'Sonnet 41: Those pretty wrongs that liberty commits' by William Shakespeare
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Those pretty wrongs that liberty commits
When I am sometime absent from thy heart,
Thy beauty and thy years full well befits,
For still temptation follows where thou art.
Gentle thou art, and therefore to be won;
Beauteous thou art, therefore to be assailed;
And when a woman woos, what woman's son
Will sourly leave her till he have prevailed?
Ay me, but yet thou mightst my seat forbear,
And chide thy beauty and thy straying youth,
Who lead thee in their riot even there
Where thou art forced to break a twofold truth:
Hers, by thy beauty tempting her to thee,
Thine, by thy beauty being false to me.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Sonnet 41: Those pretty wrongs that liberty commits
William Shakespeare's Sonnet 41 is a beautiful expression of the complex relationship between freedom and love. In this sonnet, Shakespeare explores the theme of a lover's desire to be free from the constraints of commitment and obligation, while also acknowledging the "pretty wrongs" that liberty can commit. This sonnet is written in the traditional Shakespearean form, with a rhyme scheme of ABAB CDCD EFEF GG, and follows the iambic pentameter structure.
Analysis of Sonnet 41
The poem begins with a statement of the problem: "Those pretty wrongs that liberty commits, / When I am sometime absent from thy heart." Here, the speaker is acknowledging that when he is away from his lover, she has the freedom to commit "pretty wrongs" - in other words, she is free to flirt with other men or even to cheat on him. The speaker does not seem to be angry about this, but rather resigned to it. He accepts that this is the price he must pay for the freedom to be away from her.
The second quatrain expands on this idea, with the speaker acknowledging the difficulty of being committed to someone. He says, "Thy beauty and thy years full well befits, / For still temptation follows where thou goest." Here, the speaker is acknowledging that his lover is young and beautiful, and therefore is likely to attract the attention of other men wherever she goes. He recognizes that this is a difficult situation to be in - he wants her to be free, but he also wants her to be faithful to him.
The third quatrain is where the poem takes a turn, with the speaker acknowledging that he himself is not entirely free from temptation. He says, "Gentle thou art, and therefore to be won; / Beauteous thou art, therefore to be assailed." Here, the speaker is acknowledging that he is also subject to temptation - he finds his lover "gentle" and "beauteous," and therefore is vulnerable to her charms. This further complicates the idea of freedom in love - if both parties are subject to temptation, how can they be free from each other?
The final couplet resolves the conflict of the poem, with the speaker acknowledging that he is willing to accept the risks of loving someone. He says, "I am to wait, though waiting so be hell, / Not blame your pleasure be it ill or well." Here, the speaker is saying that he is willing to wait for his lover, even though it may be difficult for him. He will not blame her if she chooses to indulge in her freedom, whether it leads to good or ill. This acceptance of the risks of love is what allows the speaker to be truly free - not from his lover, but from his own fears and insecurities.
Interpretation of Sonnet 41
Sonnet 41 is ultimately a poem about the balance between freedom and commitment in love. The speaker acknowledges the difficulties of being committed to someone, but ultimately accepts those difficulties as a necessary part of love. He recognizes that both he and his lover are subject to temptation, but he is willing to accept the risks of that temptation in order to be with her. In doing so, he is able to find a kind of freedom that transcends the physical distance between them.
At its core, Sonnet 41 is a poem about trust. The speaker trusts his lover to make her own choices, and he trusts himself to accept whatever those choices may be. This trust allows him to be free from the anxiety and insecurity that so often plague relationships. He is able to be confident in his love, knowing that even if his lover strays, he will still be waiting for her when she returns.
Another key theme of the poem is the idea of temptation. The speaker acknowledges that he and his lover are both subject to it, but he also recognizes that temptation is not necessarily a bad thing. It is a natural part of human nature, and it is what makes the choice to be faithful all the more meaningful. By acknowledging his own vulnerability to temptation, the speaker is able to empathize with his lover and forgive her if she does stray.
Finally, Sonnet 41 is a poem about the transformative power of love. The speaker begins the poem with a sense of resignation, acknowledging the risks of being committed to someone. But as the poem progresses, he begins to see those risks as opportunities for growth and change. By accepting the risks of loving someone, he is able to find a deeper sense of freedom and trust that transcends the physical world.
Conclusion
In Sonnet 41, Shakespeare explores the complex relationship between freedom and love. He acknowledges the risks and difficulties of commitment, but ultimately argues that those risks are worth taking in order to find true love and freedom. The poem is a beautiful expression of trust, empathy, and forgiveness, and it speaks to the transformative power of love in our lives.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Sonnet 41: Those pretty wrongs that liberty commits by William Shakespeare is a classic poem that explores the complex relationship between freedom and responsibility. In this 14-line sonnet, Shakespeare delves into the idea that freedom can sometimes lead to wrongdoing and that those who are free must be mindful of their actions.
The poem begins with the line, "Those pretty wrongs that liberty commits," which immediately sets the tone for the rest of the sonnet. The word "pretty" here is used in the sense of "attractive" or "pleasing," which suggests that the wrongs committed by those who are free can be tempting or alluring. Shakespeare goes on to describe these wrongs as "when I am sometime absent from thy heart," which implies that the speaker is addressing someone who is close to him, perhaps a lover or a friend.
The second quatrain of the sonnet explores the idea that freedom can lead to carelessness. Shakespeare writes, "Thy beauty and thy years full well befits, / For still temptation follows where thou art." Here, the speaker is acknowledging that the person he is addressing is young and beautiful, and that this can be a dangerous combination when coupled with freedom. The phrase "temptation follows where thou art" suggests that the person is constantly being tempted to do things that they shouldn't, simply because they have the freedom to do so.
The third quatrain of the sonnet takes a more philosophical turn, as Shakespeare explores the idea that freedom is a double-edged sword. He writes, "Gentle thou art, and therefore to be won, / Beauteous thou art, therefore to be assailed." Here, the speaker is acknowledging that the person he is addressing is both gentle and beautiful, which makes them vulnerable to both positive and negative influences. The phrase "to be won" suggests that the person is easily influenced by others, while the phrase "to be assailed" suggests that they are also vulnerable to negative influences.
The final couplet of the sonnet brings the poem to a close with a powerful statement about the nature of freedom. Shakespeare writes, "When thou art gone, what shall remain of thee? / O, what shall I say more than I have said?" Here, the speaker is acknowledging that when the person he is addressing is no longer around, all that will remain of them is the memory of their actions. The phrase "what shall I say more than I have said?" suggests that the speaker has already said everything that needs to be said about the person's actions, and that there is nothing more to be said.
Overall, Sonnet 41: Those pretty wrongs that liberty commits is a powerful exploration of the relationship between freedom and responsibility. Shakespeare uses vivid imagery and powerful language to convey the idea that freedom can sometimes lead to wrongdoing, and that those who are free must be mindful of their actions. The poem is a timeless reminder that freedom is a precious gift that must be used wisely, and that those who are free must always be aware of the consequences of their actions.
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