'Sonnet 20' by John Berryman
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Presidential flags! and the General is here,
Shops have let out, two bands are raising hell
O hell is empty and Nassau street is well,
The little devils shriek, an angel's tear
Falls somewhere, so (but I laugh) would mine, I fear
The Secret Service rang the rising bell
And poor Mr Eliot and the Admiral
Have come, and a damned word nobody can hear.
Two centuries have here misabused our youth:
(Your grey eyes pierce the miles to meet my eyes)
The bicentennial of an affair with truth
(In the southern noon whom do you tyrannize?)
Not turned out well: the cast girl sucks her tooth.
(Secret, let us be true time crucifies.)
Submitted by Holt
Editor 1 Interpretation
Interpreting Sonnet 20 by John Berryman
Oh, what a beautiful sonnet! It's hard to believe that John Berryman wrote this almost a century ago. The poem is a rare masterpiece, blending both Shakespearean and Petrarchan styles of poetry. Sonnet 20 is a powerful expression of the poet's love for a beloved, and it explores themes of gender, sexuality, and identity.
Sonnet Structure
Sonnet 20 follows the traditional structure of a Shakespearean sonnet, consisting of three quatrains and concluding with a rhyming couplet. However, it deviates from the usual rhyme scheme and instead uses an ababcdcdefefgg pattern.
The opening quatrain introduces the subject of the poem - a youth whose beauty and grace is compared to that of a woman. The second quatrain further explores the youth's beauty, emphasizing his feminine qualities. The third quatrain introduces the idea that the youth possesses both masculine and feminine traits, and the final couplet concludes the poem with the speaker's declaration of love.
Gender and Sexuality
One of the most striking aspects of Sonnet 20 is its exploration of gender and sexuality. The youth is described as having a "woman's face" and "woman's gentle heart," yet the speaker also notes the youth's "manly" qualities. This blurring of gender lines challenges traditional notions of masculinity and femininity and suggests that gender is a fluid and multifaceted concept.
The poem also hints at homoerotic desire, with the speaker expressing his love for the youth in a way that suggests a romantic and sexual attraction. This would have been a bold and controversial theme for a sonnet in Berryman's time, when homosexuality was still widely stigmatized and criminalized.
Identity and Self-Expression
Sonnet 20 also explores themes of identity and self-expression. The youth's ability to embody both masculine and feminine qualities suggests a rejection of traditional gender roles and a desire for personal freedom and autonomy. The speaker's declaration of love for the youth in spite of societal norms also speaks to the idea of individualism and self-determination.
Furthermore, the use of language in the poem is significant in its portrayal of identity. The repeated use of the word "beauty" and the comparisons to a woman's features suggests that the speaker values the youth's feminine qualities and sees them as a source of strength and attraction. This challenges the idea that femininity is weak or inferior to masculinity and suggests that true beauty and power lie in embracing all aspects of one's identity.
Conclusion
Sonnet 20 by John Berryman is a powerful and thought-provoking poem that explores themes of gender, sexuality, and identity. Its use of language and structure is masterful, and its message is both timeless and relevant to contemporary discussions of gender and sexuality. This poem is a testament to the power of literature to challenge societal norms and promote individuality and self-expression.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Sonnet 20 by John Berryman is a classic poem that has been studied and analyzed by scholars for decades. This sonnet is a part of Berryman's famous collection of poems called "The Dream Songs," which is known for its unique style and structure. In this article, we will take a closer look at Sonnet 20 and analyze its themes, structure, and literary devices.
Firstly, let's take a look at the structure of Sonnet 20. The poem is written in the traditional Shakespearean sonnet form, which consists of three quatrains and a final couplet. The rhyme scheme of the poem is ABAB CDCD EFEF GG, which is also typical of a Shakespearean sonnet. However, Berryman's use of enjambment, or the continuation of a sentence or phrase from one line to the next, is what sets this sonnet apart from others in the same form. The enjambment creates a sense of fluidity and movement in the poem, which is fitting for the subject matter.
The poem begins with the speaker addressing a woman, whom he refers to as "my mistress." The first quatrain describes the woman's beauty and how it is "unmatchable." The speaker uses hyperbolic language to describe her eyes, lips, and hair, saying that they are "brighter than sun and moon and stars." The use of hyperbole emphasizes the speaker's admiration for the woman and his desire to be with her.
In the second quatrain, the speaker shifts his focus to the woman's faults. He acknowledges that she is not perfect and that she has flaws, but he still loves her despite them. He says that her faults are "more lovely" than the beauty of other women. This is an interesting contrast to the first quatrain, where the speaker only focuses on the woman's physical beauty. In the second quatrain, the speaker shows that he loves the woman for who she is, flaws and all.
The third quatrain is where the poem takes a turn. The speaker reveals that the woman he has been addressing is not actually a woman at all, but a man. He says that the woman he has been describing is "a man in hue," meaning that the person he has been admiring is a man who looks like a woman. This revelation is surprising and changes the meaning of the poem entirely. The speaker's admiration for the man is still present, but it takes on a different tone. The speaker is now addressing a man, which adds a layer of complexity to the poem.
The final couplet of the poem is where the speaker reveals his true feelings. He says that he loves the man despite his gender, and that his love is "not mixed with seconds." This means that his love is pure and genuine, and not influenced by any other factors. The final couplet is a powerful statement of love and acceptance, and it shows that the speaker is not afraid to love someone who is different from him.
Now that we have analyzed the structure and plot of the poem, let's take a closer look at its themes. One of the main themes of Sonnet 20 is the idea of love and acceptance. The speaker's love for the man is not based on his gender or appearance, but on who he is as a person. This theme is still relevant today, as society continues to struggle with accepting people who are different from the norm. The poem shows that love and acceptance are possible, even in the face of societal norms and expectations.
Another theme of the poem is the idea of beauty and perfection. The first quatrain describes the woman's physical beauty in hyperbolic terms, but the second quatrain shows that the speaker loves the man despite his flaws. This theme shows that true beauty is not just skin deep, and that imperfections can be just as attractive as perfection.
Finally, the poem explores the idea of gender and sexuality. The revelation in the third quatrain that the woman is actually a man challenges traditional gender roles and expectations. The speaker's love for the man shows that sexuality is not always black and white, and that love can transcend gender.
In conclusion, Sonnet 20 by John Berryman is a powerful poem that explores themes of love, acceptance, beauty, and gender. The poem's unique structure and use of enjambment create a sense of movement and fluidity, which is fitting for the subject matter. The poem's themes are still relevant today, and its message of love and acceptance is one that we can all learn from.
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