Analysis Of Shakespeare's Sonnet 29
William Shakespeare wrote at least 154 sonnets and other poems. Sonnet 29 is one of his most famous. This sonnet is one long sentence, but it still follows the traditional Shakespearean rhyme scheme for Shakespearian sonnets: ababcdcdefefgg. In Shakespeare’s Sonnet 29, he presents a man who is consumed with self-pity and jealousy, yet finds gratitude when thinking about his dear friend.
The first portion of the poem tells how the narrator is feeling. He tells how he suffers feelings of disgrace and loneliness. Shakespeare is saying that this person, who is very depressed, is crying out for help to others, but he is such an outcast that not even "deaf heaven," meaning God and the angels of heaven are listening to his “bootless” cries. When he looks upon himself, he “curse[s] [his] fate”. He expresses the knowledge that he need be more optimistic, but then grieves that he has little to hope for.
In the middle portion of the sonnet, the narrator unleashes his envious feelings towards other men. He expresses his desire to possess their riches, looks, friends, skills and opportunities. The jealousy consumes him so wholly that he finds himself totally dissatisfied with the things and interest that usually bring him the most joy. This is shown when the speaker states “With what I most enjoy contented least”.
Moving into the last four lines before the couplet, he states “Yet in these thoughts myself almost despising”, meaning he is thinking these thoughts and almost hating himself. The reader almost believes the speaker is going back into a state of self-pity. The narrator then expresses how he happens to think of his dear friend, and then to his own state or position in life at the current time. It is then that the speaker finds appreciation for his life and his sprits are raised like “the lark at break of day”.
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