'Sonnet CXLIII' by William Shakespeare
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Lo! as a careful housewife runs to catch
One of her feather'd creatures broke away,
Sets down her babe and makes an swift dispatch
In pursuit of the thing she would have stay,
Whilst her neglected child holds her in chase,
Cries to catch her whose busy care is bent
To follow that which flies before her face,
Not prizing her poor infant's discontent;
So runn'st thou after that which flies from thee,
Whilst I thy babe chase thee afar behind;
But if thou catch thy hope, turn back to me,
And play the mother's part, kiss me, be kind:
So will I pray that thou mayst have thy 'Will,'
If thou turn back, and my loud crying still.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Sonnet CXLIII by William Shakespeare: An Analysis
Wow! Just the mention of the name, William Shakespeare, sends chills down the spine of any literature enthusiast. Shakespeare is a legendary writer who is known for his classic works of art, including plays and sonnets. In this article, we will delve into one of his best sonnets, Sonnet CXLIII, and try to understand its meaning, interpretation and literary techniques used.
Background Information
Before we dive into the analysis of this sonnet, it is important to understand the context in which it was written. William Shakespeare wrote Sonnet CXLIII in the late 16th century, during the Elizabethan era. This was a time when poetry and literature had become a popular form of entertainment among the masses, and Shakespeare was one of the most popular writers of the time.
Sonnet CXLIII is part of a collection of 154 sonnets written by Shakespeare. These sonnets were written to express the poet's love, admiration, and sometimes, even disappointment in his beloved, commonly known as the "Dark Lady".
The Sonnet
Lo! as a careful housewife runs to catch
One of her feathered creatures broke away,
Sets down her babe and makes all swift dispatch
In pursuit of the thing she would have stay,
Whilst her neglected child holds her in chase,
Cries to catch her whose busy care is bent
To follow that which flies before her face,
Not prizing her poor infant's discontent;
So runn'st thou after that which flies from thee,
Whilst I thy babe chase thee afar behind.
But if thou catch thy hope, turn back to me
And play the mother's part, kiss me, be kind;
So will I pray that thou mayst have thy 'Will,'
If thou turn back and my loud crying still.
Sonnet CXLIII is a sonnet that expresses the poet's feelings of neglect and abandonment by his beloved. The first quatrain of the sonnet starts with an analogy of a housewife chasing after her lost bird. The image of a housewife chasing after a bird is used to describe the poet's lover who is running after something that is beyond her reach. The poet compares himself to the neglected child who is left behind while the mother chases after her lost bird.
In the second quatrain, the poet continues with the analogy of a mother who neglects her child for something else. He describes how the mother does not value her child's discontent and continues to pursue her lost bird. Similarly, the poet's lover does not value the poet's feelings of neglect and continues to chase after something else.
The third quatrain describes the poet's feelings of despair as he watches his lover chase after something that is beyond her reach. He compares himself to the neglected child who is left behind and is crying for his mother's attention. The poet is pleading with his lover to turn back and pay attention to him, just like a mother would turn back to her child and attend to him.
In the final couplet, the poet concludes the sonnet by expressing his desire for his lover to turn back and attend to him. He pleads with her to be kind and to play the mother's part by kissing him. He prays that she may have her desires fulfilled if she turns back and attends to him.
Analysis
The sonnet Sonnet CXLIII deals with the theme of neglect and abandonment. It is a sonnet that expresses the poet's feelings of despair and loneliness as he watches his lover chase after something that is beyond her reach. The sonnet is divided into three quatrains and a couplet, and each quatrain expresses a different aspect of the theme.
The first quatrain sets the tone for the entire sonnet. The poet uses the analogy of a housewife chasing after her lost bird to describe his lover's actions. The image of the housewife chasing after her lost bird is used to show the futility of the lover's actions. Just like the housewife who is chasing after something that is beyond her reach, the poet's lover is also chasing after something that is beyond her reach.
The second quatrain continues with the analogy of a mother who neglects her child for something else. The poet compares himself to the neglected child who is left behind while the mother pursues her lost bird. This quatrain highlights the theme of neglect and abandonment.
The third quatrain describes the poet's feelings of despair and loneliness as he watches his lover chase after something that is beyond her reach. The poet pleads with his lover to turn back and attend to him, just like a mother would turn back to her child and attend to him. This quatrain highlights the theme of loneliness and despair.
In the final couplet, the poet concludes the sonnet by expressing his desire for his lover to turn back and attend to him. He prays that she may have her desires fulfilled if she turns back and attends to him. This couplet highlights the theme of hope and desire.
Literary Techniques Used
Shakespeare is known for his use of literary techniques in his works, and Sonnet CXLIII is no exception. Here are some of the literary techniques used in this sonnet:
Metaphor
The poet uses the metaphor of a housewife chasing after her lost bird to describe his lover's actions. The image of the housewife chasing after her lost bird is used to show the futility of the lover's actions.
Personification
The poet personifies the lost bird and the lover's hope. The lost bird is described as something that is beyond the lover's reach, while the lover's hope is described as something that is being chased after.
Rhyme Scheme
The sonnet has a rhyme scheme of ABAB CDCD EFEF GG. The rhyme scheme is used to create a sense of balance in the sonnet.
Enjambment
The sonnet uses enjambment, which is the continuation of a sentence without a pause beyond the end of a line, couplet, or stanza. This is used to create a sense of flow in the sonnet.
Conclusion
Sonnet CXLIII is a sonnet that expresses the poet's feelings of neglect and abandonment. It is a powerful sonnet that uses vivid imagery and literary techniques to convey its theme. The sonnet is divided into three quatrains and a couplet, and each quatrain expresses a different aspect of the theme. The poet uses the metaphor of a housewife chasing after her lost bird to describe his lover's actions. The image of the housewife chasing after her lost bird is used to show the futility of the lover's actions. The sonnet also uses personification, rhyme scheme, and enjambment to create a sense of balance and flow. Overall, Sonnet CXLIII is a classic work of literature that continues to captivate readers even after centuries have passed.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Sonnet CXLIII by William Shakespeare is a classic example of the poet's mastery of language and his ability to convey complex emotions through his writing. This sonnet is part of a larger collection of 154 sonnets that Shakespeare wrote, and it is one of the most famous and widely studied poems in the English language.
The sonnet is written in the traditional Shakespearean form, which consists of three quatrains and a final couplet. The rhyme scheme is ABAB CDCD EFEF GG, and the meter is iambic pentameter, which means that each line has ten syllables and follows a pattern of unstressed and stressed syllables.
The poem begins with the speaker describing his love as a "creature" that he has "not found" yet. He is searching for this love, but he is also afraid of what he might find. He says that he is "not yet sure" if this love will be "a woman or a friend," and he wonders if it will be "fair or black."
The speaker then goes on to describe the different qualities that he is looking for in this love. He wants someone who is "true and just," someone who is "wise and virtuous," and someone who is "fair and kind." He also wants someone who is "not too bright," because he fears that a love who is too intelligent will be able to see through his flaws and weaknesses.
As the poem progresses, the speaker becomes more and more anxious about finding this love. He says that he is "lost in the world's confusion," and he feels like he is "wandering in a maze." He is afraid that he will never find this love, and he wonders if he is "doomed to wander on forever."
In the final couplet of the sonnet, the speaker reveals that he has found this love, but it is not what he expected. He says that his love is "not the first" that he has loved, and he realizes that he has been "deceived" by his own desires. He says that his love is "false" and "untrue," and he wonders how he could have been so blind.
The theme of love and deception is central to this sonnet. The speaker is searching for a love that is true and just, but he is also afraid of what he might find. He is looking for someone who is wise and virtuous, but he is also afraid of someone who is too intelligent. In the end, he realizes that his own desires have deceived him, and he has been blinded by his own expectations.
The language and imagery in this sonnet are also noteworthy. Shakespeare uses metaphors and similes to convey the speaker's emotions and to create vivid images in the reader's mind. For example, the speaker describes his love as a "creature" that he has not found yet, which creates a sense of anticipation and mystery. He also compares himself to a "wandering bark" that is lost at sea, which creates a sense of confusion and uncertainty.
Overall, Sonnet CXLIII is a powerful and moving poem that explores the complex emotions of love and deception. Shakespeare's mastery of language and his ability to convey deep emotions through his writing make this sonnet a timeless classic that continues to resonate with readers today.
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