Introduction to Sonnet 29
Sonnet 29 by William Shakespeare is one of the famous 154 sonnets penned by Shakespeare. He has depicted love, beauty, politics, and death in it. Sonnet 29 is rather famous for its analysis of the speaker’s hopelessness and the curative effect of love. The poem begins with the speaker being bitter and complaining of his fate, and how he envies the lot of others and despairs over his own misfortune. Nevertheless, when analyzing the poem in its entirety, one can notice the change of the speaker’s mood, which reaches the state of happiness and satisfaction at the thought of a loved one.
The writer has employed different literary devices to masterfully express the change from sadness to happiness. These literary techniques not only enhance the emotional effect of the poem but also reflects profound insights of meaning and complexity.
Literary Devices in Sonnet 29
1- Metaphor
A literary figure of speech which involves a comparison between two objects but without using the words ‘like’ or ‘as’. The main idea of the particular sonnet is that Shakespeare uses metaphors to express specific emotions and modes of existence.
“When in disgrace with Fortune and men’s eyes”
In this line, “in disgrace with Fortune” is a metaphoric way of describing the speaker’s unfortunate situation as being in disfavor with the goddess Fortune. This metaphor shows the speaker’s idea of being left alone by luck and achievements.
2- Simile
A simile is a type of figure of speech that compares two objects using the words ‘like ‘ and ‘as’. Though simile is not as dominant as metaphor in Sonnet 29, Shakespeare uses the simile to create a vivid comparison.
“Like to the lark at break of day arising”
In this line, the speaker attempts to compare his happy mood with a lark rising at dawn. This simile is based on the change from night (sorrow) to the day (gladness). It expresses the shift in the mood of the speaker succinctly and effectively.
3- Alliteration
Alliteration is the repetition of the consonant sounds within successive words especially in the initial position. This device is normally employed to bring out the rhythmic pattern, the mood, or even stress in poems.
“With what I most enjoy contented least”
The consonance of “w” in “With what” and “c” in “contented” and “least” creates a musicality, and emphasizes the speaker’s discontent even regarding items that used to please him.
4- Anaphora
Anaphora is a literary device that involves using a specific word or phrase at the start of each consecutive line, or at the start of every clause. This device is applied for the purposes of giving emphasis and all types of rhythmical patterns.
“And trouble deaf heaven with my bootless cries,
And look upon myself, and curse my fate”
The use of “And” at the start of those lines clearly indicates accumulation of the speaker’s grievances and enriches the impression of an uninterrupted melancholy.
5- Personification
Personification is an example of a figurative language in which human attributes are given to inanimate objects. Thus, one can notice that Shakespeare applies personification to make abstract notions come alive.
“Trouble deaf heaven”
In this line, the speaker employs personification by using the word “heaven” as “deaf” thus, it cannot hear the cries of the speaker. This personification enhances the tone of the solitariness of the speaker where the upper powers are also indifferent to his misery.
6- Hyperbole
Hyperbole is an overstatement, which is used to stress the particular point. It is not meant to be taken a pronouncement, but instead it is used to build a ‘perception’ in the reader.
“Sing hymns at heaven’s gate”
Here, heaven’s gate means that position is on a sky high level and it is more like using an exaggeration to amusedly say that a person is extremely happy. This exaggeration resonates the happiness of the speaker when he contemplates on the beloved.
7- Antithesis
Antithesis is one of the figures of speech that involves putting two contrasting ideas in a parallel form. This shows a positive meager shift in the speaker which is brought out appropriately by Shakespeare using antithesis.
“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.”
Despite the fact that the final mood in the poem seems to be more positive than the first one, antithesis is emphasized in the poem. The speaker’s internal conflict is illustrated by the contrast of the agony he confesses to, with the joy he confesses to thrilling him.
8- Apostrophe
Apostrophe is a figure of speech where the speaks addresses directly to an individual, who is not present, an idea, or an object. As with many of Shakespeare’s sonnets, the speaker in Sonnet 29 employs the literary technique apostrophe: this can be interpreted as sharing a personal inner Monologue.
“Thy sweet love remembered such wealth brings”
In this line, the speaker is addressing the idea concerning the love of his beloved, despite the fact that she is not physically present. Through the use of apostrophe, the audience is immediately involved in the scenario, and the importance of beloved’s love in the speaker’s life is underlined.
9- Enjambment
Enjambment is a technique, through which, the meaning of a line of poetry continues into the next line without using punctuation. This technique is helpful to keep the reader remember about the previous ideas.
“When, in disgrace with Fortune and men’s eyes,
I all alone beweep my outcast state,
And trouble deaf heaven with my bootless cries,
And look upon myself, and curse my fate,”
The absence of punctuation marks at the end of each line recommend the reader to continue to the next line without any pause, which reflects the hopelessness of the speaker. The enjambment here increases the emotional impact of the poem as well as its rhythm and pace.
10- Paradox
A paradox is a statement that seems absurd but has profound meaning once the deep meanings are deciphered. It leaves the reader in an ambiguous and paradox state of mind by virtue of the opposite feelings.
“With what I most enjoy contented least”
The paradox makes the true sense of the poem illustrating the inner struggle, as he is unhappy of the things that is used to make him happy. The contrast emphasizes the depth of his distress and the complexity of his emotional state.
11- Irony
Irony is a stylistic device where the author’s intended meaning of the words is not an actual meaning that a reader is going to perceive. Irony is used to contrast the speaker’s perception and the actual situation in the Sonnet 29.
“When, in disgrace with Fortune and men’s eyes,
I all alone beweep my outcast state”
The irony here is that, while the speaker feels forsaken and degrade, he ends the poem with a realization that his beloved’s love empowers him and ensure he is not alone. This would be ironical and helps to underscore the redemptive role of love as well as the speaker’s ignorance of this factor.
12-Assonance
Assonance refers to the use of similar vowel sounds which is within the same words but in the consecutive lines. This device puts a melodic tone to the poem and can be used to point out certain feelings or stanzas.
“Yet in these thoughts myself almost despising”
Through the repetition of the phoneme “o” in “thoughts”, “almost”, and “despising”, the poem acquires a sad and philosophical message that reveals the speaker’s inner conflict.
13- Theme
In every poem, there is the primary concept that the poem portrays; this is known as the theme of the poem. In Sonnet 29, the main theme is how love and human connection can turn sadness into happiness.
“For thy sweet love remembered such wealth brings
That then I scorn to change my state with kings.”
These lines sum up the message of the poem, reflecting the thought of the beloved’s love, which makes the speaker feels as wealthier than a king.
Summary of Sonnet 29
In the sonnet 29, William Shakespeare defines a true picture of despair and how love helps to overcome it. The poem is divided into three quatrains and a final couplet and all the four parts contribute to build the story of the change of feelings.
The poem starts with the narrator in a very miserable and disgraced mood. He looks at himself as a man rejected by Fortune and for that reason he has no satisfaction in his life. The poem begins with the following lines: “When, in disgrace with Fortune and men’s eyes, / I all alone beweep my outcast state.” These lines hint at the gloominess of the poem and reveal the main motif – the isolation of the speaker from the society. He desires qualities and wealth that he does not have and states, “Would to God, I were such another man, / That I might have grand hopes, friends, and means.”
In the second quatrain the speaker remains in the state of worthlessness and explores how even the things that used to make him happy no longer do. He thus describes himself as troubling deaf heaven with bootless cries, especially because he thinks that the divine is indifferent to his suffering. This period of self hatred and depression is characterized by hopelessness and the feeling that the speaker’s cries are futile since nothing changes.
Nevertheless, a change in the mood of the sonnet is noticed in the third quatrain. The speaker’s mood is transformed by a single powerful thought: the memory of the love of his life. This moment of change is seen in the lines “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.” In the midst of his self-contempt, he turns his thoughts towards his beloved and his condition improves, likening himself to a lark which at dawn soars up towards the heavens.
The final couplet gives emphasis on the redemptive effect of love. The speaker says, “For thy sweet love remembered such wealth brings / That then I scorn to change my state with kings.” Through his beloved’s love, he feels so rich that he would not exchange his state for that of a king. This declaration supports the theme that love has the unique power of transforming and raising human spirit.
See also: Themes in dd
