THE SONNETS

The sonnet cycle became a literary fashion in Elizabethan England in imitation of the Italian poet Petrarch’s cycles to Laura.  Introduced in England by Sir Philip Sidney’s Astrophel and Stella in 1591, the sonnet cycle had a thin story line held together by a lady whose name usually appeared in the title. Shakespeare’s sonnets, while making use of conventional forms, far surpass contemporary cycles in their beauty, depth of felling and complexity of thought and beauty.

It is conjectured that the sonnet were written between 1592 and 1598. They were circulated privately, two being published in a collection called The Passionate Pilgrim in 1599. All 154 sonnets were finally published in 1609 by Thomas Thorpe, though it is not known how he got possession of them or exactly what the dedication can mean: “To the only begetter of these sonnets, Mr. W. H.”

Indeed, the sonnets are surrounded by mystery and conjecture.  The first 126 sonnets are addressed to a noble and beautiful young man, most probably Shakespeare’s patron, though there is no way of knowing for sure who he is. In these sonnets, Shakespeare tries to convince him to defeat Time and to pass on his beauty by marrying and having children. In sonnets 40 to 42 the fried steals the poet’s mistress, and in sonnets 78 to 86 a rival poet wins his friend’s favor.   In sonnets 127 to 152 Shakespeare addressed his mistress, the so-called “dark lady” whose identity is again enigmatic.   She is promiscuous and sensual, and the poet is in her thrall. He rejects the conventional terms of praise realistically describing her in a sonnet (130) that begins “My mistress’ eyes are nothing like the sun.”  Yet he concludes this insulting description by preferring her to the beautiful women falsely portrayed by other poets.

Such a masterful use of the concluding couplet is typical of the cycle: Shakespeare inverts the line of argument he has been pursuing, or closes with a coda that eloquently recapitulates his argument.   Simply in terms of their ability to express the full range of the lover’s emotions, from despair to playfulness, from revulsion to affirmation, Shakespeare’s sonnets have never been surpassed. 

 *** The above article is an excerption from FANDEX FAMILY FIELD GUIDES SHAKESPEARE of  WORKMAN PUBLISHING NEW YORK***

Index: Bibliography | Guest Book: To View -To Sign | Web blog: Log In-View | Message Board | Poll | Media Problems Help