“Sonnet 133: Beshrew that heart that makes my heart to groan” by William Shakespeare

Beshrew that heart that makes my heart to groan

For that deep wound it gives my friend and me:

Is’t not enough to torture me alone,

But slave to slavery my sweet’st friend must be?

Me from myself thy cruel eye hath taken,

And my next self thou harder hast engrossed;

Of him, myself, and thee I am forsaken,

A torment thrice threefold thus to be crossed.

Prison my heart in thy steel bosom’s ward,

But then my friend’s heart let my poor heart bail;

Whoe’er keeps me, let my heart be his guard:

Thou canst not then use rigour in my jail.

    And yet thou wilt; for I, being pent in thee,

    Perforce am thine, and all that is in me.

• Love and Suffering

• In “Sonnet 133: Beshrew that heart that makes my heart to groan,” Shakespeare explores the profound intertwining of love and suffering. The speaker’s love for the beloved is not a source of joy but rather a cause of immense anguish. The line “Beshrew that heart that makes my heart to groan” immediately establishes the speaker’s pain as originating from the beloved’s actions. This suffering extends beyond the speaker, enveloping his friend, as seen in “For that deep wound it gives my friend and me.” Shakespeare delves into the dual nature of love, where devotion can lead to emotional torment, revealing the complexities of human affection and its capacity to both elevate and destroy.

• Jealousy and Betrayal

• A significant theme in “Sonnet 133: Beshrew that heart that makes my heart to groan” is jealousy, stemming from perceived betrayal. The speaker laments the beloved’s hold not only over him but also over his dearest friend, evident in “But slave to slavery my sweet’st friend must be?” This line underscores the speaker’s anguish at the beloved’s power to divide him from his friend, creating a love triangle fraught with emotional turmoil. The betrayal is threefold, affecting the speaker, his friend, and their relationship, encapsulated in “Of him, myself, and thee I am forsaken.” The theme of jealousy resonates universally, showcasing how love can breed envy and mistrust.

• Emotional Imprisonment

• “Sonnet 133: Beshrew that heart that makes my heart to groan” vividly portrays the theme of emotional imprisonment. The speaker likens the beloved’s heart to a “steel bosom’s ward,” metaphorically describing it as an unyielding prison that confines his own heart. This imagery of entrapment reflects the speaker’s inability to escape the beloved’s emotional grip. Further, the plea, “But then my friend’s heart let my poor heart bail,” suggests a desperate attempt to negotiate release, revealing the depth of his emotional bondage. This theme highlights Shakespeare’s mastery in depicting the psychological chains of love and the pain of unrequited longing.

• Sacrifice and Devotion

• The theme of sacrifice is central to “Sonnet 133: Beshrew that heart that makes my heart to groan,” as the speaker demonstrates an unwavering devotion to the beloved despite enduring immense suffering. The willingness to offer his heart as a “guard” to the beloved, even in “jail,” exemplifies his selflessness: “Whoe’er keeps me, let my heart be his guard.” This self-sacrifice reflects a profound loyalty that persists even in the face of cruelty. Shakespeare masterfully captures the paradox of love: a force that demands selflessness yet often rewards it with pain. The speaker’s devotion becomes a poignant testament to love’s power to compel acts of extreme emotional generosity.

• How does “Sonnet 133: Beshrew that heart that makes my heart to groan” portray the complexity of love?

• In “Sonnet 133: Beshrew that heart that makes my heart to groan,” Shakespeare portrays love as a deeply complicated emotion, capable of bringing both joy and immense pain. The speaker’s suffering is evident in the line, “Beshrew that heart that makes my heart to groan,” where the beloved is blamed for the torment caused by their indifference or betrayal. The shared pain between the speaker and his friend, as expressed in “For that deep wound it gives my friend and me,” underscores how love’s impact extends beyond the individual, intertwining relationships in unexpected and often painful ways. This depiction reflects the paradoxical nature of love, where devotion and anguish coexist.

• What role does betrayal play in “Sonnet 133: Beshrew that heart that makes my heart to groan”?

• Betrayal is central to the emotional conflict in “Sonnet 133: Beshrew that heart that makes my heart to groan.” The speaker laments the beloved’s actions that not only hurt him but also entangle his closest friend: “But slave to slavery my sweet’st friend must be?” This betrayal is magnified by its dual nature, as it fractures the bonds between the speaker, his friend, and the beloved. The phrase “Of him, myself, and thee I am forsaken” encapsulates the deep sense of alienation that betrayal fosters, illustrating how trust, once broken, disrupts both personal and interpersonal harmony.

• How does the imagery of imprisonment in “Sonnet 133: Beshrew that heart that makes my heart to groan” reflect the speaker’s emotional state?

• In “Sonnet 133: Beshrew that heart that makes my heart to groan,” the recurring imagery of imprisonment vividly captures the speaker’s feelings of entrapment. The line “Prison my heart in thy steel bosom’s ward” likens the beloved’s heart to a literal prison, underscoring the speaker’s inability to free himself from the emotional grip of love. This metaphor is extended in “Thou canst not then use rigour in my jail,” where the speaker simultaneously acknowledges the beloved’s dominance and pleads for mercy. This imagery reflects the paradox of love as both a captivating force and a source of suffering, mirroring the speaker’s internal conflict.

• What does “Sonnet 133: Beshrew that heart that makes my heart to groan” suggest about loyalty in relationships?

• In “Sonnet 133: Beshrew that heart that makes my heart to groan,” loyalty emerges as a key theme, with the speaker demonstrating unwavering devotion despite the beloved’s cruelty. The plea, “Whoe’er keeps me, let my heart be his guard,” reveals the speaker’s willingness to remain loyal and protective, even in the face of emotional imprisonment. This self-sacrificial attitude reflects the speaker’s deep commitment to love, though it is met with indifference: “And yet thou wilt; for I, being pent in thee.” The sonnet highlights the complexity of loyalty in relationships, questioning whether such steadfast devotion is empowering or self-destructive.