The Place 2 Be: Shakespeare's Sonnets

Critique of Sonnet 44

SHAKESPEARE’S SONNETS

Theme: Mind over Matter
Content: A desire to be pure thought instead of flesh so that he can think himself to be with his subject in an instant.

If the dull substance of my flesh were thought,
Injurious distance should not stop my way;
For then, despite of space, I would be brought
From limits far remote where thou dost stay.

Mid-line rhyme of substance with distance emphasising the frustration of physical distance.

space and remote enforce the distance between author and subject.

thought represents the 1st. of the 4 elements: Air.

desire represents the 2nd. of the 4 elements: Fire, as in the author's desire to be with his absent subject.

No matter then although my foot did stand
Upon the farthest earth removed from thee;
For nimble thought can jump both sea and land
As soon as think the place where he would be.

Distance, as well as physicality, is punningly represented in foot.

farthest earth removed reinforces the distance theme.

But ah, thought kills me that I am not thought,
To leap large lengths of miles when thou art gone,
But that, so much of earth and water wrought,
I must attend time's leisure with my moan,

Great paradox in thought kills me that I am not thought: his thought kills him that he is not thought to go to great lengths to be with his subject.

The distance has leapt to miles.

earth and water are the 3rd. and 4th. of the 4 elements that all appear in the next sonnet too: Earth, Air, Fire, Water.

Receiving nought by elements so slow
But heavy tears, badges of either's woe.

The water of Q3 become the author's heavy tears.

The presence of the 4 elements in this sonnet may be reinforced by this sonnet being numbered 44.