Free College Essays - Analysis of Shakespeares Sonnet 75 :: Sonnet essays

Analysis of Sonnet 75 sonnet 75 So are you to my thoughts as food to life, Or as sweet-seasond showers are to the ground And for the peace of you I hold such strife As twixt a miser and his wealth is found Now proud as an enjoyer and anon Doubting the filching age bequeath steal his treasure, Now counting best to be with you alone, Then betterd that the world may see my pleasure Sometime totally full with feasting on your sight And by and by clean starved for a look Possessing or pursuing no delight, Save what is had or must from you be took. Thus do I pine and surfeit day by day, Or gluttoning on all, or all away.   PARAPHRASE OF SONNET 75 As food is to the body so are you to my soul and mind, Or as spring showers are to the ground And for the contentment you bring me I allow such inner strife As the conflict between a miser and his money Who takes joy in his wealth, but soon Fears that ruthless competitors will steal his treasure, Now thinking it best to have you al one, Then thinking that the world should see how happy I am At one flash wholly satisfied by feasting on your sight And the next moment utterly starved for a look at you Having or seeking no pleasure Except what you have given me or what I will demand. And so I starve or feed to excess depending on the day, Either gorging on you, or not having you at all.   COMMENTARY The sonnet opens with a seemingly joyous and innocent tribute to the young friend who is brisk to the poets emotional well being. However, the poet quickly establishes the negative aspect of his dependence on his beloved, and the complimentary metaphor that the friend is food for his soul decays into ugly imagery of the poet alternate between starving and gorging himself on that food. The poet is disgusted and frightened by his dependence on the young friend. He is consumed by guilt over his passion. Words with silent sexual meanings permeate the sonnet -- "enjoyer", "treasure", "pursui ng", "possessing", "had" -- as do allusions to five of the seven "deadly" sins -- avarice (4), gluttony (9, 14), pride (5), lust (12), and invidia (6).