Sonnet 94: They that have power to hurt and will do none
They that have power to hurt and will do none,
That do not do the thing they most do show,
Who, moving others, are themselves as stone,
Unmoved, cold, and to temptation slow:
They rightly do inherit heaven’s graces
And husband nature’s riches from expense;
They are the lords and owners of their faces,
Others but stewards of their excellence.
The summer’s flower is to the summer sweet
Though to itself it only live and die,
But if that flower with base infection meet,
The basest weed outbraves his dignity:
For sweetest things turn sourest by their deeds;
Lilies that fester smell far worse than weeds.
Summary of Sonnet 94
- Popularity of “Sonnet 94”: Written by William Shakespeare, the greatest English poet of his times and all times to come, this beautiful “Sonnet 94” is stated to have been published with the other sonnets in 1609. It is unclear when this sonnet was composed as it does not fall in other popular collections of those times, while its main idea, too, seems apart from Fair Youth sonnets. Shakespeare presents the idea of how unique and great figures set themselves apart from the common people like sweet flowers and how corruption worsens the condition of both. Herein lies the popularity of the poem.
- “Sonnet 94” As a Representative of Perfect Man Versus Corrupting Elements: The poet extols the features of a great person or an excellent figure saying that such persons or figures having great power to hurt others avoid doing things they have the power to do, move others but stay stoic and patient and show coldness even when getting emotional. Such people have the blessings of God. The poet continues with the same strain saying that these people do not go out of the natural limits and are lord of their fates. They are similar to the flowers that grow in summer only and then die. However, if such flowers have a bad smell instead of a good one, then they destroy their dignity. Similarly, a lowly action done by such a great figure also mars the reputation of such a person as weeds worsen lilies.
- Major Themes in “Sonnet 94”: Features of a perfect figure, great men versus sweet flowers, and corruption of great figures are the major themes of this sonnet. The poet uses an extended simile of a sweet flower of summer to compare a great figure, arguing that if a powerful, stoic, patient, and strong power lives in the restraints set by nature, such a powerful figure is the greatest of all. He stands apart from the common populace. The same goes for the summer flower that only grows in summer and does not grow in every other weather. However, when it gets corrupted with weeds, the same goes with the good and perfect figure when he/she does lowly acts. In fact, such people often harm themselves and their reputation similar to lilies that grow with the basest things such as weeds. In fact, the main argument of Shakespeare is that great persons often taint their reputation with lowly acts.
Analysis of Literary Devices Used in Sonnet 94
William Shakespeare’s use of literary devices is matchless and unparalleled. He used various literary devices to enhance the intended impact of this sonnet. Some of the major literary devices are as follows.
- Assonance: Assonance is the repetition of vowel sounds in the same line, such as the sound of /i/ and /a/ in “Lilies that fester smell far worse than weeds” and the sound of /i/ in “That do not do the thing they most do show.”
- Alliteration: Alliteration is the repetition of consonant sounds in the same line in quick successions, such as the sound of /s/ in “summer sweet.”
- Consonance: Consonance is the repetition of consonant sounds in the same line, such as the sound of /d/ in “That do not do the thing they most do show” and the sound of /f/ in “But if that flower with base infection meet.”
- Imagery: Imagery is used to make readers perceive things involving their five senses. William Shakespeare used imagery in this poem, such as “They that have power to hurt and will do none”, “Who, moving others, are themselves as stone” and “And husband nature’s riches from expense.”
- Metaphor: It is a figure of speech in which an implied comparison is made between objects different in nature. The poet used the metaphor of sweet flowers for the great person.
- Simile: It means the direct comparison of things to show or clarify the meanings of the things being compared. The poem shows the use of a simile as he compares great persons to stones.
- 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 stone, cold, heaven, riches, lords and fates to show how the great people wield power in their hands and how they use it.
Analysis of Poetic Devices Used in Sonnet 94
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 sonnet shows good use of formal and poetic diction.
- End Rhyme: It means to use verses having matching end words, such as none/stone and show/slow used in this sonnet.
- Quatrain: It is a Persian stanza having four verses. The sonnet shows the use of a quatrain such as the first stanza.
- Rhyme Scheme: This Shakespearean sonnet shows ABAB in quatrains and AA in the couplet.
- Stanza: A stanza is a poetic form of some lines. There are three quatrains and a couplet.
- Sonnet: It is a fourteen-lined poem. This poem is a sonnet.
- Tone: It means the voice of the text. The sonnet shows an analytical, expository and rational tone.
Quotes to be Used
The following lines are useful to quote when talking about the greatness of extraordinary people.
They that have power to hurt and will do none,
That do not do the thing they most do show,
Who, moving others, are themselves as stone,
Unmoved, cold, and to temptation slow: