Sonnet 29
Sonnet 29: When, in disgrace (William Shakespeare)
When, in disgrace with fortune and men’s eyes
I all alone beweep my outcast state,
And double deaf heaven with my bootless cries,
And look upon my self, and curse my fate :
Wishing me like to one more rich in hope,
Featured like him, like him with friends possessed,
Desiring this man’s art and that man’s scope,
With what I most enjoy contented least;
Yet in these thoughts my self almost despising
Happily I think on thee, and then my state,
Like to the lark at break of day arising
From sullen earthy, sings hymns at heaven’s gate,
For thy sweet love remembered such wealth brings
That then I scorn to change my state with kings
Summary of the Poem
When the fate in against me and people hold me low in their opinion I weep on my state as a common player. Heaven turns a deaf ear to my bootless cries and looks down upon me and curses my fate. I desire to be like the man who is richer in hope and favoured by fate. I wish to be like another in feature, like still another surrounded by friends. I desire to have the art and opportunity of other people. I am not the least satisfied with what I have. In these thoughts while almost despising myself. I happen to think of you and all my dark thoughts disappear and my heart takes the gladness of the morning when the lark sings a heaven’s gate. Then the remembrance of the sweet love of any friend brings me such a wealth as I do not like to change my state even with kings.
EXPLANATIONS
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When, in disgrace……………………………my fate.
Ref. to the Context- These lines have been taken from sonnet No. 29 composed by Shakespeare
The poet describes his condition of the time when he is not favoured by fate. He is sad on his poor lot. He does not enjoy a happy life.
Explanation- The poet says that he is not favoured to fortune and people hold him low in their opinion. They do not regard him highly. He is regarded as an ordinary man in such circumstances, he laments his down cast lot all alone. He weeps on his prior condition and no one gives him any consolation. Even heaven turns a deaf ear to his cries. I does not help him in changing his lot. It remains indifferent to his plight and curses his fate. No relief or help comes to him from any source.
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Wishing me……………………………contented least.
Ref. to the Context- This is an extract from sonnet No. 29 by William Shakespeare.
The poet is sad on his lot. He is not favoured by fortune. He weeps on his out cast state. But even heaven turns a deaf ear to his cries.
Explanation- Under such circumstances the poet looks at the other people who enjoy a better life, who have luck in their nimble figures. He wishes to be like those people. He desires to be like another in features. He wishes to be like the man who is loved and respected by his friends. He is not the least satisfied with what he has. He aspires to have the
skill and intelligence of other people who enjoy better status in life.
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Yet in these………………………..heaven’s gate.
Ref. to the Context- These lines have been selected from sonnet No. 29 by William Shakespeare.
The poet is not satisfied with his present condition. He wishes to be like other men. He aspires to have the art and opportunity of other people who are favoured by fortune.
Explanation- But in the moment of his suffering misfortune and loveliness when he regards himself with contempt, he happens to think to his friend and all his dark thoughts disappear and his heart takes the gladness of the morning when the lark sings at heaven gate.
The thought of his friend is a great source of consolation for him. It changes his mood.
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For thy…………………….with kings.
Ref. to the Context- This is the concluding couplet of Shakespeare’s sonnet No. 29
The thought of the poet’s friend changes his mood. It gladens his heart. It gives him consolation at a time when he is suffering from a mood of utter depression and abasement.
Explanation- The poet says that the memory of the sweet love of his friend is a great source of joy for him. It brings him such a wealth of satisfaction and delight that he does not like to change his lot even with the lot of kings. For him the love of his friend is greater than all other pleasures and blessings.
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