Sonnet 46: Mine Eye And Heart Are At A Mortal War
Mine eye and heart are at a mortal war,
How to divide the conquest of thy sight;
Mine eye my heart thy picture’s sight would bar,
My heart mine eye the freedom of that right.
My heart doth plead that thou in him dost lie,
A closet never pierc’d with crystal eyes,
But the defendant doth that plea deny,
And says in him thy fair appearance lies.
To ‘cide this title is impannelled
A quest of thoughts, all tenants to the heart;
And by their verdict is determined
The clear eye’s moiety, and the dear heart’s part:
As thus: mine eye’s due is thine outward part,
And my heart’s right, thine inward love of heart.
Line 1: Mine eye and heart are at a mortal war,
Difficult Words and Meanings:
- Mine eye: My eye (representing sight or external perception).
- Heart: My heart (representing emotion or internal feeling).
- Mortal war: A deadly or serious conflict.
In-Depth Explanation:
The speaker begins by personifying his eye and heart as being engaged in a “mortal war,” a serious and potentially destructive conflict. This sets up the central metaphor of the sonnet: the struggle between external perception (the eye) and internal emotion (the heart) over the beloved.
Context:
This sonnet is part of Shakespeare’s sequence addressed to the “Fair Youth.” The speaker explores the tension between the physical and emotional aspects of love, using the metaphor of a legal dispute to resolve the conflict. The line introduces the theme of the division between sight and feeling.
Line 2: How to divide the conquest of thy sight;
Difficult Words and Meanings:
- Divide: Allocate or apportion.
- Conquest: The act of gaining or possessing.
- Thy sight: Your appearance or presence.
In-Depth Explanation:
The speaker explains that the conflict between his eye and heart is over how to “divide the conquest of thy sight,” meaning how to allocate the experience of seeing and possessing the beloved. This suggests that both the eye and the heart claim ownership of the beloved’s presence.
Context:
This line develops the metaphor of the conflict between the eye and the heart, framing it as a legal dispute over the beloved’s “sight.” It reflects the theme of the tension between external perception and internal emotion.
Line 3: Mine eye my heart thy picture’s sight would bar,
Difficult Words and Meanings:
- Picture’s sight: The visual image of the beloved.
- Bar: Exclude or prevent.
In-Depth Explanation:
The speaker states that his eye wants to exclude his heart from the “picture’s sight,” meaning the visual experience of the beloved. This suggests that the eye claims exclusive rights to the beloved’s appearance.
Context:
This line highlights the eye’s claim to the beloved’s external beauty, excluding the heart’s emotional connection. It reflects the theme of the division between sight and feeling.
Line 4: My heart mine eye the freedom of that right.
Difficult Words and Meanings:
- Freedom of that right: The privilege or entitlement to the beloved.
In-Depth Explanation:
The speaker explains that his heart, in turn, denies the eye the “freedom of that right,” meaning the privilege of possessing the beloved. This suggests that the heart claims exclusive rights to the beloved’s emotional connection.
Context:
This line reinforces the conflict between the eye and the heart, with each claiming exclusive rights to the beloved. It reflects the theme of the tension between external perception and internal emotion.
Line 5: My heart doth plead that thou in him dost lie,
Difficult Words and Meanings:
- Doth plead: Argues or claims.
- Thou in him dost lie: You reside within the heart.
In-Depth Explanation:
The speaker describes his heart’s argument: it claims that the beloved resides within it (“thou in him dost lie”), meaning that the emotional connection to the beloved is internal and not dependent on sight.
Context:
This line develops the heart’s case in the metaphorical legal dispute, emphasizing the emotional and internal nature of love. It reflects the theme of the division between sight and feeling.
Line 6: A closet never pierc’d with crystal eyes,
Difficult Words and Meanings:
- Closet: A private chamber or inner space.
- Pierc’d: Penetrated or seen through.
- Crystal eyes: Clear or sharp eyesight.
In-Depth Explanation:
The speaker describes the heart as a “closet” (a private inner space) that is never penetrated by “crystal eyes” (clear or sharp eyesight). This suggests that the heart’s connection to the beloved is private and invisible to the eye.
Context:
This line reinforces the heart’s claim to the beloved, emphasizing the internal and emotional nature of love. It reflects the theme of the division between sight and feeling.
Line 7: But the defendant doth that plea deny,
Difficult Words and Meanings:
- Defendant: The eye (in the metaphorical legal dispute).
- Plea: Argument or claim.
- Deny: Reject or refute.
In-Depth Explanation:
The speaker states that the eye, as the defendant, denies the heart’s plea. This suggests that the eye rejects the heart’s claim to exclusive rights over the beloved.
Context:
This line continues the metaphor of the legal dispute, with the eye challenging the heart’s argument. It reflects the theme of the tension between external perception and internal emotion.
Line 8: And says in him thy fair appearance lies.
Difficult Words and Meanings:
- Fair appearance: Beautiful external form.
- Lies: Resides or is contained.
In-Depth Explanation:
The speaker explains that the eye claims the beloved’s “fair appearance” (beautiful external form) resides within it. This suggests that the eye asserts its exclusive right to the beloved’s physical beauty.
Context:
This line reinforces the eye’s claim to the beloved’s external beauty, challenging the heart’s emotional connection. It reflects the theme of the division between sight and feeling.
Line 9: To ‘cide this title is impannelled
Difficult Words and Meanings:
- ‘Cide: Decide or resolve (shortened form of “decide”).
- Title: Claim or right.
- Impannelled: Assembled (as a jury).
In-Depth Explanation:
The speaker states that a jury (“impannelled”) is assembled to resolve the dispute over the “title” (claim or right) to the beloved. This continues the metaphor of a legal trial to determine the division between the eye and the heart.
Context:
This line develops the metaphor of the legal dispute, introducing the idea of a jury to resolve the conflict. It reflects the theme of the tension between external perception and internal emotion.
Line 10: A quest of thoughts, all tenants to the heart;
Difficult Words and Meanings:
- Quest: A group or panel (as in a jury).
- Tenants: Occupants or inhabitants.
- Tenants to the heart: Loyal to the heart.
In-Depth Explanation:
The speaker describes the jury as a “quest of thoughts” (a group of thoughts) that are loyal to the heart (“all tenants to the heart”). This suggests that the thoughts are inclined to support the heart’s claim.
Context:
This line reinforces the metaphor of the legal dispute, with the thoughts serving as a jury loyal to the heart. It reflects the theme of the division between sight and feeling.
Line 11: And by their verdict is determined
Difficult Words and Meanings:
- Verdict: Decision or judgment.
- Determined: Resolved or decided.
In-Depth Explanation:
The speaker states that the jury’s verdict will determine the outcome of the dispute between the eye and the heart. This suggests that the thoughts will decide how to allocate the beloved’s presence between sight and feeling.
Context:
This line continues the metaphor of the legal dispute, emphasizing the role of the thoughts in resolving the conflict. It reflects the theme of the tension between external perception and internal emotion.
Line 12: The clear eye’s moiety, and the dear heart’s part:
Difficult Words and Meanings:
- Clear eye’s moiety: The eye’s rightful share.
- Dear heart’s part: The heart’s rightful share.
In-Depth Explanation:
The speaker explains that the verdict will determine the “clear eye’s moiety” (the eye’s rightful share) and the “dear heart’s part” (the heart’s rightful share) of the beloved. This suggests a division of the beloved’s presence between sight and feeling.
Context:
This line reinforces the metaphor of the legal dispute, with the verdict allocating the beloved’s presence between the eye and the heart. It reflects the theme of the division between sight and feeling.
Line 13: As thus: mine eye’s due is thine outward part,
Difficult Words and Meanings:
- Mine eye’s due: The eye’s rightful claim.
- Thine outward part: Your external appearance.
In-Depth Explanation:
The speaker states that the eye’s rightful claim is to the beloved’s “outward part” (external appearance). This suggests that the eye is entitled to the beloved’s physical beauty.
Context:
This line resolves the conflict by allocating the beloved’s external beauty to the eye. It reflects the theme of the division between sight and feeling.
Line 14: And my heart’s right, thine inward love of heart.
Difficult Words and Meanings:
- My heart’s right: The heart’s rightful claim.
- Thine inward love of heart: Your inner emotional love.
In-Depth Explanation:
The speaker concludes by stating that the heart’s rightful claim is to the beloved’s “inward love of heart” (inner emotional love). This suggests that the heart is entitled to the beloved’s emotional connection.
Context:
This line resolves the conflict by allocating the beloved’s inner love to the heart. It reflects the theme of the division between sight and feeling, with both the eye and the heart receiving their rightful share.
Summary of the Sonnet:
Sonnet 46 explores the tension between external perception (the eye) and internal emotion (the heart) in the experience of love. The speaker personifies his eye and heart as being engaged in a “mortal war” over the beloved, framing their conflict as a legal dispute. A jury of thoughts is assembled to resolve the dispute, ultimately deciding that the eye is entitled to the beloved’s external beauty (“thine outward part”), while the heart is entitled to the beloved’s inner emotional love (“thine inward love of heart”). The sonnet reflects the theme of the division between sight and feeling, resolving the conflict by acknowledging the rightful claims of both the eye and the heart. The metaphor of the legal dispute adds a playful and intellectual dimension to the exploration of love’s complexities.
In-Depth Analysis of Sonnet 46
Summary:
Sonnet 46 explores the conflict between the speaker’s eye and heart, each vying for ownership over the beloved. The eye claims dominion over the beloved’s outward beauty, while the heart argues that it possesses the beloved’s true essence—love and emotion.
The first quatrain introduces this struggle as a “mortal war”, suggesting a deep and intense conflict. The eye wants exclusive control over the image of the beloved, while the heart argues that it alone holds the beloved in an emotional, spiritual sense.
The second quatrain presents the legal battle metaphor:
- The heart claims that the beloved resides within it, in a sacred, private space beyond the reach of physical sight.
- The eye counters this, insisting that beauty is meant to be seen, and thus the beloved’s appearance belongs to it.
In the third quatrain, a jury of thoughts is assembled to judge the dispute. This personification of thoughts reflects an internal debate within the speaker’s mind.
The final couplet delivers the verdict:
- The eye is granted the beloved’s physical appearance.
- The heart is given the beloved’s true love and deeper affection.
By resolving this conflict in a balanced decision, the sonnet ultimately suggests that love is not only about physical beauty but also about the deeper emotional connection that resides in the heart.
Critical Analysis:
Sonnet 46 is a psychological and philosophical reflection on love, dividing it into two realms:
- The Physical (Ruled by the Eye) → The outward form, beauty, and visual pleasure.
- The Emotional (Ruled by the Heart) → True love, inner affection, and spiritual connection.
Shakespeare presents this tension as a court case, which adds a sense of drama and importance to the dispute. The decision is not a victory for one side, but a compromise, suggesting that love requires both physical attraction and emotional depth.
The sonnet also reflects on the nature of perception and truth. While the eye sees the external world, it cannot access the deeper truth of love, which resides in the heart. Meanwhile, the heart feels deeply but cannot “see” physical reality. This duality highlights the limitations of both senses and suggests that true love must integrate both.
Theme Analysis:
- The Conflict Between Physical Attraction and Emotional Love:
- The eye desires the external beauty of the beloved, while the heart longs for intimacy and emotional depth.
- The sonnet suggests that both aspects are essential in love, but they serve different purposes.
- The Role of Perception in Love:
- The eye and heart perceive the beloved differently—the eye sees, but the heart feels.
- This raises a question: Which perception is more real or valuable? Shakespeare suggests both are valid, but incomplete alone.
- Love as a Legal and Philosophical Debate:
- Shakespeare structures the sonnet like a court case, with a plaintiff, defendant, and jury.
- This reflects how love often involves internal struggle and reasoning, not just emotion.
- Balance and Compromise in Love:
- The final verdict gives both the eye and heart what they deserve, reinforcing the idea that love is a combination of sight and feeling, body and soul.
Literary Devices and Techniques:
- Personification:
- The eye and heart are personified as rival claimants in a legal dispute.
- This dramatizes the internal conflict, making the tension between physical and emotional love feel more vivid.
- Legal and Judicial Imagery:
- Shakespeare constructs the poem as a trial, using words like:
- “mortal war” (a battle over love)
- “plead” (legal argument of ownership)
- “defendant” (the eye arguing its case)
- “quest of thoughts” (jury members deciding the verdict)
- “verdict is determined” (final judgment of the case)
- This creates a sense of rationality and structure in an otherwise emotional dilemma.
- Antithesis (Contrast Between Opposites):
- Eye vs. Heart → Physical vs. Emotional.
- Crystal eyes vs. Closet never pierced → The eye is transparent and open, but the heart is deep and hidden.
- This emphasizes the fundamental opposition in how the speaker experiences love.
- Metaphor of Ownership and Possession:
- The eye and heart argue over who “owns” the beloved.
- This reflects how love often involves a desire for possession, but also the need to share and compromise.
- Rhyming Couplets for Resolution:
- The final couplet resolves the conflict by dividing the beloved’s presence between the eye and heart.
- This reinforces the idea of balance in love, where both attraction and emotion coexist.
Comparison to Other Sonnets on Love and Perception:
- Sonnet 24 (“Mine eye hath played the painter”) → Similar theme of the eye capturing the beloved’s beauty, but without the conflict between eye and heart.
- Sonnet 47 (“Betwixt mine eye and heart a league is took”) → A direct continuation of this theme, where the eye and heart finally reconcile.
- Sonnet 116 (“Love is not love which alters when it alteration finds”) → Explores true love as beyond physical beauty, aligning with the heart’s claim in Sonnet 46.
Conclusion:
Sonnet 46 presents love as an internal battle between physical attraction (eye) and deep emotion (heart). By structuring the poem as a legal dispute, Shakespeare dramatizes this inner conflict, ultimately suggesting that true love requires both aspects to be whole.
The eye and heart must share ownership: the eye enjoys the beloved’s beauty, while the heart possesses their love. This balance highlights Shakespeare’s view that love is neither purely physical nor purely emotional—it is a fusion of both.
