Sonnet 129: Th’ Expense of Spirit in a Waste Of Shame
Th’ expense of spirit in a waste of shame
Is lust in action; and till action, lust
Is perjured, murd’rous, bloody, full of blame,
Savage, extreme, rude, cruel, not to trust,
Enjoyed no sooner but despisèd straight,
Past reason hunted; and, no sooner had
Past reason hated as a swallowed bait
On purpose laid to make the taker mad;
Mad in pursuit and in possession so,
Had, having, and in quest to have, extreme;
A bliss in proof and proved, a very woe;
Before, a joy proposed; behind, a dream.
All this the world well knows; yet none knows well
To shun the heaven that leads men to this hell.
Summary of Sonnet 129: Th’ Expense of Spirit In A Waste Of Shame
- Popularity of “Sonnet 129”: Written by one of the iconic writers and poets, William Shakespeare, “Sonnet 29” is a love poem. Shakespeare wrote this poem considering the emotional, and physical power lust wields. Also, he talks about sex, bodily function, and people’s feelings during lovemaking. The poem reaches the pinnacles of success because it weaves the genuine emotions of lovers.
- “Sonnet 129” As a Representative of Love: This poem is about how lust makes people perform shameful acts. It begins when the speaker explains how the expense of spirit occurs when one gets involved in sexual activities. However, those who commit such acts feel embarrassed and lose their eternal powerful force. As the poem continues, the speaker talks about the negative qualities of lust. To him, it is savage emotion that makes someone cruel. In the second quatrain, the speaker beautifully sketches the tempting nature of love that numbs people by providing fanciful dreams of joy and pleasure. However, when caught in these silly thoughts, people harm their inner selves. The speaker ends the poem by saying despite knowing lust will derail from the righteous path, every man is led by it.
- Major Themes in “Sonnet 129”: Loss, lust, emotions, and confession are the major themes of the poem. The poem explores the themes of lust and desire. In the opening of the poem, the speaker reflects on the destructive nature of lust and how it leads to shame and self-degradation. The poem also presents the speaker’s personal perspective when he talks about his own struggle with lust and his feelings of shame and guilt. Throughout the poem, he reflects upon lust and its effects, describing it as a “foul” and “bestial” emotion that can lead to self-destructive behavior. The final couplet offers a resolution to the poem, with the speaker declaring that one should reject lust and seek a more righteous path. The poem presents a complex view of lust and desire, acknowledging its power and seductive nature but ultimately rejecting it as a destructive force.
Analysis of Literary Devices Used in Sonnet 129: Th’ Expense of Spirit In A Waste Of Shame
William Shakespeare used some literary devices in the poem to heighten the intended impact of the poem. The analysis of the devices used in the poem is as follows.
- Assonance: Assonance is the repetition of vowel sounds in the same line, such as the sound of /e/ in “Th’ expense of spirit in a waste of shame” and the sound of /o/ in “Past reason hunted; and, no sooner had.”
- Alliteration: Alliteration is the repetition of consonant sounds in the same line in quick succession, such as the sound of /t / in “to make the taker mad.”
- Consonance: Consonance is the repetition of consonant sounds in the same line, such as the sound of /w/ in “All this the world well knows; yet none knows well,” and the sound of /r/ in “Before, a joy proposed; behind, a dream.”
- Enjambment: It is defined as a thought in verse that does not come to an end at a line break; rather, it rolls over to the next line. For example;
“Past reason hunted; and, no sooner had
Past reason hated as a swallowed bait
On purpose laid to make the taker mad;”
- Imagery: Imagery is used to make readers perceive things involving their five senses. William Shakespeare has used imagery in this poem, such as; “Before, a joy proposed; behind, a dream”, “On purpose laid to make the taker mad” and “Savage, extreme, rude, cruel, not to trust.”
- Irony: Irony is a figure of speech in which words are used in such a way that their intended meaning is different from the actual meaning of the words. The poet has used this device in the ending lines of the poem, where he feels pity on mankind by displaying the weak side of human nature;
“All this the world well knows; yet none knows well
To shun the heaven that leads men to this hell.”
- Metaphor: It is a figure of speech in which an implied comparison is made between objects different in nature. The poet has used lust as an extended metaphor to show its power and negative impacts on human beings.
- Symbolism: Symbolism is using symbols to signify ideas and qualities, giving them symbolic meanings that are different from the literal meanings. The poem shows symbols such as love, lust, intimacy, and shame.
Analysis of Poetic Devices Used in Sonnet 129: Th’ Expense of Spirit In A Waste Of Shame
Poetic and literary devices are the same, but a few are used only in poetry. Here is an analysis of some of the poetic devices used in this poem.
- Diction: It means the type of language. The poem shows descriptive simple, and poetic diction.
- End Rhyme: The end Rhyme is used to make the stanza melodious. Shakespeare used end rhyme in this poem, such as; “shame/blame” “had/mad” and “so/woe.”
- Iambic Pentameter: It is a type of meter having five iambs per line. The poem follows iambic pentameter, such as; “Th’ expense of spirit in a waste of shame.”
- Rhyme Scheme: The poem follows ABABCDCD in its octave and EFEFGG rhyme scheme in its sestet.
- Sonnet: It is a fourteen-lined poem. This poem is a sonnet.
- Tone: It means the voice of the text. Initially, the poem shows a remorseful tone, but later it turns argumentative by the end.
Quotes to be Used
The following lines are useful to explain what makes people go insane. These can also be used while talking about the dark side of man’s nature.
“A bliss in proof, and proved, a very woe;
Before, a joy proposed; behind, a dream.
All this the world well knows, yet none knows well
To shun the heaven that leads men to this hell.”
