Sonnet 29
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,
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 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.
Sonnet Intro
Sonnet 29 appeals to me because it closely relates to my personal life, in addition, to make me reflect on the joy and comfort that friendship has brought me. I truly understand what Shakespeare meant by “bootless cries”: sometimes it is doleful to see that I can do nothing to help but to cry. Multiple times in my life, when I feel down and miserable, it is always my friends who come and support me, to make my heart feel better. In a more particular way, to make me feel needed again. I am surprised in a content way seeing Shakespeare’s description of “sings hymns at heaven’s gate”, epitomizing his delightful and glorious memories of his friendship. In any case, the sonnet makes me feel grateful for my friends and individuals who always gratuitously support me.
Sonnet Analysis
Shakespeare’s Sonnet 29 starts with a quatrain that is packed with imagery, symbolism, and hyperbole to emphasize a situation of despair and despondency. This poem is an extended single sentence: the only period comes at the end of line 14. The sonnet starts with the word “when” which brings up the conditional clause, which lists a series of circumstances for the main clause to subsequently explain. “Men’s eyes” is used as a symbolism here: it doesn’t only mean that people are staring at him suspiciously. In fact, “men’s eyes” here symbolize the judgment that the man receives. Meantime, it implies the intellectual decisions that people are making about his character and worth. Lines 2-3 draw out a lively image of a lonely and deperate man who weeps and prays to God for relief. From the words “alone” and “outcast”, the protagonist of the poem can be comprehended as an outlier of the society. And “bootless”, meaning useless, again proves the man’s failure and helplessness; the lines are highly charged with negativity. In line 4, the speaker curses his fate after crying out to heaven. Personally judging, this description can be a little too melodramatic. Presumably, the purpose of the use of this hyperbolic narration is for readers to feel empathetic to the speaker’s miserable mood brought by his traumatic experiences. Indeed, it is truly desperate if no one in the world conveys trust nor appreciation, this elaborated emotion is well delivered by Shakespeare as the sonnet continues.