Shakespeare’s Sonnets by William Shakespeare | 1609| Simon & Schuster Folger Shakespeare Library | Paperback $ 9.99
The sonnets of William Shakespeare, a cycle of 154 linked poems first published in 1609, explore many of Shakespeare’s most common themes: jealousy, betrayal, melancholy. They ache with unfulfilled longing, and, for many, they are the most complete and moving meditations on love ever written.
As I mentioned in my recent review of The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, I’ve been making more of an effort lately to read more poetry — and to try to do a better job of understanding it.
We read at least one of these sonnets in junior high or high school. I don’t remember which one(s), or even much about whatever educational points we were supposed to have learned from them, but I do remember being fascinated by the construction of sonnets as a form — the rhythm of iambic pentameter, the traditional rhyme scheme, and the use of stanzas to pace a story or induce a mood. It’s an architectural way of writing.
I did somehow get the impression that these poems are expressions of romantic love, which is actually not really the case. The bulk of the sonnets are addressed to a young friend of the poet, at first encouraging him to enjoy his youth, then complaining about his involvement in a love triangle. Most of the rest of the poems are about the poet’s affair with an unidentified woman (of the aforementioned love triangle), and his less-than-flattering expressions of affection for + disappointment in her.
I found the contrast in the author’s attitudes towards these two people interesting. He writes adoringly of his apparently platonic friend, in the way that you might normally expect of a love poem. However, he’s basically negging the woman that he’s physically involved with, in poems that are simultaneously sensual yet complaining; his attraction to her is contrasted with his lack of respect for her, and yet when she becomes involved with someone else he becomes jealous and blames her for his own sinfulness.
Shakespeare’s sonnets are technically impressive, of course. I found that they were a little more decipherable when read aloud (though I can’t say if my cat, who was forced to endure this performance, particularly enjoyed the experience). But I still struggled to “get it” — once again, I found myself relying almost entirely on third-party commentary for clues.
I hate that I still feel like such a dunderhead when it comes to poetry, but I’m about ready to admit defeat. I still have several works of poetry on my list for Classics Club; I don’t mean that I’m ready to give up on those. I just mean that maybe it is time for me to accept that it’s just not my cup of tea. I can read whatever poetry homework the more optimistic past-me has assigned, try to appreciate or even enjoy it at whatever shallow level of brainspace present-me is able to give it, and leave it at that.
Links:
- Biography of William Shakespeare from the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust
- Public domain poems available from Open Source Shakespeare
- Shakespeare’s Sonnets articles from ThoughtCo.
Publication information: Shakespeare, William. Shakespeare’s sonnets. New York, NY: Simon & Schuster, 2004. Print.
Source: Public library.
Disclaimer: I am not compensated, monetarily or otherwise, for reviews of books or other products.
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