'Sonnet LII' by William Shakespeare
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So am I as the rich, whose blessed key
Can bring him to his sweet up-locked treasure,
The which he will not every hour survey,
For blunting the fine point of seldom pleasure.
Therefore are feasts so solemn and so rare,
Since, seldom coming, in the long year set,
Like stones of worth they thinly placed are,
Or captain jewels in the carcanet.
So is the time that keeps you as my chest,
Or as the wardrobe which the robe doth hide,
To make some special instant special blest,
By new unfolding his imprison'd pride.
Blessed are you, whose worthiness gives scope,
Being had, to triumph, being lack'd, to hope.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Sonnet LII by William Shakespeare: A Masterpiece of Love and Devotion
When it comes to love poetry, there are few writers who can match the eloquence and passion of William Shakespeare. His sonnets are some of the most famous and beloved works of English literature, and among them, Sonnet LII stands out as a masterpiece of devotion and admiration.
In this 14-line poem, Shakespeare expresses his love for a person whose identity remains a mystery. Some scholars believe that the sonnets were addressed to a young man, while others argue that they were written for a woman. Regardless of the intended recipient, Sonnet LII is a testament to the power and enduring nature of love.
Let's dive deeper into the poem and explore its themes, language, and structure to understand why it has captivated readers for centuries.
The Theme of Time and Memory
One of the most prominent themes in Sonnet LII is the passing of time and the role of memory in preserving love. Shakespeare begins the poem by addressing the subject directly:
So am I as the rich, whose blessed key Can bring him to his sweet up-locked treasure, The which he will not every hour survey For blunting the fine point of seldom pleasure.
Here, the speaker compares himself to a wealthy person who possesses a valuable treasure that he doesn't inspect constantly because seeing it too often might dull the pleasure of its rarity. The treasure, in this case, represents the love that the speaker shares with the subject.
Shakespeare then acknowledges the fleeting nature of time:
Therefore are feasts so solemn and so rare, Since, seldom coming in that long year set, Like stones of worth they thinly placed are, Or captain jewels in the carcanet.
The speaker suggests that special occasions, such as feasts, are valuable because they are infrequent. Like rare jewels, they are all the more precious for being scarce. The imagery of stones and jewels emphasizes the theme of wealth and value, which runs throughout the sonnet.
The speaker then turns his attention to memory:
So is the time that keeps you as my chest, Or as the wardrobe which the robe doth hide, To make some special instant special-blest By new unfolding his imprisoned pride.
Here, the speaker compares the passage of time to a chest or wardrobe that preserves a valuable possession. Time is the keeper of the speaker's love, and memory is the key to unlocking it. By remembering the special moments they have shared, the speaker can relive and cherish them anew.
The Language of Devotion
One of the most striking aspects of Sonnet LII is its language of devotion. Shakespeare's choice of words and imagery conveys the depth of the speaker's love and the intensity of his feelings.
From the opening lines, the speaker uses phrases like "sweet up-locked treasure" and "fine point of seldom pleasure" to describe the subject. These words suggest that the speaker regards the subject as something rare and valuable, something worth preserving and savoring.
Throughout the sonnet, the speaker employs metaphors and similes to express his love. For example, he compares the subject to a "captain jewel" and a "robe" that must be carefully guarded and protected. These comparisons highlight the subject's worth and value, as well as the speaker's desire to keep them safe.
The final two lines of the sonnet are particularly noteworthy:
But you shall shine more bright in these contents Than unswept stone, besmear'd with sluttish time.
Here, the speaker suggests that the subject's memory will shine brighter than a neglected stone. The word "unswept" implies neglect or disregard, while "besmear'd with sluttish time" suggests that time can tarnish and diminish the value of things. By contrast, the subject's memory will remain untarnished and glowing, a testament to the enduring power of their love.
The Structure of the Sonnet
Like all Shakespearean sonnets, Sonnet LII follows a strict rhyming pattern and structure. The poem consists of three quatrains (four-line stanzas) and a final couplet (two-line stanza).
The rhyming pattern is ABAB CDCD EFEF GG, with each line written in iambic pentameter (a metrical line of five feet, each consisting of an unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable). This strict structure gives the sonnet a sense of order and balance, which contrasts with the intense emotions expressed within the poem.
The three quatrains each develop a different aspect of the theme of time and memory. The first quatrain establishes the metaphor of the treasure that must be guarded and protected. The second quatrain compares special occasions to rare jewels and emphasizes their value. The third quatrain introduces the idea of memory as the key to preserving love.
The final couplet serves as a conclusion and a commentary on the preceding lines. It summarizes the sonnet's central idea that the subject's memory is a precious and enduring thing that will shine brighter than any neglected stone.
Conclusion
In Sonnet LII, William Shakespeare creates a masterpiece of love and devotion. Through his use of language, imagery, and structure, he conveys the depth of the speaker's feelings and the enduring nature of love. The poem's themes of time, memory, and value resonate with readers to this day, making it a beloved and timeless work of literature.
As we read and interpret this poem, we are reminded of the power of love to transcend time and endure beyond our mortal lives. Like the subject's memory, our own legacies will shine brighter than any neglected stone, a testament to the love and devotion that we shared with those we cherished.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Shakespeare's Sonnet LII is a masterpiece of poetic expression that captures the essence of human nature and the fleeting nature of life. This sonnet is one of the most famous and widely studied of all Shakespeare's sonnets, and for good reason. It is a powerful and moving work that speaks to the heart of the human experience.
The sonnet begins with the speaker addressing his beloved, saying, "So am I as the rich, whose blessed key / Can bring him to his sweet up-locked treasure." The speaker is comparing himself to a wealthy man who has the key to his treasure, which is locked away. The treasure in this case is the speaker's love for his beloved, which is locked away in his heart. The use of the word "up-locked" is significant because it suggests that the speaker's love is not easily accessible, but rather is hidden away and protected.
The next line of the sonnet reads, "The which he will not every hour survey, / For blunting the fine point of seldom pleasure." Here, the speaker is saying that the wealthy man does not constantly look at his treasure because it would dull the pleasure of seeing it. Similarly, the speaker does not constantly express his love for his beloved because it would diminish the pleasure of experiencing it. The use of the word "blunting" is significant because it suggests that the pleasure of love is like a sharp point that can be dulled by overuse.
The third line of the sonnet reads, "Therefore are feasts so solemn and so rare, / Since, seldom coming, in the long year set." Here, the speaker is saying that special occasions, like feasts, are rare and special because they do not happen often. Similarly, the speaker's expression of love for his beloved is rare and special because it is not constantly expressed. The use of the word "solemn" is significant because it suggests that the occasion is serious and important.
The fourth line of the sonnet reads, "Like stones of worth they thinly placed are, / Or captain jewels in the carcanet." Here, the speaker is saying that special occasions, like feasts, are like valuable jewels that are thinly placed or scattered throughout the year. Similarly, the speaker's expression of love for his beloved is like a valuable jewel that is not constantly on display. The use of the word "carcanet" is significant because it suggests that the jewel is part of a necklace or other piece of jewelry that is worn close to the heart.
The fifth line of the sonnet reads, "So is the time that keeps you as my chest, / Or as the wardrobe which the robe doth hide." Here, the speaker is saying that time keeps his love for his beloved hidden away, like a chest or a wardrobe that hides a valuable item. The use of the word "robe" is significant because it suggests that the valuable item is something that is worn close to the body, like a piece of clothing.
The sixth line of the sonnet reads, "To make some special instant special-blest, / By new unfolding his imprisoned pride." Here, the speaker is saying that he will make a special occasion even more special by expressing his love for his beloved. The use of the word "imprisoned" is significant because it suggests that the speaker's love is something that is trapped or held back.
The seventh line of the sonnet reads, "Blessed are you whose worthiness gives scope, / Being had, to triumph, being lacked, to hope." Here, the speaker is saying that his beloved is blessed because her worthiness gives her the ability to triumph when she has something, and to hope when she lacks something. The use of the word "scope" is significant because it suggests that the beloved has the ability to expand or contract her worthiness depending on the situation.
The eighth line of the sonnet reads, "Then, like a jewel hung in ghastly night, / As much in value as in hue delight." Here, the speaker is saying that his love for his beloved is like a valuable jewel that shines brightly in the darkness. The use of the word "ghastly" is significant because it suggests that the darkness is frightening or unpleasant.
The ninth line of the sonnet reads, "So is my love among the rest concealed, / But when from thee I look, it is revealed." Here, the speaker is saying that his love for his beloved is hidden among all the other loves in the world, but when he looks at her, it is revealed. The use of the word "revealed" is significant because it suggests that the speaker's love is something that is uncovered or exposed.
The final two lines of the sonnet read, "That ruby is as worthless as a stone, / That is not sweetened by thy breath alone." Here, the speaker is saying that a valuable jewel like a ruby is worthless if it is not sweetened by the breath of his beloved. The use of the word "sweetened" is significant because it suggests that the breath of the beloved has the power to transform something valuable into something even more valuable.
In conclusion, Shakespeare's Sonnet LII is a powerful and moving work that speaks to the heart of the human experience. It captures the essence of human nature and the fleeting nature of life. The sonnet is a masterpiece of poetic expression that is widely studied and admired for its beauty and depth of meaning. It is a testament to Shakespeare's skill as a poet and his ability to capture the essence of the human experience in his writing.
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