Sonnet 136: If Thy Soul Check Thee That I Come So Near
If thy soul check thee that I come so near,
Swear to thy blind soul that I was thy Will,
And will, thy soul knows, is admitted there;
Thus far for love, my love-suit, sweet, fulfil.
Will, will fulfil the treasure of thy love,
Ay, fill it full with wills, and my will one.
In things of great receipt with ease we prove
Among a number one is reckoned none:
Then in the number let me pass untold,
Though in thy store’s account I one must be;
For nothing hold me, so it please thee hold
That nothing me, a something sweet to thee:
Make but my name thy love, and love that still,
And then thou lovest me for my name is ‘Will’.
Line 1:
“If thy soul check thee that I come so near,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Check: Rebuke, restrain, or question.
- Thee: You (archaic or poetic form of “you”).
Explanation:
The speaker addresses the beloved, suggesting that if her conscience questions or restrains her for allowing him to come close, she should justify his presence. This line introduces the tension between desire and moral restraint, setting the stage for the speaker’s argument.
Line 2:
“Swear to thy blind soul that I was thy Will,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Swear: Declare or promise solemnly.
- Blind soul: The conscience, which may not see clearly or is unaware.
- Will: A pun on the poet’s name (William Shakespeare) and the concept of desire or volition.
Explanation:
The speaker urges the beloved to assure her conscience that he is her “Will” (both her desire and the poet himself). The pun on “Will” continues, blending identity and desire, and the word “blind” suggests that the soul may not fully understand the situation.
Line 3:
“And will, thy soul knows, is admitted there;”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Admitted: Allowed or accepted.
Explanation:
The speaker argues that “will” (desire) is something the soul already accepts, implying that his presence should not be questioned. This line reinforces the idea that desire is a natural and permissible part of the soul’s experience.
Line 4:
“Thus far for love, my love-suit, sweet, fulfil.”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Love-suit: A plea or request for love.
- Fulfil: Grant, complete, or satisfy.
Explanation:
The speaker asks the beloved to grant his request for love, using the word “sweet” to convey tenderness and affection. This line marks a shift from argumentation to a direct appeal for her acceptance.
Line 5:
“Will, will fulfil the treasure of thy love,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Fulfil: Complete or enrich.
- Treasure: The abundance or richness of her love.
Explanation:
The speaker plays on the word “Will,” suggesting that his presence (or desire) will enrich her love. The repetition of “will” emphasizes the dual meaning of the word, blending the poet’s identity with the concept of desire.
Line 6:
“Ay, fill it full with wills, and my will one.”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Ay: Yes (archaic form).
- Wills: Desires or instances of “Will.”
Explanation:
The speaker encourages the beloved to fill her love with many desires, including his own. This line continues the theme of abundance and inclusion, suggesting that his “will” is just one among many.
Line 7:
“In things of great receipt with ease we prove”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Receipt: Capacity, ability to hold or contain.
- Prove: Demonstrate or show.
Explanation:
The speaker argues that in things with great capacity, it is easy to demonstrate that adding one more does not make a difference. This line introduces a logical argument to support his plea for inclusion.
Line 8:
“Among a number one is reckoned none:”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Reckoned: Considered or counted.
Explanation:
The speaker suggests that in a large number, adding one more is insignificant. This line reinforces his argument that his presence or desire should not be seen as a burden or intrusion.
Line 9:
“Then in the number let me pass untold,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Untold: Uncounted, unnoticed.
Explanation:
The speaker asks to be included without being explicitly acknowledged, emphasizing his desire to be part of her love without causing disruption.
Line 10:
“Though in thy store’s account I one must be;”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Store’s account: The total sum or inventory.
Explanation:
The speaker acknowledges that he will still be counted as one in her “store” (the totality of her love), but he asks for this inclusion to be seamless and unproblematic.
Line 11:
“For nothing hold me, so it please thee hold”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- For nothing: As nothing, insignificant.
- Please thee: Please you.
Explanation:
The speaker asks to be considered insignificant, as long as she still holds him in some way. This line reveals his willingness to humble himself for her acceptance.
Line 12:
“That nothing me, a something sweet to thee:”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Nothing me: Consider me as nothing.
- Something sweet: Something pleasing or valuable.
Explanation:
The speaker suggests that even if she considers him “nothing,” he can still be “something sweet” to her. This paradoxical statement highlights his desire to be valued, even in a small way.
Line 13:
“Make but my name thy love, and love that still,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Still: Always, continually.
Explanation:
The speaker asks the beloved to make his name (“Will”) synonymous with her love and to continue loving him. This line ties the poem’s themes of identity and desire together.
Line 14:
“And then thou lovest me for my name is ‘Will’.”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Lovest: Love (archaic form).
Explanation:
The speaker concludes by asserting that if she loves his name (“Will”), she loves him, as his name and identity are inseparable. This final line encapsulates the poem’s central pun and theme, blending love, identity, and desire.
Overall Context and Themes:
Sonnet 136 continues the playful and complex use of the pun on “Will,” blending the poet’s name with the concept of desire. The speaker pleads with the beloved to accept him as part of her love, using logical arguments and emotional appeals. The poem explores themes of identity, inclusion, and the nature of love, with the repeated use of “Will” creating a layered and witty exploration of these ideas.
In-Depth Analysis of Sonnet 136
Summary
In Sonnet 136, Shakespeare continues his wordplay on “Will”, making it one of the most pun-laden sonnets in the sequence. The speaker, addressing the Dark Lady, argues that she should accept his love by embracing his name—”Will” (a reference to both his own name, William, and the multiple meanings of “will” as desire, sexual appetite, and determination).
The speaker acknowledges that she may not desire him but suggests that since her soul allows for “will” (desire) to be admitted, she should include his “Will” among the many she already possesses. He points out that in a great collection of lovers, one more would hardly be noticed—”Among a number, one is reckoned none.”
He then suggests that if she refuses to count him, she should at least hold him as “nothing”, so long as she still finds “something sweet” in him. He closes with an appeal to love him for his name alone—since his name is “Will,” if she loves “Will,” then she loves him.
Critical Analysis
Like Sonnet 135, this poem is overtly sexual and rich in double entendre. The repetition of “Will” (which appears seven times) underscores the speaker’s persistence, frustration, and self-deprecating humor. The entire sonnet is structured as a clever linguistic game, allowing Shakespeare to explore the tension between love, rejection, and desire.
The central argument is paradoxical—the speaker acknowledges that the Dark Lady does not truly love him, yet insists that since she already embraces so much “Will” (desire and lovers), one more should not matter. In doing so, he transforms his rejection into an opportunity, arguing that his presence will be inconsequential, yet still worth including.
The final couplet is the crux of the poem’s wit—if the Dark Lady loves “Will” as a concept (desire), then she already loves him, because his name is Will. This is both a joke and a desperate plea—he reduces himself to a pun, hoping to win her favor through wordplay alone.
Theme Analysis
- Desire and Lust
- Shakespeare equates his personal longing with the Dark Lady’s overall sexual appetite, suggesting that she has room for one more lover.
- The word “will” is used repeatedly to refer to sexual desire, reinforcing the theme of unchecked passion.
- Rejection and Persistence
- The speaker knows he is not special, yet argues that this very fact should make it easier for her to accept him.
- He insists on inclusion, even if it means being counted as “nothing”.
- Identity and Wordplay
- The entire poem hinges on Shakespeare’s own name, playing with the idea that names can shape reality.
- The speaker cleverly suggests that if she loves “Will” in general, then she must love him by default.
- Mathematical and Philosophical Logic
- The speaker uses a numerical argument—in a large sum, one more addition does not change the total.
- This reflects the way humans justify actions through logic rather than emotion.
Literary Devices
- Pun / Wordplay on “Will”
- “Swear to thy blind soul that I was thy Will” → “Will” could mean:
- The speaker’s own name (William Shakespeare).
- Sexual desire (she should swear that her desire belongs to him).
- Free will or choice (she should willingly accept him).
- “Will, will fulfil the treasure of thy love” → A circular argument suggesting that since desire is already present, he should be included in it.
- Irony and Paradox
- The speaker acknowledges that he is insignificant, yet argues that this insignificance makes him worthy of being accepted.
- “Among a number, one is reckoned none” → He claims that in a crowd of lovers, one more makes no difference.
- Repetition
- The constant repetition of “Will” builds insistence, obsession, and humor.
- Mathematical Logic
- “Among a number, one is reckoned none” → The paradox of numbers suggests that in a large set, an individual becomes meaningless—so why reject him if he won’t make a difference?
- Metaphor of Nothingness
- “For nothing hold me, so it please thee hold / That nothing me, a something sweet to thee.”
- He reduces himself to “nothing” in the hope that she will still find some sweetness in him.
Conclusion
Sonnet 136 is one of Shakespeare’s most playful and humorous sonnets, filled with puns, irony, and paradoxes. The speaker, rather than outright begging for love, tries to outwit rejection through wordplay, arguing that since the Dark Lady already indulges in desire (“Will”), she should logically include him.
The repetition of “Will”, the mathematical argument, and the final plea to be loved for his name alone all contribute to a lighthearted yet deeply frustrated exploration of lust and rejection.
Ultimately, the sonnet presents love and desire as a numbers game, where individuality is lost in the pursuit of passion—a concept that Shakespeare masterfully turns into both comedy and tragedy.
