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Gordon Jones

Doctor R.V. Sterling

English 1302

22 June 2017

Shakespeare on Love: Literary Analysis of Sonnet Ninety-Two."

In his ninety-second sonnet, Shakespeare speaks about a relationship in limbo. The first

one hundred twenty-six Shakespearean sonnets have a young man as the focus (Jamieson).

Additionally, Shakespeare's and most all sonnets, are love poems. As the verse unfolds, the

reader becomes confronted with the dichotomy of mans relationships with man. Shakespeare

reflects upon being in a relationship with a being he adores but is unable to ascertain if his love is

unrequited. Follows an investigation of the work via its natural divisions.

The first quatrain of the poem detailed below:

But do thy worst to steal thyself away,

For term of life thou art assured mine;

And life no longer than thy love will stay,

For it depends upon that love of thine (Mabillard).

This quatrain of the work sets the stage for Shakespeare's impressions on the subject and their

relationship. The poem opens with the two appearing at a crossroads in their relationship, "do

thy worst to steal thyself away (Mabillard)." Shakespeare immediately brings forward his

confusion though, and he expresses how he feels regarding the relationship; stating he believes
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the love of the youth is requisite for his continued existence. Demonstrating his mixed feelings as

it is still within the quatrain. As the poem progresses to the second quatrain, a deeper exploration

of this issue follows.

The next section of the poem serves to highlight Shakespeare's mixed emotions towards

his muse further:

Then need not I to fear the worst of wrongs,

When in the least of them my life hath end.

I see a better state to me belongs

Than that which on thy humor doth depend (Mabillard);

The author says that he doesnt feel the need to fret over the worst that the youth could do, since,

continuing in the second line to finish the thought he states the least of offenses would cause him

to die. The quatrain then ends with Shakespeare conveying the idea that he fears already being

in dire straits by dependence upon the youths accommodation for his well-being. This the case

as he had stated earlier in the text his life, in his estimation, is dependent upon the young man not

even slightly wounding him in their relationship.

In the third quatrain, Shakespeare addresses the possibility of their relations ending:

Thou canst not vex me with inconstant mind,

Since that my life on thy revolt doth lie.

O, what a happy title I do find,

Happy to have thy love, happy to die (Mabillard)!

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Shakespeare assaults the reader; the youth now related as petulant. In the opening line which

holds insight again into Shakespeare's confusion: while first stating that the young man cannot

vex (line 10) him, he concludes the lad has an "inconstant mind (line 10)". As the reader

moves forward, Shakespeare states in the next two lines if he has love from the youth, he would

die happily. Throughout the first three quatrains, Shakespeare seems to vacillate between

condemnation of the muse and unadulterated love. Perhaps the end of the poem offers the reader

some insight.

The conclusion does serve to provide some insight into Shakespeare's psychic, as first,

he makes a minimizing statement, then a bit of a revelation. But whats so blessed-fair that fears

no blot? Thou mayest be false, and yet I know it not (Mabillard). His opening question of the

final couplet he asks, what situation could there not be doubts when speaking of relations

between two people; then closing with what may be the answer to his swinging stance of the

whole poem: questioning the youths fidelity in their relationship.

Throughout Sonnet Ninety-Two, Shakespeare expresses love for his patron. More

importantly to this writing, the Bard delves into problems that may occur in a relationship.

Specifically, the questioning of motivations and loss of trust. His love of the youth is proclaimed

in each quatrain quite prominently, though often followed almost immediately by a line of verse

which brings into question the veracity of his earlier claim. In doing so, what Shakespeare points

out is the complexity of human emotions; especially when two people are interacting in

relationship to the said existence. The waters are further muddied by the introduction in his

couplet, of suspecting that his concept of the relations may have been different from the other

party all along, and he just was so enamored that he didnt realize this may be the case. The

poem serves as an enlightening view of all interpersonal relations for all time.
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Works Cited

Jamieson, Lee. How to Analyze a Sonnet. ThoughtCo, 1 June 2017, www.thoughtco.com/how-to-

analyze-a-sonnet-2985269. Accessed 20 June 2017.

King, Warren, and John King. Sonnet 92: But Do Thy Worst To Steal Thyself Away. No Sweat

Shakespeare, Warren, 2004, www.nosweatshakespeare.com/sonnets/92/ Accessed 20 June 2017

Mabillard, Amanda. Shakespeare Sonnet 92 - But Do Thy Worst to Steal Thyself

Away. Shakespeare Sonnet 92 - But Do Thy Worst to Steal Thyself Away, www.shakespeare-

online.com/sonnets/92.html. Accessed 10 June 2017.