Tuesday 10 April 2018

When, in disgrace with fortune and men’s eyes (Sonnet 29)



Sonnet no. 29 is one of the 154 sonnets composed by William Shakespeare. This sonnet sequence falls into two divisions, the first part is contained from sonnet no.1 to 126, dedicated to the Fair Youth. The other division which comprises from sonnet no. 127-154, dedicated to Dark Lady. Usually, there is no any certain title given to the sonnets, the first line of the sonnets is assumed as the title of the sonnets. As far Shakespearean sonnet concern, its style and structure are not taken from anywhere rather it was Shakespeare’s own innovation. He initiated the tradition of writing a sonnet that was consisted of three quatrains and concluded by a couplet. The rhyming pattern is abab cdcd efef gg.
Sonnet 29 is also composed in typical Shakespearean sonnet form, 14 line of iambic pentameter ending in a rhymed couplet. In this sonnet, the speaker regrets his status as an outcast from the society. He weeps over his fate that has been cursed. He is expressing his agony that he has been deprived of the grace and fortune due to lack of qualities and feature that his friend has. He is less confident regarding his personalities; he believes more on his friend than on himself. He feels happy to have all the qualities that his friend possesses. He wishes to be like his friend, thus he feels one of the richest fellows on the earth.


In the third quatrain, he forgets himself and takes a deep sink in thoughts of his friend. He tries to mingle two bodies into one being. Here we have a portrayal of the self-denied state of the speaker. He is most contented and in a blissful state. he is so overwhelmed in the thoughts of his friend that he thinks himself as a lark at break of day ( Like to the lark at break of day arising/ From sullen earth, sings hymns at heaven’s gate). In the end, he thanks his friend for the sweet love that has brought wealth to him and became a king. 


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