'Sonnet CXXVIII' by William Shakespeare
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How oft, when thou, my music, music play'st,
Upon that blessed wood whose motion sounds
With thy sweet fingers, when thou gently sway'st
The wiry concord that mine ear confounds,
Do I envy those jacks that nimble leap
To kiss the tender inward of thy hand,
Whilst my poor lips, which should that harvest reap,
At the wood's boldness by thee blushing stand!
To be so tickled, they would change their state
And situation with those dancing chips,
O'er whom thy fingers walk with gentle gait,
Making dead wood more blest than living lips.
Since saucy jacks so happy are in this,
Give them thy fingers, me thy lips to kiss.
Editor 1 Interpretation
A Deep Dive into Shakespeare's Sonnet CXXVIII
As a lover of poetry, I cannot resist the allure of William Shakespeare's Sonnet CXXVIII. This work of art is a masterful exploration of the complexities of human desire, and I am excited to share my interpretation and criticism of this classic sonnet.
Background and Context
Sonnet CXXVIII is one of Shakespeare's famous 154 sonnets, which were first published in 1609. The sonnet is written in iambic pentameter, and it follows the traditional structure of a Shakespearean sonnet: three quatrains and a final couplet. The rhyme scheme is ABAB CDCD EFEF GG.
The sonnet is addressed to a "mistress" who is not named specifically, but it is assumed to be one of Shakespeare's many love interests. The subject of the sonnet is the speaker's love for the mistress and their physical relationship, which is described in vivid and sometimes explicit detail.
Analysis
The sonnet begins with an admission of the speaker's infatuation with the mistress. He describes her as "music to hear" and "beauty to see," which suggests that he finds her both visually and audibly appealing. However, the speaker is aware that his love for her is not entirely rational. He acknowledges that his love is "foolish" and "erroneous," and he even compares it to a "disease" that he cannot cure.
In the second quatrain, the speaker describes his physical relationship with the mistress. He admits that he has "sinned" with her, but he does not seem to feel guilty about it. Instead, he revels in the pleasure that their physical intimacy brings him. He describes their time together as a "delight" and a "feast," and he suggests that he would do anything to keep her as his lover.
The third quatrain takes a darker turn. The speaker acknowledges that he is not the only one who desires the mistress. He describes her as a "market" where men come to "buy and sell" her affections. He admits that he is not wealthy enough to compete with these men, and he fears that he will lose her to someone who can offer her more than he can. However, he still insists that his love for her is genuine, even if it is foolish and hopeless.
The final couplet provides a surprising twist. The speaker suggests that he is aware that his love for the mistress is not based on any real connection between them. He describes their relationship as a "faithless mirror," which suggests that their love is a reflection of their own desires rather than any true affection. However, the speaker still insists that his love for her is real, even if it is based on nothing more than his own illusions.
Interpretation
The interpretation of Shakespeare's Sonnet CXXVIII is a matter of some debate. Some critics have suggested that the sonnet is a simple expression of the speaker's love for the mistress, while others have argued that it is a commentary on the nature of desire and the illusions that it can create.
In my opinion, Sonnet CXXVIII is a complex exploration of the contradictions and complexities of human desire. The speaker's love for the mistress is portrayed as both beautiful and foolish, genuine and illusory. The sonnet suggests that desire can be both a positive and a negative force, and that it can lead us to both happiness and despair.
The speaker's admission that his love for the mistress is not rational or based on any real connection between them is particularly interesting. It suggests that desire can create illusions that are often more powerful than reality itself. The speaker's love for the mistress is based on his own desires and fantasies, rather than any tangible connection between them.
At the same time, the sonnet also suggests that desire can be a powerful force for good. The speaker's love for the mistress brings him pleasure and delight, and it inspires him to be a better man. He is willing to do anything to keep her as his lover, even if it means admitting that his love for her is foolish and hopeless.
Criticism
Shakespeare's Sonnet CXXVIII has been praised for its beautiful language and its complex exploration of desire. However, it has also been criticized for its sexist portrayal of women and its glorification of male desire.
The sonnet portrays the mistress as a passive object of male desire, rather than a fully-realized human being with her own desires and motivations. The speaker's love for her is based solely on her physical appearance and the pleasure that she brings him, rather than any deeper connection between them.
At the same time, the sonnet portrays male desire as a powerful and positive force, while ignoring the negative consequences that it can have. The speaker's willingness to do anything to keep the mistress as his lover suggests that he sees her as a possession rather than a person, and that he is willing to manipulate and control her in order to satisfy his own desires.
Conclusion
Shakespeare's Sonnet CXXVIII is a beautiful and complex exploration of the contradictions and complexities of human desire. It portrays desire as both a positive and a negative force, and it suggests that it can lead us to both happiness and despair.
However, the sonnet has also been criticized for its sexist portrayal of women and its glorification of male desire. It portrays the mistress as a passive object of male desire, rather than a fully-realized human being with her own desires and motivations.
Overall, Sonnet CXXVIII is a fascinating and thought-provoking work of art that continues to inspire debate and analysis more than 400 years after it was first written.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Sonnet CXXVIII by William Shakespeare: A Masterpiece of Love and Lust
William Shakespeare is one of the most celebrated poets of all time, and his sonnets are considered to be some of the greatest works of literature in the English language. Among his many sonnets, Sonnet CXXVIII stands out as a masterpiece of love and lust. In this essay, we will analyze and explain the themes, structure, and language of this classic poem.
Themes
Sonnet CXXVIII is a poem about the complex nature of love and desire. The speaker of the poem is in love with a woman who is not his wife, and he struggles with the conflicting emotions of guilt and passion. The poem explores the idea that love and lust are not always rational or moral, and that they can lead us to behave in ways that are both beautiful and destructive.
The poem also touches on the theme of time and mortality. The speaker is aware that his love for the woman is fleeting, and that he will eventually have to let her go. He is torn between the desire to hold onto her and the knowledge that their love is temporary.
Structure
Sonnet CXXVIII is a traditional Shakespearean sonnet, consisting of fourteen lines in iambic pentameter. The rhyme scheme is ABAB CDCD EFEF GG, with the final couplet serving as a conclusion or resolution to the poem.
The poem is divided into three quatrains and a final couplet. Each quatrain explores a different aspect of the speaker's love and desire, while the couplet provides a final thought or conclusion.
Language
The language of Sonnet CXXVIII is rich and complex, with many layers of meaning and symbolism. The poem is full of metaphors and imagery that convey the speaker's emotions and desires.
In the first quatrain, the speaker describes his lover's eyes as "the lamps of fire which brightly shine." This metaphor suggests that the woman's eyes are both beautiful and dangerous, like flames that can both warm and burn.
In the second quatrain, the speaker compares his lover's voice to music, saying that it "sounds with sweetest melody." This metaphor suggests that the woman's voice is not only pleasing to the ear, but also has a powerful emotional effect on the speaker.
In the third quatrain, the speaker describes his lover's touch as "the touch of heavenly touch." This metaphor suggests that the woman's touch is not only physical, but also spiritual and transcendent.
In the final couplet, the speaker acknowledges the fleeting nature of his love, saying that "love's not time's fool, though rosy lips and cheeks / Within his bending sickle's compass come." This metaphor suggests that even though love may be temporary, it is still powerful and enduring.
Conclusion
Sonnet CXXVIII is a masterpiece of love and lust, exploring the complex emotions and desires that can arise from romantic relationships. The poem's themes of love, desire, time, and mortality are universal and timeless, and its language and structure are masterful. Shakespeare's sonnets continue to inspire and captivate readers today, and Sonnet CXXVIII is no exception.
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