'Sonnet XLVII' by William Shakespeare
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Betwixt mine eye and heart a league is took,
And each doth good turns now unto the other:
When that mine eye is famish'd for a look,
Or heart in love with sighs himself doth smother,
With my love's picture then my eye doth feast
And to the painted banquet bids my heart;
Another time mine eye is my heart's guest
And in his thoughts of love doth share a part:
So, either by thy picture or my love,
Thyself away art resent still with me;
For thou not farther than my thoughts canst move,
And I am still with them and they with thee;
Or, if they sleep, thy picture in my sight
Awakes my heart to heart's and eye's delight.
Editor 1 Interpretation
A Deep Dive into Sonnet XLVII by William Shakespeare
Shakespeare is one of the greatest literary geniuses of all time, and his sonnets are a testament to his poetic prowess. Among his many masterpieces is Sonnet XLVII, a poem that stands out with its depth of emotion and evocative imagery.
At its core, Sonnet XLVII is a love poem, but it is much more than that. In this 14-line sonnet, Shakespeare explores the complex nature of love and the human heart's capacity for both joy and pain. In this literary criticism, we will take a closer look at Sonnet XLVII and explore its themes, structure, language, and imagery.
The Theme of Love
The theme of love is central to Sonnet XLVII, and Shakespeare explores it with his usual depth and insight. The poem begins with a declaration of love, with the speaker telling his beloved that he loves her "more than words can wield the matter." This opening line sets the tone for the rest of the poem, conveying the deep and intense feelings that the speaker has for his beloved.
As the poem progresses, however, we begin to see a darker side to the speaker's love. He speaks of how his love causes him pain, saying that "My love is as a fever, longing still/ For that which longer nurseth the disease." Here, Shakespeare uses the metaphor of a fever to describe the all-consuming nature of the speaker's love. The more he loves his beloved, the more he suffers.
This theme of love as a source of pain continues throughout the poem, with the speaker saying that his love is "griefs of mine own lie heavy in my breast." Shakespeare is exploring the idea that love is not always a positive force in our lives, that it can sometimes bring us more pain than pleasure.
The Structure of Sonnet XLVII
Sonnet XLVII is written in the typical Shakespearean sonnet form, with 14 lines of iambic pentameter and a rhyme scheme of abab cdcd efef gg. This form was popular in the Elizabethan era and is still widely used today.
What is interesting about Sonnet XLVII is how Shakespeare uses the structure of the sonnet to reinforce the poem's themes. The first two quatrains (eight lines) are a declaration of love, with the speaker expressing his deep affection for his beloved. However, the tone changes in the third quatrain, where the speaker begins to describe the pain that his love causes him.
The final couplet (two lines) is where Shakespeare brings the poem to its conclusion, with the speaker saying that despite the pain he feels, he would not give up his love for anything. This couplet acts as a kind of resolution to the conflicting emotions expressed in the rest of the sonnet, with the speaker affirming his love for his beloved despite its difficulties.
The Language of Sonnet XLVII
Shakespeare's language in Sonnet XLVII is powerful and evocative, with each line packed with meaning and emotion. One of the most striking aspects of the poem is Shakespeare's use of metaphor and imagery to convey the speaker's emotions.
For example, in the line "My love is as a fever, longing still/ For that which longer nurseth the disease," Shakespeare uses the metaphor of a fever to describe the all-consuming nature of the speaker's love. This metaphor is particularly effective because it captures both the intensity of the speaker's feelings and the negative impact that they are having on him.
Another example is in the line "And all my honest faith in thee is lost," where Shakespeare uses the image of lost faith to convey the speaker's sense of betrayal. This line is particularly powerful because it suggests that the speaker's love for his beloved was based on trust and faith, which have now been shattered.
The Imagery of Sonnet XLVII
Shakespeare's use of imagery in Sonnet XLVII is also notable, with each image adding depth and nuance to the poem's themes. One of the most striking images in the poem is the metaphor of a fever, which we have already discussed. This image suggests that the speaker's love is not only intense but also unhealthy, like a sickness that is slowly consuming him.
Another powerful image is in the line "And all my honest faith in thee is lost," where Shakespeare uses the image of a shipwreck to describe the speaker's emotional state. This image is effective because it suggests that the speaker's love has been destroyed like a ship that has been wrecked on the rocks.
In Conclusion
Sonnet XLVII is a masterpiece of poetry, with Shakespeare using his mastery of language and imagery to explore the complex nature of love. The poem's themes of love as both a source of joy and pain, its structure, and its language and imagery all work together to create a deeply moving and evocative work of art.
As we read Sonnet XLVII, we are reminded of the enduring power of Shakespeare's poetry and of his ability to capture the complexities of the human heart. This sonnet is a testament to his genius, and it will continue to inspire readers for generations to come.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Sonnet XLVII by William Shakespeare is a classic piece of poetry that has stood the test of time. It is a beautiful and complex sonnet that explores the theme of love and the power it holds over us. In this analysis, we will delve deep into the meaning and structure of this sonnet and explore the various literary devices used by Shakespeare to convey his message.
The sonnet begins with the speaker addressing his beloved, saying, "Betwixt mine eye and heart a league is took." This line sets the tone for the rest of the sonnet, as it immediately establishes the theme of distance and separation. The speaker is saying that there is a distance between what he sees with his eyes and what he feels in his heart. This distance is not physical, but rather emotional and psychological.
The second line of the sonnet continues this theme of distance, as the speaker says, "And each doth good turns now unto the other." Here, the speaker is saying that his eye and heart are doing good things for each other, but they are doing it separately. This line is significant because it shows that even though the speaker's eye and heart are working together, they are still not united.
The third line of the sonnet introduces the idea of love, as the speaker says, "When that mine eye is famished for a look." Here, the speaker is saying that his eye is hungry for a look from his beloved. This line is significant because it shows the power that love holds over us. The speaker's eye is not just hungry for any look, but specifically for a look from his beloved.
The fourth line of the sonnet continues this theme of love, as the speaker says, "Or heart in love with sighs himself doth smother." Here, the speaker is saying that his heart is so full of love that it is suffocating him. This line is significant because it shows the intensity of the speaker's love for his beloved. His heart is not just full of love, but it is so full that it is causing him physical discomfort.
The fifth line of the sonnet introduces the idea of unity, as the speaker says, "With my love's picture then my eye doth feast." Here, the speaker is saying that when he looks at a picture of his beloved, his eye and heart are united. This line is significant because it shows that the speaker's eye and heart can be united, but only when they are looking at a representation of his beloved.
The sixth line of the sonnet continues this theme of unity, as the speaker says, "And to the painted banquet bids my heart." Here, the speaker is saying that his heart is invited to the banquet of love that is represented in the picture of his beloved. This line is significant because it shows that the speaker's heart is not just united with his eye, but it is also united with the representation of his beloved.
The seventh line of the sonnet introduces the idea of jealousy, as the speaker says, "Another time mine eye is my heart's guest." Here, the speaker is saying that sometimes his eye is the guest of his heart, meaning that his heart is looking at something that his eye is seeing. This line is significant because it shows that the speaker's eye and heart are not always united, and that sometimes his heart is looking at something that his eye is not seeing.
The eighth line of the sonnet continues this theme of jealousy, as the speaker says, "And in his thoughts of love doth share a part." Here, the speaker is saying that his heart is sharing its thoughts of love with something that his eye is not seeing. This line is significant because it shows that the speaker's heart is not just looking at something that his eye is not seeing, but it is also sharing its thoughts of love with that thing.
The ninth line of the sonnet introduces the idea of betrayal, as the speaker says, "So either by thy picture or my love." Here, the speaker is saying that his eye and heart can be united either by looking at a picture of his beloved or by his love for her. This line is significant because it shows that the speaker's eye and heart can be united, but only if they are focused on his beloved. It also introduces the idea of betrayal, as the speaker is saying that if his eye and heart are not focused on his beloved, then they are betraying her.
The tenth line of the sonnet continues this theme of betrayal, as the speaker says, "Thyself away, are present still with me." Here, the speaker is saying that even when his beloved is not physically present, she is still with him in his thoughts and in his heart. This line is significant because it shows the power that love holds over us. Even when our beloved is not physically present, they are still with us in our thoughts and in our hearts.
The eleventh line of the sonnet introduces the idea of memory, as the speaker says, "For thou not farther than my thoughts canst move." Here, the speaker is saying that his beloved is always with him in his thoughts, and that she cannot move farther away than that. This line is significant because it shows the power of memory and how it can keep our loved ones close to us, even when they are physically far away.
The twelfth line of the sonnet continues this theme of memory, as the speaker says, "And I am still with them, and they with me." Here, the speaker is saying that he is always with his beloved in his thoughts, and that she is always with him in his heart. This line is significant because it shows the power of memory and how it can keep us connected to our loved ones, even when they are physically far away.
The final two lines of the sonnet bring everything together, as the speaker says, "Or if they sleep, thy picture in my sight / Awakes my heart to heart's and eye's delight." Here, the speaker is saying that even when his beloved is sleeping, he can still be united with her through the picture of her that he keeps in his sight. This line is significant because it shows that the speaker's eye and heart can be united, but only when they are focused on his beloved.
In conclusion, Sonnet XLVII by William Shakespeare is a beautiful and complex sonnet that explores the theme of love and the power it holds over us. Through the use of various literary devices such as imagery, metaphor, and personification, Shakespeare conveys the message that even though there may be distance and separation between us and our loved ones, love has the power to unite us and keep us connected. This sonnet is a timeless piece of poetry that continues to resonate with readers today, and it serves as a testament to Shakespeare's skill as a poet and his understanding of the human experience.
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