Sonnet 141: In Faith I Do Not Love Thee With Mine Eyes
In faith I do not love thee with mine eyes,
For they in thee a thousand errors note;
But ’tis my heart that loves what they despise,
Who, in despite of view, is pleased to dote.
Nor are mine ears with thy tongue’s tune delighted;
Nor tender feeling, to base touches prone,
Nor taste, nor smell, desire to be invited
To any sensual feast with thee alone:
But my five wits nor my five senses can
Dissuade one foolish heart from serving thee,
Who leaves unswayed the likeness of a man,
Thy proud heart’s slave and vassal wretch to be:
Only my plague thus far I count my gain,
That she that makes me sin awards me pain.
Line 1:
“In faith I do not love thee with mine eyes,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Thee: You (archaic or poetic form of “you”).
- Mine: My (archaic form).
Explanation:
The speaker begins by declaring that his love is not based on physical appearance. This line sets the tone for the sonnet, which explores the conflict between his rational judgment and his emotional attachment.
Line 2:
“For they in thee a thousand errors note;”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Errors: Flaws or imperfections.
- Note: Observe or notice.
Explanation:
The speaker acknowledges that his eyes see many flaws in his beloved. This line highlights the disconnect between his physical perception and his emotional attachment.
Line 3:
“But ’tis my heart that loves what they despise,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- ’Tis: It is (archaic form).
- Despise: Disapprove of or scorn.
Explanation:
The speaker contrasts his heart’s love with his eyes’ disapproval, emphasizing that his emotional attachment overrides his rational judgment. This line introduces the theme of irrational love.
Line 4:
“Who, in despite of view, is pleased to dote.”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Despite of view: In spite of what is seen.
- Dote: Love excessively or foolishly.
Explanation:
The speaker admits that his heart loves his beloved despite the flaws his eyes perceive. This line underscores the irrational nature of his love and his inability to control it.
Line 5:
“Nor are mine ears with thy tongue’s tune delighted;”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Thy: Your (archaic form).
- Tune: Voice or speech.
Explanation:
The speaker states that he is not charmed by his beloved’s voice. This line further emphasizes that his love is not based on sensory attraction.
Line 6:
“Nor tender feeling, to base touches prone,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Tender feeling: Physical sensitivity.
- Base touches: Low or vulgar physical contact.
- Prone: Inclined or susceptible.
Explanation:
The speaker denies being drawn to physical touch, suggesting that his love is not rooted in sensual desire. This line reinforces the theme of irrational, non-physical love.
Line 7:
“Nor taste, nor smell, desire to be invited”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Invited: Attracted or enticed.
Explanation:
The speaker continues to reject sensory attraction, stating that neither taste nor smell draws him to his beloved. This line further emphasizes the non-physical nature of his love.
Line 8:
“To any sensual feast with thee alone:”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Sensual feast: Physical or sexual pleasure.
Explanation:
The speaker concludes that he is not interested in physical intimacy with his beloved. This line underscores the theme of love transcending sensory experience.
Line 9:
“But my five wits nor my five senses can”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Five wits: Mental faculties (common sense, imagination, fantasy, estimation, memory).
- Five senses: Sight, hearing, touch, taste, smell.
Explanation:
The speaker acknowledges that neither his mental faculties nor his physical senses can dissuade him from loving his beloved. This line highlights the irrational and uncontrollable nature of his love.
Line 10:
“Dissuade one foolish heart from serving thee,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Dissuade: Persuade not to do something.
- Foolish heart: Irrational emotions.
Explanation:
The speaker admits that his heart, despite its foolishness, remains devoted to his beloved. This line emphasizes the power of love over reason.
Line 11:
“Who leaves unswayed the likeness of a man,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Unswayed: Unmoved or unchanged.
- Likeness of a man: Rational human nature.
Explanation:
The speaker suggests that his irrational love strips him of his rational human nature, reducing him to a state of foolish devotion. This line underscores the transformative power of love.
Line 12:
“Thy proud heart’s slave and vassal wretch to be:”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Proud heart: Beloved’s arrogant or unfeeling nature.
- Vassal wretch: Humble and miserable servant.
Explanation:
The speaker describes himself as a slave to his beloved’s proud heart, emphasizing his subservience and suffering. This line highlights the imbalance in their relationship.
Line 13:
“Only my plague thus far I count my gain,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Plague: Suffering or torment.
- Count my gain: Consider a benefit.
Explanation:
The speaker ironically considers his suffering a form of gain, suggesting that his love, though painful, is still valuable to him. This line reflects the complexity of his emotions.
Line 14:
“That she that makes me sin awards me pain.”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Makes me sin: Causes me to act irrationally or immorally.
- Awards: Gives or bestows.
Explanation:
The speaker concludes by acknowledging that his beloved, who causes him to “sin” (act irrationally), also brings him pain. This line encapsulates the bittersweet nature of his love, blending suffering and devotion.
Overall Context and Themes:
Sonnet 141 explores the conflict between rational judgment and irrational love. The speaker acknowledges that his beloved is flawed and that his senses and reason reject her, yet his heart remains devoted. The poem delves into themes of irrational love, suffering, and the transformative power of emotion. The speaker’s willingness to endure pain for the sake of love highlights the complexity of human relationships and the often contradictory nature of desire.
In-Depth Analysis of Sonnet 141
Summary
In Sonnet 141, the speaker acknowledges that his love is irrational, as his senses find no pleasure in his mistress, yet his heart remains devoted to her. His eyes notice her flaws, his ears do not enjoy her voice, and his touch, taste, and smell do not crave her presence—yet his heart overpowers his senses and forces him to love her.
He admits that he has become her slave, reduced to a wretched state of submission. However, he finds a twisted consolation in the fact that his suffering is just punishment for his sin—suggesting that love, for him, has become a painful but deserved affliction.
Critical Analysis
This sonnet presents a harsh, self-aware reflection on love, showing that love is not based on physical attraction or pleasure, but on a deep, irrational emotional connection. The speaker’s love is pure torment, as he derives no sensory joy from his mistress, yet cannot stop loving her.
The tone is one of resignation and bitterness, yet there is also a sense of self-loathing—he recognizes that his devotion reduces him to a wretched state, but he accepts it as a kind of divine punishment.
This reinforces the self-destructive nature of the speaker’s love for the Dark Lady. Unlike his idealized love for the Fair Youth, this relationship is built on lust, power imbalance, and emotional suffering.
Theme Analysis
- Love vs. Reason
- The sonnet explores the conflict between reason and emotion.
- Despite his senses rejecting his mistress, his foolish heart remains enslaved.
- This shows how love can defy logic and become an inescapable force.
- Love as Slavery
- The speaker describes himself as “Thy proud heart’s slave and vassal wretch to be.”
- This suggests a loss of agency, where he is completely dominated by the mistress.
- Love is no longer joyful or fulfilling but an act of submission and suffering.
- Self-Loathing and Punishment
- The speaker resents his own love yet sees it as deserved punishment:
- “Only my plague thus far I count my gain, / That she that makes me sin awards me pain.”
- He views his suffering as just retribution for his sinful desires, suggesting that he sees love as both a curse and a moral lesson.
- Sensory Disillusionment
- Unlike traditional love poetry that celebrates beauty, music, and pleasure, this sonnet rejects the senses:
- His eyes see her flaws.
- His ears do not delight in her voice.
- His touch, taste, and smell do not crave her presence.
- This deconstructs romantic ideals, showing that love is not always tied to pleasure.
Literary Devices
- Irony
- The speaker loves despite himself—his senses reject his mistress, yet his heart forces him to love her.
- Love, which should bring joy, instead brings pain—yet he accepts it willingly.
- Personification of the Heart
- His heart is given agency, acting against his better judgment:
- “’Tis my heart that loves what they despise.”
- This externalizes his internal conflict, making love seem like an independent force controlling him.
- Metaphor of Slavery
- The speaker compares himself to a slave:
- “Thy proud heart’s slave and vassal wretch to be.”
- This highlights the power imbalance in the relationship, where he is dominated and helpless.
- Religious Imagery of Sin and Punishment
- The mistress is depicted as the cause of his sin—implying a connection between love, lust, and moral corruption.
- However, his pain is also his redemption, suggesting that suffering purifies him.
Conclusion
Sonnet 141 is a dark meditation on the irrational nature of love. Unlike traditional love poems that focus on idealized beauty and joy, this sonnet exposes love’s destructive, painful, and enslaving power.
The speaker is painfully self-aware, recognizing that his mistress offers him no physical pleasure, yet he remains helplessly devoted. He sees his suffering as a just punishment for his sinful desires, reinforcing the guilt and torment that define his relationship with the Dark Lady.
This sonnet subverts romantic conventions, portraying love not as a source of happiness, but as a curse that the speaker is doomed to endure.
