself and others. The use of the word "office" suggests that it is everyone's duty to be patient and understanding.
Overall, Sonnet 146: Poor soul, the centre of my sinful earth is a powerful and emotional poem that explores the inner turmoil of the speaker. Shakespeare uses a variety of literary devices, including metaphor, personification, and rhetorical questions, to convey the speaker's message. The poem highlights the struggle between spiritual and earthly desires and the importance of being patient and understanding with oneself and others. This sonnet is a timeless piece of literature that continues to resonate with readers today.
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