Welcome, young scholars, to an exciting journey into the heart of Shakespeare’s poetry! Today, we delve into a sonnet that explores the darker, more tumultuous side of love, a side filled with passion, pain, and a touch of self-deception. Prepare to unravel the intricate layers of “Sonnet 147,” a poem that speaks volumes about the human heart’s complex desires.
Let us begin by reading the poem itself:
My love is as a fever, longing still
For that which longer nurseth the disease,
Feeding on that which doth preserve the ill,
Th’ uncertain sickly appetite to please.
My reason, the physician to my love,
Angry that his prescriptions are not kept,
Hath left me, and I desperate now approve
Desire is death, which physic did remove.
Past cure I am, now reason is past care,
And frantic-mad with evermore unrest;
My thoughts and my discourse as madmen’s are,
At random from the truth vainly expressed;
For I have sworn thee fair, and thought thee bright,
Who art as black as hell, as dark as night.
Sonnet 147: A Concise Summary
Shakespeare’s Sonnet 147 presents a speaker consumed by an unhealthy, obsessive love. The central idea revolves around the destructive nature of this passion, which the speaker vividly compares to a persistent fever. This “fever” of love is not only debilitating but also self-perpetuating, as the speaker knowingly feeds his own illness despite understanding its harmful effects. The poem portrays a mind in turmoil, where reason has abandoned its post, leaving the speaker to succumb to a “frantic-mad” desire. Ultimately, the sonnet culminates in a stark confession of self-deception, revealing that the object of this intense affection is far from the idealized image the speaker has created.
A noteworthy aspect of this poem is its stark contrast to many traditional love sonnets that celebrate beauty and virtue. Sonnet 147 belongs to Shakespeare’s “Dark Lady” sequence, a series of sonnets often characterized by their exploration of passionate, often troubled, relationships and the speaker’s internal conflict. It offers a raw, honest look at the irrationality that love can sometimes inspire, making it a powerful and enduring piece of literature.
In-Depth Sonnet 147 Analysis: Unpacking the Layers
To truly appreciate Sonnet 147, one must delve into its rich language and intricate use of literary devices. The poem is a masterclass in conveying psychological distress through poetic form.
The Central Metaphor: Love as a Fever
The poem opens with a powerful and enduring metaphor that sets the tone for the entire sonnet:
My love is as a fever, longing still
For that which longer nurseth the disease,
Feeding on that which doth preserve the ill,
Th’ uncertain sickly appetite to please.
Here, the speaker directly equates his love with a “fever.” This is not a gentle, romantic comparison, but one that immediately suggests illness, suffering, and a lack of control. The word “longing” emphasizes the intense, almost painful desire. The fever “nurseth the disease,” meaning it continues to feed and sustain the illness. This highlights a paradoxical situation: the very thing the speaker craves (“that which longer nurseth the disease”) is what perpetuates his suffering. The “uncertain sickly appetite” further underscores the unhealthy nature of this desire, suggesting a craving for something detrimental, much like a sick person might crave food that worsens their condition.
The Conflict Between Reason and Desire
As the poem progresses, the speaker introduces a personified “Reason” as a “physician” to his love:
My reason, the physician to my love,
Angry that his prescriptions are not kept,
Hath left me, and I desperate now approve
Desire is death, which physic did remove.
This personification of “reason” as a doctor is highly effective. A physician’s role is to heal and guide towards health. However, the speaker admits that “his prescriptions are not kept,” meaning he has ignored the sensible advice of his own reason. Consequently, “Reason” has “left” him, abandoning the patient to his own destructive impulses. The speaker, now “desperate,” acknowledges a grim truth: “Desire is death.” This stark realization emphasizes the fatalistic path he is on, a path where his overwhelming passion leads to his undoing, and any hope of a cure (“physic”) has been removed.
Descent into Madness and Self-Deception
The speaker’s mental state deteriorates further, leading to a profound confession in the final lines:
Past cure I am, now reason is past care,
And frantic-mad with evermore unrest;
My thoughts and my discourse as madmen’s are,
At random from the truth vainly expressed;
The phrase “Past cure I am, now reason is past care” reiterates the hopelessness of his situation. Not only is he beyond healing, but reason itself no longer cares to intervene. He describes himself as “frantic-mad with evermore unrest,” painting a picture of a mind in constant agitation and distress. His “thoughts and my discourse as madmen’s are,” indicating that his words and ideas are irrational, disconnected from reality, and “at random from the truth vainly expressed.” This prepares the reader for the shocking revelation in the concluding couplet.
The Bitter Truth: A Confession of Lies
The final two lines deliver a powerful and unexpected twist, revealing the true nature of the speaker’s deception:
For I have sworn thee fair, and thought thee bright,
Who art as black as hell, as dark as night.
This couplet is a moment of brutal honesty. The speaker confesses that he has lied, both to the object of his affection and, perhaps more significantly, to himself. He “sworn thee fair, and thought thee bright,” creating an idealized image. However, the reality is starkly different: the beloved is “as black as hell, as dark as night.” This dramatic contrast between “fair/bright” and “black/dark” highlights the profound self-deception and the destructive power of his obsessive love. The “blackness” and “darkness” here can refer to moral character, appearance, or the overall negative influence the beloved has on the speaker.
Poetic Devices in Sonnet 147
Shakespeare’s masterful use of poetic devices enhances the poem’s impact:
- Sonnet Form: Sonnet 147 is a Shakespearean sonnet, consisting of 14 lines written in iambic pentameter with a rhyme scheme of ABAB CDCD EFEF GG. This structure provides a consistent rhythm and allows for a thematic shift, often leading to a concluding revelation in the final couplet, as seen here.
- Iambic Pentameter: Each line typically contains ten syllables, alternating unstressed and stressed beats (da-DUM da-DUM da-DUM da-DUM da-DUM). This natural rhythm mimics human speech, making the poem flow smoothly and enhancing its dramatic effect.
- Metaphor: The central metaphor of “love as a fever” is extended throughout the poem, with “reason” acting as a “physician.” This sustained comparison allows for a deep exploration of the speaker’s internal struggle.
- Personification: “My reason, the physician to my love,” gives human qualities to the abstract concept of reason, making its abandonment of the speaker more poignant.
- Paradox: The line “Feeding on that which doth preserve the ill” presents a paradox, as one typically feeds to gain strength, not to maintain an illness. Similarly, “Desire is death” is a paradoxical statement, as desire is often associated with life and vitality.
- Alliteration: The repetition of consonant sounds, such as “fever, longing still / For that which longer nurseth the disease, / Feeding on that which doth preserve the ill,” adds a musical quality and emphasizes key phrases.
- Juxtaposition: The stark contrast in the final couplet between “fair” and “bright” versus “black as hell, as dark as night” creates a powerful sense of disillusionment and revelation.
Conclusion: The Enduring Power of Sonnet 147
Sonnet 147 stands as a testament to Shakespeare’s profound understanding of human psychology and the complexities of love. It is not a poem of idealized romance but a raw, unflinching portrayal of obsessive desire, self-deception, and the internal battle between passion and reason. By presenting love as a debilitating illness and the speaker as a willing victim, Shakespeare invites us to consider the darker aspects of affection and the painful truths we sometimes hide from ourselves. This sonnet’s timeless exploration of irrationality and self-awareness continues to resonate, making it a vital piece for anyone seeking to understand the full spectrum of human emotion.