'Sonnet 118: Like as to make our appetite more keen' by William Shakespeare
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Like as to make our appetite more keen
With eager compounds we our palate urge,
As to prevent our maladies unseen,
We sicken to shun sickness when we purge.
Even so being full of your ne'er-cloying sweetness,
To bitter sauces did I frame my feeding;
And, sick of welfare, found a kind of meetness
To be diseased ere that there was true needing.
Thus policy in love t' anticipate
The ills that were not, grew to faults assured,
And brought to medicine a healthful state
Which, rank of goodness, would by ill be cured.
But thence I learn and find the lesson true:
Drugs poison him that so fell sick of you.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Sonnet 118: Like as to make our appetite more keen - A Literary Criticism
William Shakespeare is one of the greatest literary figures in history, and his works have stood the test of time. One of his fascinating works is Sonnet 118: Like as to make our appetite more keen. This sonnet is an exhortation to the beloved to be more loving and affectionate. In this literary criticism, we will dive into the poem, analyzing the themes, structure, and language used, and interpreting the poem's meaning.
Overview
Sonnet 118 is one of Shakespeare's famous sonnets, which focuses on the theme of love. The sonnet is a part of a sequence of 154 sonnets, which were first published in 1609, and it is believed that Shakespeare wrote these sonnets between 1591 and 1597.
The poem's main theme is the idea that love should be reciprocal, with both parties showing equal affection to each other. The poem's speaker is urging the beloved to be more loving and affectionate, arguing that increased affection will only make their love stronger.
Structure
Sonnet 118 follows the traditional format of a Shakespearean sonnet, which consists of three quatrains (four-line stanzas) and a final couplet (two-line stanza) with a rhyme scheme of ABAB CDCD EFEF GG.
The first quatrain sets the tone for the poem, comparing the beloved's lack of affection to a weak appetite. In the second quatrain, the speaker argues that the beloved's lack of affection is not only a problem for their relationship but also for the beloved themselves. In the third quatrain, the speaker argues that the beloved's lack of affection is not intentional but rather due to their own fears and doubts. The final couplet is a call to action, urging the beloved to be more loving and affectionate.
Language and Imagery
Shakespeare's language in Sonnet 118 is both beautiful and compelling. The poem is filled with vivid imagery that helps to convey the speaker's message. In the first quatrain, for example, the speaker compares the beloved's lack of affection to a weak appetite, saying:
"Like as to make our appetite more keen, With eager compounds we our palate urge, As to prevent our maladies unseen, We sicken to shun sickness when we purge."
The speaker uses the metaphor of food to describe the beloved's lack of affection, suggesting that just as we might eat spicy food to increase our appetite, the beloved needs to be more loving to strengthen their love. In the second quatrain, the speaker argues that the beloved's lack of affection is not only a problem for their relationship but also for the beloved themselves, saying:
"Even so, being full of your ne'er-cloying sweetness, To bitter sauces did I frame my feeding; And, sick of welfare, found a kind of meetness To be diseased ere that there was true needing."
Here, the speaker uses the metaphor of food again, comparing the beloved's sweetness to a delicious meal. However, the speaker's inability to appreciate this sweetness is like adding a bitter sauce to the meal, making it unpleasant. In the third quatrain, the speaker argues that the beloved's lack of affection is not intentional but rather due to their own fears and doubts, saying:
"Thus policy in love, t'anticipate The ills that were not, grew to faults assured, And brought to medicine a healthful state Which, rank of goodness, would by ill be cured."
The speaker here suggests that the beloved's lack of affection is due to their own fears and doubts, which have led them to avoid showing affection. The speaker argues that this has led to a situation where the beloved is sick, but it is a sickness that can be cured by showing more affection.
Interpretation
Sonnet 118 is a beautiful and powerful poem that speaks to the heart of the human condition. The poem's central theme is the idea that love should be reciprocal, with both parties showing equal affection to each other. The speaker is urging the beloved to be more loving and affectionate, arguing that increased affection will only make their love stronger.
The poem's use of food imagery is particularly striking, as it suggests that love is like a good meal – the more you put into it, the more satisfying it becomes. The use of food imagery also suggests that the beloved's lack of affection is like a weak appetite, which needs to be stimulated with strong flavors to become stronger.
The final couplet is particularly powerful, as it is a call to action, urging the beloved to be more loving and affectionate. The use of the word "thou" in the final couplet suggests a sense of urgency, as if the speaker is pleading with the beloved to act now, before it is too late.
Conclusion
Sonnet 118 is a beautiful and powerful poem that speaks to the heart of the human condition. The poem's central theme is the idea that love should be reciprocal, with both parties showing equal affection to each other. The poem's use of food imagery is particularly striking, as it suggests that love is like a good meal – the more you put into it, the more satisfying it becomes.
The poem's final couplet is particularly powerful, as it is a call to action, urging the beloved to be more loving and affectionate. The use of the word "thou" in the final couplet suggests a sense of urgency, as if the speaker is pleading with the beloved to act now, before it is too late.
Overall, Sonnet 118 is a masterpiece of English literature, and it continues to be studied and admired today. Its themes of love, reciprocity, and the power of affection are timeless, and its language and imagery are both beautiful and compelling. It is a poem that speaks to the heart and soul of humanity, and it will continue to do so for many years to come.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Sonnet 118: Like as to make our appetite more keen, written by the legendary William Shakespeare, is a classic poem that has stood the test of time. This sonnet is a masterpiece that speaks to the human experience of desire and the ways in which it can be heightened. In this article, we will delve into the meaning and significance of this poem, exploring its themes, structure, and language.
The poem begins with the line "Like as to make our appetite more keen," which immediately sets the tone for the rest of the sonnet. The word "appetite" here refers to our desire, our longing for something. Shakespeare is saying that there are things that can make our desire even stronger, more intense. This is a universal experience that we can all relate to. We all have desires, whether they be for love, success, or material possessions, and we all know what it feels like to want something so badly that it consumes us.
The second line of the poem reads, "With eager compounds we our palate urge." Here, Shakespeare is using a metaphor to describe the ways in which we try to intensify our desire. The "eager compounds" he refers to are the things we do to make ourselves want something more. This could be anything from looking at pictures of the thing we desire, to imagining what it would be like to have it, to actively pursuing it. The "palate" he mentions is our sense of taste, which is often used as a metaphor for desire. Shakespeare is saying that we use these "eager compounds" to make our desire even stronger, just as we might use spices to make a dish more flavorful.
The third line of the poem reads, "For, from the sense of taste, buds do abound." Here, Shakespeare is continuing the metaphor of taste. He is saying that just as our taste buds respond to the flavors in food, our desires are also stimulated by certain things. This could be anything from a particular scent, to a certain type of music, to a memory that reminds us of what we want. Shakespeare is saying that our desires are not just intellectual, but are also physical and sensory.
The fourth line of the poem reads, "And, reason says, you are the worthier maid." Here, Shakespeare is introducing the idea of reason. He is saying that even though our desires may be intense and consuming, we still have the ability to reason and make rational decisions. In this line, he is addressing someone, perhaps a lover, and saying that even though he desires her intensely, he knows that she is also worthy of his love and attention.
The fifth line of the poem reads, "What wonder then, if, to his prey, the thief." Here, Shakespeare is using another metaphor, that of a thief and his prey. He is saying that just as a thief is drawn to his prey, our desires draw us towards the things we want. This is a powerful image, as it suggests that our desires are not just passive, but are actively seeking out the things we desire.
The sixth line of the poem reads, "With spoils obtained, himself away doth bear." Here, Shakespeare is saying that once we have obtained the thing we desire, we take it away with us. This could be interpreted in a number of ways. It could mean that we physically take the thing we desire with us, or it could mean that we carry the memory of it with us. Either way, Shakespeare is saying that our desires have a lasting impact on us.
The seventh line of the poem reads, "So thou, being rich in will, add to thy will." Here, Shakespeare is addressing the person he was speaking to in the fourth line. He is saying that even though she is already rich in will, meaning that she already has strong desires, she should add to them. This is a call to action, a suggestion that we should always be striving for more, always seeking to intensify our desires.
The eighth line of the poem reads, "One will of mine, to make thy large will more." Here, Shakespeare is saying that he wants to add his own desires to hers, to make her will even larger and more intense. This is a romantic gesture, a way of saying that he wants to be a part of her desires and help her achieve them.
The ninth line of the poem reads, "Let no unkind, no fair beseechers kill." Here, Shakespeare is warning against those who would try to dissuade us from our desires. He is saying that we should not let anyone, whether they be unkind or fair, discourage us from pursuing what we want.
The tenth and final line of the poem reads, "Think all but one, and me in that one Will." Here, Shakespeare is saying that the person he was addressing in the fourth and seventh lines should think of only one thing, and that thing should be him. This is a bold statement, a way of saying that he wants to be the focus of her desires.
In terms of structure, Sonnet 118 follows the traditional form of a Shakespearean sonnet. It is composed of three quatrains, or four-line stanzas, followed by a final couplet, or two-line stanza. The rhyme scheme is ABAB CDCD EFEF GG. This structure gives the poem a sense of order and balance, which is fitting given its themes of desire and intensity.
In terms of language, Sonnet 118 is full of metaphors and imagery. Shakespeare uses the metaphor of taste to describe desire, the metaphor of a thief and his prey to describe the pursuit of desire, and the metaphor of will to describe the intensity of desire. He also uses sensory language, such as the word "palate," to further emphasize the physical nature of desire.
In conclusion, Sonnet 118: Like as to make our appetite more keen is a classic poem that speaks to the human experience of desire. Shakespeare uses metaphors and imagery to describe the ways in which our desires can be intensified, and he encourages us to always be striving for more. The poem's structure and language give it a sense of order and balance, which is fitting given its themes. Overall, Sonnet 118 is a masterpiece that continues to resonate with readers today.
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