Sonnet 117: Accuse Me Thus: That I Have Scanted All
Accuse me thus: that I have scanted all
Wherein I should your great deserts repay,
Forgot upon your dearest love to call,
Whereto all bonds do tie me day by day;
That I have frequent been with unknown minds,
And giv’n to time your own dear purchased right;
That I have hoisted sail to all the winds
Which should transport me farthest from your sight.
Book both my willfulness and errors down,
And on just proof surmise accumulate.
Bring me within the level of your frown,
But shoot not at me in your wakened hate,
Since my appeal says I did strive to prove
The constancy and virtue of your love.
Line 1:
“Accuse me thus: that I have scanted all”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Scanted: Neglected or withheld.
In-Depth Explanation of Text and Context:
The sonnet opens with the poet inviting the beloved to accuse him of neglecting everything he owed them. This suggests that the poet is acknowledging his faults and is ready to face the consequences of his actions.
The line sets the tone for the sonnet, which is a confession of neglect and a plea for understanding.
Line 2:
“Wherein I should your great deserts repay,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Deserts: Deserved rewards or merits.
In-Depth Explanation of Text and Context:
The poet admits that he has failed to repay the beloved for their great merits, suggesting that he has not given them the attention and gratitude they deserve. This reflects the poet’s sense of guilt and his recognition of his own shortcomings.
The line reinforces the poet’s acknowledgment of his neglect and his plea for understanding.
Line 3:
“Forgot upon your dearest love to call,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Forgot upon: Neglected to remember.
- Dearest love: The beloved’s most cherished affection.
In-Depth Explanation of Text and Context:
The poet confesses that he has neglected to remember the beloved’s dearest love, suggesting that he has taken their affection for granted. This reflects the poet’s sense of guilt and his recognition of his own shortcomings.
The line reinforces the poet’s acknowledgment of his neglect and his plea for understanding.
Line 4:
“Whereto all bonds do tie me day by day;”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Bonds: Obligations or ties.
- Tie me: Bind or obligate me.
In-Depth Explanation of Text and Context:
The poet acknowledges that he is bound by obligations to the beloved every day, suggesting that he has failed to fulfill these obligations. This reflects the poet’s sense of guilt and his recognition of his own shortcomings.
The line reinforces the poet’s acknowledgment of his neglect and his plea for understanding.
Line 5:
“That I have frequent been with unknown minds,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Frequent: Often or regularly.
- Unknown minds: Strangers or unfamiliar people.
In-Depth Explanation of Text and Context:
The poet admits that he has often associated with strangers, suggesting that he has neglected the beloved in favor of others. This reflects the poet’s sense of guilt and his recognition of his own shortcomings.
The line reinforces the poet’s acknowledgment of his neglect and his plea for understanding.
Line 6:
“And giv’n to time your own dear purchased right;”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Given to time: Allowed time to take away.
- Dear purchased right: The beloved’s rightful claim to his time and attention.
In-Depth Explanation of Text and Context:
The poet confesses that he has allowed time to take away the beloved’s rightful claim to his time and attention, suggesting that he has neglected them. This reflects the poet’s sense of guilt and his recognition of his own shortcomings.
The line reinforces the poet’s acknowledgment of his neglect and his plea for understanding.
Line 7:
“That I have hoisted sail to all the winds”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Hoisted sail: Set sail or embarked.
- All the winds: Every opportunity or direction.
In-Depth Explanation of Text and Context:
The poet admits that he has set sail in every direction, suggesting that he has pursued various opportunities and neglected the beloved. This reflects the poet’s sense of guilt and his recognition of his own shortcomings.
The line reinforces the poet’s acknowledgment of his neglect and his plea for understanding.
Line 8:
“Which should transport me farthest from your sight.”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Transport: Carry or take away.
- Farthest from your sight: Away from the beloved.
In-Depth Explanation of Text and Context:
The poet confesses that he has pursued opportunities that have taken him far from the beloved, suggesting that he has neglected them. This reflects the poet’s sense of guilt and his recognition of his own shortcomings.
The line reinforces the poet’s acknowledgment of his neglect and his plea for understanding.
Line 9:
“Book both my willfulness and errors down,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Book: Record or write down.
- Willfulness: Deliberate neglect or stubbornness.
- Errors: Mistakes or faults.
In-Depth Explanation of Text and Context:
The poet asks the beloved to record his willfulness and errors, suggesting that he is ready to face the consequences of his actions. This reflects the poet’s sense of guilt and his recognition of his own shortcomings.
The line reinforces the poet’s acknowledgment of his neglect and his plea for understanding.
Line 10:
“And on just proof surmise accumulate.”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Just proof: Fair evidence.
- Surmise: Conjecture or assumption.
- Accumulate: Gather or build up.
In-Depth Explanation of Text and Context:
The poet asks the beloved to gather evidence and assumptions about his faults, suggesting that he is ready to face the consequences of his actions. This reflects the poet’s sense of guilt and his recognition of his own shortcomings.
The line reinforces the poet’s acknowledgment of his neglect and his plea for understanding.
Line 11:
“Bring me within the level of your frown,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Level of your frown: The range of your disapproval.
In-Depth Explanation of Text and Context:
The poet asks the beloved to bring him within the range of their disapproval, suggesting that he is ready to face their anger and judgment. This reflects the poet’s sense of guilt and his recognition of his own shortcomings.
The line reinforces the poet’s acknowledgment of his neglect and his plea for understanding.
Line 12:
“But shoot not at me in your wakened hate,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Shoot: Attack or criticize.
- Wakened hate: Anger or resentment.
In-Depth Explanation of Text and Context:
The poet pleads with the beloved not to attack him in their anger, suggesting that he is seeking forgiveness rather than punishment. This reflects the poet’s sense of guilt and his recognition of his own shortcomings.
The line reinforces the poet’s acknowledgment of his neglect and his plea for understanding.
Line 13:
“Since my appeal says I did strive to prove”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Appeal: Plea or request.
- Strive: Work hard or endeavor.
In-Depth Explanation of Text and Context:
The poet explains that his plea is based on his efforts to prove the constancy and virtue of the beloved’s love, suggesting that his neglect was not intentional but a result of his focus on proving their love.
The line reflects the poet’s belief in the beloved’s love and his plea for understanding.
Line 14:
“The constancy and virtue of your love.”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Constancy: Steadfastness or faithfulness.
- Virtue: Moral excellence or goodness.
In-Depth Explanation of Text and Context:
The sonnet concludes with the poet declaring that his neglect was an attempt to prove the constancy and virtue of the beloved’s love, suggesting that his actions were motivated by his belief in their love rather than a lack of care.
The line reinforces the poet’s plea for understanding and his belief in the beloved’s love.
Summary of the Sonnet:
Sonnet 117 is a confession of neglect and a plea for understanding. The poet acknowledges that he has neglected the beloved and failed to repay their great merits, but he asks the beloved to record his faults and bring him within the range of their disapproval without attacking him in anger. The poet explains that his neglect was an attempt to prove the constancy and virtue of the beloved’s love, suggesting that his actions were motivated by his belief in their love rather than a lack of care. The sonnet reflects Shakespeare’s exploration of the complexities of love and the challenges of maintaining a relationship, as well as the poet’s plea for forgiveness and understanding.
In-Depth Analysis of Sonnet 117
Summary
In Sonnet 117, the speaker acknowledges his perceived neglect of the beloved and admits to faults such as spending time with others, failing to give the beloved proper attention, and being metaphorically carried away by external influences. However, instead of making excuses, he presents a defense: his actions were not out of disloyalty, but rather a test of the beloved’s constancy and virtue.
- First quatrain: The speaker anticipates accusations of neglect and ingratitude toward the beloved.
- Second quatrain: He admits to associating with strangers and allowing distractions to pull him away, implying infidelity or emotional distance.
- Third quatrain: He invites judgment but pleads not to be punished with hate, suggesting he still seeks redemption.
- Final couplet: He argues that his behavior was a test of the beloved’s steadfastness, rather than an outright betrayal.
Critical Analysis
1. The Theme of Guilt and Justification
The speaker preemptively confesses his perceived wrongdoings but frames them in a way that undermines their seriousness. Instead of denying fault, he subtly shifts the blame onto the beloved, claiming that his actions were meant to reveal the strength of their love.
- “Accuse me thus: that I have scanted all / Wherein I should your great deserts repay”
- He admits to failing in his duties of appreciation and gratitude.
- The word “scanted” suggests both neglect and insufficiency, hinting that while he may have fallen short, he hasn’t entirely abandoned his devotion.
- “That I have hoisted sail to all the winds / Which should transport me farthest from your sight.”
- The imagery of a ship being carried away by the wind suggests restlessness, distraction, or even infidelity.
- The phrase “should transport me” implies he let outside forces dictate his actions, rather than willful betrayal.
2. The Paradox of Testing Love
- “Since my appeal says I did strive to prove / The constancy and virtue of your love.”
- This dramatic reversal turns his faults into a noble pursuit of truth.
- The speaker implies that if his beloved’s love is true, it will withstand his neglect.
- This rationalization is questionable—does true love need to be tested in such a manner?
3. Pleading for Forgiveness, Not Rejection
- “Bring me within the level of your frown, / But shoot not at me in your wakened hate.”
- The speaker is willing to accept disapproval but not outright rejection.
- The word “wakened” suggests that the beloved has been passive or unaware of his actions but has now become alert to them.
This plea indicates that the speaker fears losing the beloved entirely but also implies that the beloved holds the power in the relationship.
Theme Analysis
1. Love and Guilt
- The sonnet explores the tension between devotion and neglect.
- The speaker is self-aware enough to admit fault but manipulative in his justification.
2. Love as a Test
- The idea that love must endure trials is common in Shakespearean sonnets.
- The speaker suggests that his straying behavior was not disloyalty but a way to measure the beloved’s faithfulness.
3. Power Dynamics in Love
- The beloved is portrayed as the judge and punisher, while the speaker is both the accused and the prosecutor of his own case.
- This creates a complex power struggle, where the speaker admits fault yet tries to redefine the terms of judgment.
Literary Devices
1. Metaphor: Love as a Journey
- “That I have hoisted sail to all the winds / Which should transport me farthest from your sight.”
- The speaker likens himself to a ship sailing away—suggesting emotional distance or straying from loyalty.
2. Legal Imagery
- “Accuse me thus… Book both my willfulness and errors down, / And on just proof surmise accumulate.”
- The language of accusation, proof, and judgment makes the poem feel like a courtroom defense.
- The speaker invites judgment but hopes to control the narrative.
3. Contrast and Reversal
- The first twelve lines build a case for the speaker’s faults, while the final couplet reverses the blame, stating that his actions were a test of the beloved’s love.
Conclusion
Sonnet 117 presents a complex view of love, guilt, and justification. The speaker acknowledges his failures in devotion, yet frames them as a test rather than a betrayal. This blend of self-accusation and self-defense makes the poem a fascinating study in love’s power dynamics.
At its core, the sonnet asks: Should love be tested in this way? Is neglect a proof of devotion, or just an excuse for carelessness? The speaker’s justification may seem manipulative, but it also reflects the insecurities and contradictions of love itself.
