Welcome, dear readers, to an exploration of one of William Shakespeare’s most enchanting works, Sonnet 43. This poem invites us into a world where sight and blindness intertwine, revealing a profound truth about love and perception. Let us begin by immersing ourselves in the poem itself.
When most I wink, then do mine eyes best see,
For all the day they view things unrespected;
But when I sleep, in dreams they look on thee,
And darkly bright, are bright in dark directed.
Then thou, whose shadow shadows doth make bright,
How would thy shadow’s form form happy show
To the clear day with thy much clearer light,
When to unseeing eyes thy shade shines so!
How would, I say, mine eyes be blessed made
By looking on thee in the living day,
When in dead night thy fair imperfect shade
Through heavy sleep on sightless eyes doth stay!
All days are nights to see till I see thee,
And nights bright days when dreams do show thee me.
Sonnet 43 Summary: Seeing Beyond Sight
Sonnet 43 delves into the paradoxical nature of sight and perception, particularly when it comes to the beloved. The poem’s central idea is that the speaker’s eyes see best not when they are open during the day, but when they are closed in sleep, for it is then that they behold the image of the beloved in dreams. During the waking hours, the world appears dull and “unrespected” compared to the vivid, illuminating presence of the beloved in the speaker’s nocturnal visions. The poem marvels at how even a mere “shadow” or dream-image of the beloved can brighten the darkness of night, leading the speaker to ponder how much more glorious it would be to see the beloved in the full light of day. Ultimately, the poem concludes that all waking days feel like nights until the beloved is seen, and nights become bright as day when dreams bring the beloved’s image.
Sonnet 43 Analysis: A Deep Dive into Poetic Brilliance
This sonnet, a masterful example of Shakespearean form, explores themes of love, perception, and the power of imagination. Its structure, language, and imagery work together to create a compelling argument for the beloved’s transcendent beauty.
The Opening Quatrain: A Paradox of Vision
The poem immediately establishes a central paradox:
When most I wink, then do mine eyes best see,
For all the day they view things unrespected;
But when I sleep, in dreams they look on thee,
And darkly bright, are bright in dark directed.
- Paradox: The line “When most I wink, then do mine eyes best see” introduces the core idea that true sight is achieved not through physical vision but through an inner, dream-like perception. Winking, or closing the eyes, is usually associated with blindness, yet here it leads to superior vision.
- Contrast: The speaker contrasts the “unrespected” things seen during the day with the beloved’s image seen in dreams. This highlights the beloved’s unique significance.
- Imagery: The phrase “darkly bright, are bright in dark directed” is a striking oxymoron. It paints a picture of the beloved’s image illuminating the darkness of sleep, making the night itself glow with a special light. This emphasizes the beloved’s radiant quality.
The Second Quatrain: The Beloved’s Illuminating Power
The second quatrain expands on the beloved’s ability to transform darkness into light:
Then thou, whose shadow shadows doth make bright,
How would thy shadow’s form form happy show
To the clear day with thy much clearer light,
When to unseeing eyes thy shade shines so!
- Metaphor and Hyperbole: The beloved is described as one “whose shadow shadows doth make bright.” This is a powerful metaphor, suggesting that even the faintest impression or “shadow” of the beloved possesses enough light to brighten other shadows. This is hyperbole, exaggerating the beloved’s luminosity.
- Rhetorical Question: The lines “How would thy shadow’s form form happy show / To the clear day with thy much clearer light, / When to unseeing eyes thy shade shines so!” pose a rhetorical question. The speaker wonders how much more magnificent the beloved’s actual presence would be in daylight, given that a mere dream-image can so brilliantly illuminate the darkness of sleep. This question underscores the beloved’s extraordinary beauty.
- Alliteration: Notice the pleasing repetition of the ‘f’ sound in “shadow’s form form happy show,” which adds to the musicality of the verse.
The Third Quatrain: Longing for Waking Vision
The third quatrain reiterates the speaker’s longing and the profound impact of the beloved’s dream-presence:
How would, I say, mine eyes be blessed made
By looking on thee in the living day,
When in dead night thy fair imperfect shade
Through heavy sleep on sightless eyes doth stay!
- Repetition and Emphasis: The phrase “How would, I say,” emphasizes the speaker’s deep yearning. The repetition of the rhetorical question from the previous quatrain reinforces the central idea.
- Contrast: “Living day” is contrasted with “dead night,” further highlighting the speaker’s preference for the beloved’s presence, even if it’s just a “fair imperfect shade” in dreams. The beloved’s image brings life to the “dead night.”
- Imagery: “Sightless eyes” refers to the eyes closed in sleep, yet they are the ones that truly “see” the beloved. This reinforces the paradox of vision.
The Concluding Couplet: The Ultimate Truth
The final two lines deliver the sonnet’s powerful resolution and central message:
All days are nights to see till I see thee,
And nights bright days when dreams do show thee me.
- Summary and Resolution: This couplet succinctly summarizes the poem’s argument. It declares that without the beloved, all waking hours are dark and meaningless, like night. Conversely, nights become bright and joyful, like days, when the beloved appears in dreams.
- Chiasmus: The structure of the couplet exhibits a form of chiasmus (a rhetorical device where two or more clauses are balanced against each other by the reversal of their structures). “All days are nights… till I see thee, / And nights bright days when dreams do show thee me.” This creates a memorable and impactful conclusion.
- Theme of Love’s Power: The couplet powerfully asserts that the beloved’s presence, even in dreams, is the ultimate source of light, joy, and meaning for the speaker. Love transforms perception entirely.
Literary and Poetic Devices in Sonnet 43
Shakespeare masterfully employs several devices to enrich the meaning and impact of Sonnet 43:
- Sonnet Form: As a Shakespearean (or English) sonnet, it consists of 14 lines written in iambic pentameter, with a rhyme scheme of ABAB CDCD EFEF GG. This structure provides a framework for the development of the poem’s argument, leading to a concluding couplet that offers a resolution or summary.
- Iambic Pentameter: Each line typically has ten syllables, alternating unstressed and stressed beats (da-DUM da-DUM da-DUM da-DUM da-DUM). This rhythm gives the poem a natural, conversational flow while maintaining a sense of formality.
- Paradox: The central paradox of seeing best when the eyes are closed is fundamental to the poem’s meaning.
- Oxymoron: “darkly bright” is a vivid example, combining contradictory terms to create a striking image.
- Imagery: The poem is rich with visual imagery, contrasting light and darkness, waking and sleeping, to convey the beloved’s radiant effect.
- Metaphor: The beloved’s “shadow” being able to “make bright” other shadows is a strong metaphorical representation of their pervasive illuminating power.
- Rhetorical Question: Used to engage the reader and emphasize the speaker’s wonder and longing.
- Alliteration: The repetition of consonant sounds, such as in “shadow shadows doth make bright” and “shadow’s form form happy show,” adds to the poem’s musicality and memorability.
- Antithesis/Contrast: The poem is built on contrasts: day vs. night, waking vs. sleeping, seeing vs. blindness, “unrespected” things vs. the beloved.
The Enduring Appeal of Sonnet 43
Sonnet 43 remains a beloved poem for its insightful exploration of love’s transformative power. It teaches us that true vision often transcends physical sight, residing instead in the heart and imagination. The poem’s eloquent language and intricate structure make it a timeless piece that continues to resonate with readers, reminding us that the people we cherish can illuminate even the darkest corners of our lives, making our nights bright and our days meaningful.