'Sonnet CXVII' by William Shakespeare
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Accuse me thus: that I have scanted all
Wherein I should your great deserts repay,
Forgot upon your dearest love to call,
Whereto all bonds do tie me day by day;
That I have frequent been with unknown minds
And given to time your own dear-purchased right
That I have hoisted sail to all the winds
Which should transport me farthest from your sight.
Book both my wilfulness and errors down
And on just proof surmise accumulate;
Bring me within the level of your frown,
But shoot not at me in your waken'd hate;
Since my appeal says I did strive to prove
The constancy and virtue of your love.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Shakespeare's Sonnet CXVII: An Ode to Love's Timelessness
William Shakespeare's Sonnet CXVII is a wonderful ode to the timelessness of true love. In this poem, Shakespeare speaks of love's ability to transcend the boundaries of time and space, and to remain eternal even after the physical form of the lover has passed away. The poem is a perfect example of Shakespeare's mastery of the sonnet form, and his ability to convey complex emotions through the use of simple and elegant language.
The Poem
Let me not to the marriage of true minds Admit impediments. Love is not love Which alters when it alteration finds, Or bends with the remover to remove: O no! it is an ever-fixed mark That looks on tempests and is never shaken; It is the star to every wandering bark, Whose worth's unknown, although his height be taken. Love's not Time's fool, though rosy lips and cheeks Within his bending sickle's compass come; Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks, But bears it out even to the edge of doom. If this be error and upon me proved, I never writ, nor no man ever loved.
The poem is composed of three quatrains and a final rhyming couplet. Each quatrain presents a different aspect of love's timelessness, and the couplet serves as a conclusion, a testament to the poet's belief in the power of true love.
Interpretation
The first quatrain introduces the poem's main theme: the idea that true love is not limited by the constraints of time and space. The speaker declares that he will not allow anything to get in the way of true love, and defines love as something that is constant and unchanging. The phrase "the marriage of true minds" suggests that the poem is not merely concerned with physical love, but with the deeper emotional connection that exists between two people.
In the second quatrain, the speaker continues to describe the eternal nature of love. He compares love to a fixed mark, something that is unshakeable and enduring. The metaphor of the star that guides a ship through stormy waters is particularly effective here, as it suggests that love is a beacon of hope and security in an uncertain world. The phrase "Whose worth's unknown" implies that true love is not something that can be measured or quantified; it is a precious and invaluable thing that defies explanation.
The third quatrain acknowledges the fact that physical beauty is fleeting, and that time eventually takes its toll on even the most attractive of individuals. But the speaker argues that love is not subject to the same limitations as time. Love does not fade or wither away with age; it persists even in the face of death. The phrase "even to the edge of doom" suggests that love endures beyond the grave, and that the bond between two people can survive even the ultimate separation.
The final couplet serves as a conclusion to the poem, and is perhaps the most famous part of the sonnet. The speaker declares that if anyone can prove him wrong about the nature of love, he will recant his words and admit that he was mistaken. But the final line, "I never writ, nor no man ever loved" is a defiant statement of the poet's belief in the power of love. It suggests that love is not something that can be proved or disproved; it is a force that exists beyond the realm of logical argument or empirical evidence.
Literary Criticism
Shakespeare's Sonnet CXVII is a remarkable achievement in the field of sonnet writing. The poem is characterized by its elegant language, its sophisticated imagery, and its profound emotional depth. The sonnet form is particularly well-suited to the exploration of complex emotions, and this poem is a perfect example of how Shakespeare was able to use the form to great effect.
One of the most interesting aspects of this sonnet is its treatment of time. Time is a recurring theme in Shakespeare's work, and it is often portrayed as an enemy of love. But in Sonnet CXVII, Shakespeare turns this idea on its head. Instead of being an obstacle to love, time is presented as something that is subject to the power of true love. The metaphor of the "bending sickle" is particularly effective here, as it suggests that even time itself must yield to the power of love.
Another interesting aspect of this sonnet is its use of metaphors. The metaphor of love as a "fixed mark" is particularly effective, as it suggests that love is something that is unchanging and enduring. The metaphor of the star that guides a ship through stormy waters is also very effective, as it suggests that love is something that provides stability and hope in difficult times.
Finally, the language of this sonnet is simply beautiful. Shakespeare's use of words like "tempests" and "sickle" adds to the poem's emotional depth, and the final couplet is one of the most powerful statements of belief in the power of love ever written.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Shakespeare's Sonnet CXVII is a wonderful ode to the power of true love. The poem explores the idea that love is something that transcends time and space, and that it is a force that is more powerful than death itself. The poem's elegant language, sophisticated imagery, and profound emotional depth make it one of the most memorable examples of sonnet writing in the English language. Anyone who has ever been in love will find something to relate to in this beautiful and timeless piece of literature.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
William Shakespeare is one of the most celebrated poets of all time, and his sonnets are a testament to his mastery of the art form. Sonnet CXVII is one of his most famous works, and it is a beautiful example of his ability to convey complex emotions through the use of language. In this article, we will take a closer look at Sonnet CXVII and explore its themes, structure, and language.
Sonnet CXVII is part of a larger collection of 154 sonnets that Shakespeare wrote over the course of his career. These sonnets are divided into two sections: the first 126 are addressed to a young man, while the remaining 28 are addressed to a woman. Sonnet CXVII is one of the few sonnets that does not address either of these individuals directly. Instead, it is a reflection on the nature of love and the power of language.
The sonnet begins with the lines, "Accuse me thus: that I have scanted all, / Wherein I should your great deserts repay." These lines suggest that the speaker has been accused of not doing enough to repay someone for their kindness or love. The word "scanted" means to limit or withhold, so the speaker is essentially being accused of not giving enough in return for what they have received.
The next two lines, "Forgot upon your dearest love to call, / Whereto all bonds do tie me day by day," further emphasize this idea of neglect. The speaker admits that they have forgotten to call upon the person's love, even though they are bound to them in every way. This suggests that the speaker has taken the person's love for granted and has not shown them the appreciation they deserve.
The third quatrain of the sonnet begins with the lines, "That I have frequent been with unknown minds, / And given to time your own dear-purchased right." These lines suggest that the speaker has been spending time with other people, rather than the person they should be repaying. The phrase "unknown minds" suggests that these people are strangers or acquaintances, rather than close friends or loved ones. The phrase "your own dear-purchased right" refers to the person's love, which the speaker has been neglecting.
The final quatrain of the sonnet begins with the lines, "That I have hoisted sail to all the winds / Which should transport me farthest from your sight." These lines suggest that the speaker has been trying to distance themselves from the person they should be repaying. The phrase "hoisted sail" suggests that the speaker is actively trying to leave, while the phrase "all the winds" suggests that they are willing to go to any lengths to get away. This further emphasizes the idea of neglect and taking someone's love for granted.
The final couplet of the sonnet provides a resolution to the speaker's dilemma. It reads, "But that, so much of earth and water wrought, / I must attend time's leisure with my moan." These lines suggest that the speaker is unable to repay the person's love because they are bound by the limitations of time and space. The phrase "earth and water wrought" suggests that the speaker is bound by the physical world, and cannot escape its limitations. The phrase "attend time's leisure with my moan" suggests that the speaker must accept their fate and mourn the fact that they cannot repay the person's love.
The structure of Sonnet CXVII is typical of Shakespeare's sonnets. It consists of three quatrains and a final couplet, with a rhyme scheme of ABAB CDCD EFEF GG. The use of iambic pentameter, with ten syllables per line, gives the sonnet a musical quality that is characteristic of Shakespeare's writing. The use of enjambment, or the continuation of a sentence from one line to the next, creates a sense of flow and movement that adds to the sonnet's emotional impact.
The language of Sonnet CXVII is rich and complex, with many layers of meaning. The use of metaphors and imagery creates a vivid picture of the speaker's emotions and the situation they find themselves in. For example, the phrase "hoisted sail to all the winds" creates an image of a ship sailing away from its moorings, while the phrase "attend time's leisure with my moan" creates an image of someone resigned to their fate and mourning their inability to change it.
In conclusion, Sonnet CXVII is a beautiful example of Shakespeare's ability to convey complex emotions through the use of language. It is a reflection on the nature of love and the power of language, and it explores the themes of neglect, taking someone's love for granted, and the limitations of time and space. The sonnet's structure and language create a sense of flow and movement that adds to its emotional impact, and it is a testament to Shakespeare's mastery of the art form.
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