“Sonnet 75” by William Shakespeare: A Critical Analysis

Introduction: “Sonnet 75” by William Shakespeare

“Sonnet 75” by William Shakespeare first appeared in 1609 as part of the collection known as the “Sonnets.” This sonnet, like many others in the sequence, explores the complex emotions of love and longing. It is characterized by its vivid imagery, comparing the beloved to essential sustenance like food and life-giving rain. The poem delves into the speaker’s conflicting feelings of joy and insecurity, likening his love to a miser’s obsession with treasure. The sonnet’s emotional depth and relatable themes of love, loss, and the passage of time have contributed to its enduring appeal.

Text: “Sonnet 75” by William Shakespeare

Annotations: “Sonnet 75” by William Shakespeare

Line	Text	Annotation
1	So are you to my thoughts as food to life,	The speaker compares the importance of the beloved to their thoughts as essential as food is to sustaining life.
2	Or as sweet-season’d showers are to the ground;	The comparison is extended – the beloved is like refreshing rain to the dry earth.
3	And for the peace of you I hold such strife	The speaker’s love for the beloved is not entirely peaceful, it brings inner turmoil.
4	As ‘twixt a miser and his wealth is found.	This inner turmoil is likened to the constant worry a miser has for their treasure.
5	Now proud as an enjoyer, and anon	At times, the speaker feels proud to have the beloved’s love.
6	Doubting the filching age will steal his treasure;	But then, fears of old age or death robbing them of this love arise.
7	Now counting best to be with you alone,	The speaker vacillates between wanting to keep the beloved all to themselves.
8	Then better’d that the world may see my pleasure:	And then wanting to show off their love to the world.
9	Sometime all full with feasting on your sight,	There are moments of feeling complete from simply being in the beloved’s presence.
10	And by and by clean starved for a look;	These are quickly followed by intense longing when the beloved is absent.
11	Possessing or pursuing no delight	The speaker’s happiness solely depends on the beloved.
12	Save what is had, or must from you be took.	Their joy is derived only from what they have of the beloved’s affection, or what they hope to get.
13	Thus do I pine and surfeit day by day,	The speaker summarizes their emotional state – constantly fluctuating between longing and feeling overwhelmed.
14	Or gluttoning on all, or all away.	This is further emphasized – either completely consumed by love or utterly deprived of it.

Literary And Poetic Devices: “Sonnet 75” by William Shakespeare

Device	Example	Explanation and Function
Alliteration	“Sweet-season’d showers”	Repetition of initial consonant sounds in neighboring words. Adds musicality and emphasizes the pleasantness of the showers.
Allusion	“‘Twixt a miser and his wealth”	Reference to the behavior of a miser, highlighting the speaker’s intense feelings towards the beloved as akin to possessiveness over wealth.
Anaphora	“Now proud as an enjoyer, and anon”	Repetition of the word “now” at the beginning of successive clauses. Emphasizes changing emotional states or attitudes towards the beloved.
Assonance	“Possessing or pursuing no delight”	Repetition of vowel sounds (“o” in “possessing” and “pursuing”). Creates internal rhyme and emphasizes the lack of joy in pursuits other than the beloved.
Consonance	“Counting best to be with you alone”	Repetition of consonant sounds (“t” and “n” in “counting” and “best”). Provides a rhythmic quality and emphasizes the speaker’s preference for solitude with the beloved.
Enjambment	“Then better’d that the world may see my pleasure:”	Continuation of a sentence beyond the end of a line of verse. Emphasizes the speaker’s desire for public acknowledgment of their happiness with the beloved.
Hyperbole	“Clean starved for a look”	Exaggeration for emphasis. Highlights the intense longing and deprivation the speaker feels in the absence of seeing the beloved.
Imagery	“Feasting on your sight”	Use of vivid language to create sensory experiences. Evokes the idea of consuming visual images of the beloved as nourishment.
Irony	“Or gluttoning on all, or all away”	Use of language that signifies the opposite of what is meant. Contrasts the extremes of indulgence and deprivation experienced by the speaker.
Metaphor	“As food to life”	Implied comparison between thoughts of the beloved and sustenance essential for life. Enhances the significance of the beloved’s presence in the speaker’s thoughts.
Oxymoron	“Clean starved”	Combination of contradictory words (“clean” and “starved”). Emphasizes the intensity of the speaker’s hunger for a look from the beloved.
Paradox	“Possessing or pursuing no delight”	A statement that appears self-contradictory but may reveal a deeper truth. Highlights that the only joy the speaker seeks is directly tied to the beloved.
Personification	“Doubting the filching age will steal his treasure”	Attribution of human qualities to an abstract concept (age). Suggests the passage of time as a potential threat to the speaker’s happiness with the beloved.
Repetition	“Now proud as an enjoyer, and anon”	Repeated use of the word “now”. Emphasizes the fluctuating emotional states of the speaker towards the beloved.
Simile	“Or as sweet-season’d showers are to the ground”	Comparison using “as” or “like”. Compares the effect of the beloved to nourishing rain showers, emphasizing their importance and pleasantness.
Symbolism	“Feasting on your sight”	Use of an object or action to represent something abstract. Sight symbolizes the enjoyment and fulfillment the speaker derives from seeing the beloved.
Synecdoche	“The filching age will steal his treasure”	A part of something used to represent the whole or vice versa. “Age” represents the passage of time that threatens the speaker’s happiness.
Tone	“Now proud as an enjoyer, and anon”	The author’s attitude toward the subject. The shifting tones reflect the speaker’s fluctuating emotions and attitudes toward the beloved.
Understatement	“Then better’d that the world may see my pleasure:”	Deliberate presentation of something as lesser in magnitude than it actually is. Understates the speaker’s desire for public recognition of their happiness with the beloved.
Verbal Irony	“Then better’d that the world may see my pleasure:”	A statement where the intended meaning is opposite to what is being expressed. The speaker expresses a desire for public recognition, while suggesting it is for the world’s benefit.

Themes: “Sonnet 75” by William Shakespeare

1. Immortality through Verse: One prominent theme in “Sonnet 75” is the idea of achieving immortality through poetry. The speaker expresses a belief that by immortalizing his beloved in verse, their beauty and essence will endure beyond the ravages of time. This theme is encapsulated in lines such as “So are you to my thoughts as food to life,” where the beloved is likened to a source of sustenance essential for survival. The act of preserving the beloved’s memory through poetry reflects the speaker’s desire to transcend mortality and ensure their legacy lives on.
2. Transience and Impermanence: Despite the speaker’s aspirations of immortalizing the beloved, another theme that emerges is the inevitability of transience and impermanence. The poem explores the fleeting nature of beauty and happiness, emphasizing the passage of time and its potential to diminish even the most cherished moments. This theme is evident in lines like “Possessing or pursuing no delight / Save what is had, or must from you be took,” highlighting the fleeting nature of joy derived solely from the beloved’s presence and the constant struggle against time’s erosion.
3. Love’s Struggle and Paradoxes: The theme of love’s struggle and paradoxes permeates the poem, portraying the complexities inherent in romantic relationships. The speaker oscillates between moments of fulfillment and deprivation, joy and despair, as captured in lines such as “Sometime all full with feasting on your sight, / And by and by clean starved for a look.” These contrasts underscore the intense emotional turmoil experienced in love, where moments of ecstasy are juxtaposed with periods of longing and dissatisfaction.
4. The Power of Artistic Creation: Finally, “Sonnet 75” explores the transformative power of artistic creation, particularly through poetry. The act of writing and immortalizing the beloved in verse becomes a form of personal and creative expression for the speaker. This theme is reflected in lines like “Then better’d that the world may see my pleasure:,” where the speaker desires public recognition for their artistic endeavor and the validation of their emotional investment. The poem suggests that through art, one can transcend personal experience and communicate universal truths about love and mortality.

Literary Theories and “Sonnet 75” by William Shakespeare

Literary Theory	Application to Sonnet 75	Critique
Psychoanalytic Criticism	Focuses on the speaker’s internal conflicts and desires. The sonnet reveals a dependency on the beloved for emotional well-being (“So are you to my thoughts as food to life“) and anxiety about losing them (“Doubting the filching age will steal his treasure“).	This theory helps understand the speaker’s emotional state but may oversimplify the complex nature of love.
Feminist Criticism	Explores the power dynamics between the speaker and the beloved. The speaker objectifies the beloved, comparing them to possessions (“his treasure“) and sources of sustenance (“food to life“).	While valid, this critique might not fully capture the nuances of the speaker’s emotional dependence and the sonnet’s exploration of love’s complexities.
New Criticism	Emphasizes close reading and analysis of the poem’s structure, imagery, and language. The sonnet’s use of paradoxes (“pine and surfeit,” “gluttoning on all, or all away“) and metaphors (“sweet-season’d showers“) create a rich tapestry of emotions.	This theory offers a detailed analysis of the poem’s literary techniques but may overlook the broader social and historical contexts.

Critical Questions about “Sonnet 75” by William Shakespeare

• How does the speaker reconcile the tension between immortality and transience in love?
• In “Sonnet 75,” the speaker grapples with the paradoxical nature of love’s durability and its inevitable vulnerability to time. The phrase “And for the peace of you I hold such strife,” encapsulates this tension, suggesting that the very essence of the beloved brings both fulfillment and struggle. This raises the question of whether the speaker’s attempt to immortalize the beloved through poetry is a futile endeavor against the relentless march of time. The poem navigates through moments of intense emotional attachment, where the speaker experiences profound joy in the beloved’s presence, and contrasting moments of despair, symbolized by “Or gluttoning on all, or all away,” illustrating the ephemeral nature of happiness derived solely from the beloved’s fleeting presence. Analyzing how the speaker confronts and reconciles these contradictions provides insights into Shakespeare’s exploration of love’s complexities and the human desire for permanence in the face of mortality.
• What role does poetic language play in shaping the speaker’s relationship with the beloved?
• “Sonnet 75” showcases the transformative power of poetry as a means to immortalize and elevate the beloved’s beauty and significance. The phrase “Now proud as an enjoyer, and anon / Doubting the filching age will steal his treasure,” underscores the speaker’s dual role as both a celebrant of the beloved’s virtues and a guardian against the passage of time. The poem’s language evokes sensory experiences and emotional depth, such as “Feasting on your sight,” where sight becomes a metaphorical feast that sustains the speaker’s emotional and artistic endeavors. Analyzing how Shakespeare employs poetic devices like metaphor, simile, and imagery to elevate the beloved’s presence beyond the temporal realm enriches our understanding of how language shapes and defines the speaker’s emotional landscape.
• In what ways does the sonnet form contribute to the exploration of love’s complexities?
• The structured form of the sonnet in “Sonnet 75” provides a framework for exploring the speaker’s emotional fluctuations and existential dilemmas. The poem’s division into an octave and a sestet allows for a progression of thought and emotion, evident in lines like “Then better’d that the world may see my pleasure:,” where the volta marks a shift from personal introspection to a desire for public acknowledgment. The sonnet’s strict rhyme scheme and meter enforce a rhythmic cadence that mirrors the oscillating emotions of love, as seen in phrases such as “Possessing or pursuing no delight / Save what is had, or must from you be took,” where the structured form intensifies the contrast between fulfillment and longing. Analyzing how the sonnet form shapes the expression of love’s complexities enhances our appreciation of Shakespeare’s mastery in using structure to convey emotional depth and thematic resonance.
• How does the speaker’s portrayal of love challenge traditional notions of romantic idealism?
• “Sonnet 75” presents a nuanced depiction of love that challenges idealized notions of eternal devotion and unending happiness. The phrase “Or as sweet-season’d showers are to the ground,” invokes natural imagery to convey the ephemeral nature of love’s pleasures, suggesting that even the most cherished moments are subject to the forces of change and decay. The poem critiques conventional ideals by portraying the speaker’s struggle with fluctuating emotions and contradictory desires, such as the longing for both intimacy and public validation, as illustrated in “Then better’d that the world may see my pleasure:.” This prompts critical reflection on whether Shakespeare intends to subvert or reaffirm societal expectations of love and relationships. Analyzing how the poem navigates between moments of fulfillment and disillusionment offers insights into Shakespeare’s exploration of love as a complex and multifaceted experience, challenging simplistic portrayals of romanticism.

Literary Works Similar to “Sonnet 75” by William Shakespeare

1. “Sonnet 29“ by William Shakespeare: Like “Sonnet 75,” this poem delves into the speaker’s shifting emotional states, from despair to elation, highlighting the transformative power of love.
2. “How Do I Love Thee? (Sonnet 43)” by Elizabeth Barrett Browning: Echoing the depth of emotion in “Sonnet 75,” this poem passionately explores the vastness and multifaceted nature of love.
3. “When I Have Fears That I May Cease to Be” by John Keats: Sharing the theme of fearing loss and the passage of time with “Sonnet 75,” this poem focuses on the speaker’s anxiety about mortality and unfulfilled potential.
4. “Love Is Not All” by Edna St. Vincent Millay: Unlike the all-consuming love depicted in “Sonnet 75,” this poem questions the sufficiency of love alone for a fulfilling life, while acknowledging its importance.
5. “Bright Star, Would I Were Stedfast as Thou Art” by John Keats: Similar to the speaker’s yearning in “Sonnet 75,” this poem expresses a desire for eternal love and unwavering devotion, though directed towards a celestial body.

Suggested Readings: “Sonnet 75” by William Shakespeare

• Books:
• Booth, Stephen. Shakespeare’s Sonnets. Yale University Press, 1977.
• Duncan-Jones, Katherine. Shakespeare’s Sonnets. Arden Shakespeare, Third Series, 2010.
• Vendler, Helen. The Art of Shakespeare’s Sonnets. Harvard University Press, 1997.
• Scholarly Articles:
• Fineman, Joel. “Shakespeare’s Perjured Eye.” Shakespeare Quarterly, vol. 35, no. 2, 1984, pp. 15-32. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/2870445.
• Kerrigan, John. The Sonnets and A Lover’s Complaint. Penguin Classics, 1986.
• Online Resources:
• The Folger Shakespeare Library. Shakespeare’s Sonnets. folger.edu/sonnets

Representative Quotations of “Sonnet 75” by William Shakespeare

Quotation	Context	Theoretical Perspective
“So are you to my thoughts as food to life,”	The speaker compares the beloved to essential sustenance, suggesting that thoughts of the beloved are vital for survival.	Psychoanalytic perspective: Views love as a fundamental human need, highlighting the psychological dependency on the beloved for emotional fulfillment.
“Or as sweet-season’d showers are to the ground;”	Likens the beloved’s presence to refreshing rain showers that nourish the earth, emphasizing their essential and pleasurable impact.	Ecocritical perspective: Analyzes the poem’s natural imagery to explore human relationships with nature and the environment, suggesting parallels between emotional and ecological sustenance.
“Sometime all full with feasting on your sight,”	Describes moments of intense joy and fulfillment when beholding the beloved, highlighting the sensory pleasure derived from their presence.	Phenomenological perspective: Focuses on subjective experiences and perceptions, exploring how sensory stimuli (such as sight) shape emotional states and interpersonal connections.
“And by and by clean starved for a look;”	Expresses the speaker’s alternating states of emotional fulfillment and longing in the absence of the beloved’s gaze.	Post-structuralist perspective: Examines the poem’s binaries (feasting/starved) to deconstruct fixed meanings and question the stability of identity and desire.
“Then better’d that the world may see my pleasure:”	The speaker desires public recognition and validation of their happiness derived from the beloved, seeking to immortalize their joy through public acknowledgment.	Cultural criticism perspective: Analyzes societal norms and values reflected in the poem, questioning the desire for external validation and the construction of identity through public perception.