Shakespeare's "Sonnet No. 29": Textual Analysis

 Shakespeare's "Sonnet No. 29"

 

When in disgrace with Fortune and men's eyes,

I all alone beweep my out-cast state,

And trouble deaf heaven with my bootless cries,

And look upon myself and curse my fate,

Wishing me like to one more rich in hope,

Featured like him, like him with friends possess'd,

Desiring this man's art, and that man's scope,

With what I most enjoy contented least;

Yet in these thoughts myself almost despising,

Haply, I think on thee, – and then my state,

Like to the lark at break of day arising

From sullen earth, sings hymns at heaven's gate;

    For thy sweet love remembered such wealth brings

    That then I scorn to change my state with kings.

Genre:

The genre of Shakespeare's "Sonnet No. 29" is a Shakespearean sonnet. This form is characterized by its 14 lines, iambic pentameter meter, and a specific rhyme scheme.

The rhyme scheme for "Sonnet No. 29" is: ABAB CDCD EFEF GG

This means that the first and third lines rhyme, the second and fourth lines rhyme, and so on, continuing throughout the sonnet. The final couplet, lines 13 and 14, rhymes with each other.

Sonnet Text with Annotations:

L1 When in disgrace with Fortune and men's eyes,

• Fortune: Personification of luck or fate; the speaker feels that he has been unfortunate or out of favor.

• men's eyes: Refers to how others perceive the speaker, suggesting that he feels looked down upon or judged by society.

L2 I all alone beweep my out-cast state,

• beweep: To weep or cry over something. Like bewail and beseem, the word has an archaic and biblical flavour.

• out-cast state: The speaker feels like an outsider, rejected and isolated from others.  The speaker’s condition of being a social outcast.

L3 And trouble deaf heaven with my bootless cries,

• deaf heaven: Heaven is personified as being deaf, ignoring the speaker's prayers or cries for help.

• bootless cries: Cries or prayers that are futile or ineffective, suggesting that they go unanswered.

• Heaven (God) turns a deaf ear to his complaints and laments. The parallel is drawn with Job in the Old Testament, who was cast out on a dung heap and bewept his mournful state.

L4 And look upon myself and curse my fate,

• curse my fate: The speaker blames or resents the circumstances of his life.

• - another echo from the Book of Job in the Bible:

• After this Job opened his mouth and cursed his day. And Job spake and said: Let the day perish wherein I was born, and the night in which it was said, 'There is a man child conceived'. Let that day be darkness, let not God regard it from above, neither let the light shine upon it. etc. Job.III.1-4.

L5 Wishing me like to one more rich in hope,

• rich in hope: Envious of others who are more hopeful or optimistic about their future.

L6 Featured like him, like him with friends possess'd,

• Featured like him: Wishing to have the physical appearance or qualities of another person.

• with friends possess'd: Desiring to have as many friends as another person.

L7 Desiring this man's art, and that man's scope,

• this man's art: Wishing for the talent or skill of one person.

• that man's scope: Envying another person’s opportunities or achievements.

L8 With what I most enjoy contented least;

• contented least: The speaker finds little satisfaction in the things he used to enjoy the most, indicating a deep sense of dissatisfaction.

L9 Yet in these thoughts myself almost despising,

• almost despising: The speaker feels so low that he nearly despises himself.

L10 Haply, I think on thee, – and then my state,

• Haply: Perhaps, or by chance.

• think on thee: The speaker suddenly remembers or thinks about the person he loves. Thee refers to his Fair Friend or W. H. 

L11 Like to the lark at break of day arising

• lark: A bird often associated with singing at dawn, symbolizing joy and renewal.

• break of day: Dawn or early morning.

L12 From sullen earth, sings hymns at heaven's gate;

• sullen earth: The gloomy, sorrowful world.

• heaven's gate: A metaphor for the sky or the entrance to heaven, symbolizing a higher, happier state.

L13 For thy sweet love remembered such wealth brings

• thy sweet love: The love of the person the speaker is thinking of.

• such wealth brings: The speaker feels rich or blessed when he remembers the love he receives.

L14 That then I scorn to change my state with kings.

• scorn to change my state with kings: The speaker values his love so much that he wouldn’t trade places with a king; his love brings him greater happiness than wealth or power.

Word Meanings:

1. Disgrace: Loss of respect or honor.

2. Fortune: Luck or destiny.

3. Beweep: To cry over something.

4. Out-cast: Rejected or excluded.

5. Bootless: Useless or ineffective.

6. Curse: To express strong anger or resentment.

7. Featured: Having certain physical characteristics or qualities.

8. Possess'd: Having or owning.

9. Scope: Range of opportunity or ability.

10. Despising: Hating or having contempt for.

11. Haply: Perhaps or by chance.

12. Lark: A type of bird known for singing early in the morning.

13. Sullen: Gloomy or sad.

14. Hymns: Songs of praise or joy.

15. Wealth: Great abundance or value, often referring to material riches but in this context, referring to emotional richness.

16. Scorn: To reject with disdain or contempt.

Summary:

In "Sonnet No. 29," the speaker begins by expressing deep despair over his misfortunes and feelings of being an outcast. He envies those who are more hopeful, talented, and socially connected. However, when he remembers the love he receives, his mood lifts, and he feels so enriched by this love that he would not trade his place with even a king. This sonnet explores themes of self-worth, envy, and the redemptive power of love.