Sonnet 111: O For My Sake Do You With Fortune Chide
O, for my sake do you with fortune chide,
The guilty goddess of my harmful deeds,
That did not better for my life provide,
Than public means which public manners breeds.
Thence comes it that my name receives a brand,
And almost thence my nature is subdu’d
To what it works in, like the dyer’s hand:
Pity me then and wish I were renew’d;
Whilst, like a willing patient, I will drink
Potions of eysell, ‘gainst my strong infection;
No bitterness that I will bitter think,
Nor double penance, to correct correction.
Pity me then, dear friend, and I assure ye
Even that your pity is enough to cure me.
Line 1:
“O, for my sake do you with fortune chide,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Chide: Scold or rebuke.
- Fortune: Fate or destiny, often personified as a goddess.
In-Depth Explanation of Text and Context:
The sonnet opens with the poet asking the beloved to scold Fortune on his behalf. This suggests that the poet blames Fortune for the hardships and mistakes in his life, and he seeks the beloved’s support in holding Fortune accountable.
The line sets the tone for the sonnet, which is a plea for sympathy and understanding from the beloved.
Line 2:
“The guilty goddess of my harmful deeds,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Guilty goddess: Fortune, who is responsible for the poet’s misfortunes.
- Harmful deeds: The poet’s mistakes or misdeeds.
In-Depth Explanation of Text and Context:
The poet describes Fortune as a “guilty goddess” responsible for his harmful deeds, suggesting that he attributes his mistakes and misfortunes to external forces rather than his own actions. This reflects the idea that the poet feels victimized by fate and seeks to shift the blame away from himself.
The line reinforces the poet’s plea for sympathy and understanding from the beloved.
Line 3:
“That did not better for my life provide,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Provide: Arrange or plan.
In-Depth Explanation of Text and Context:
The poet accuses Fortune of not providing a better life for him, suggesting that he feels neglected and mistreated by fate. This reflects the idea that the poet believes his potential has been wasted due to external circumstances.
The line reinforces the poet’s sense of victimization and his plea for sympathy.
Line 4:
“Than public means which public manners breeds.”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Public means: A life of public service or entertainment.
- Public manners: The behavior and attitudes associated with public life.
In-Depth Explanation of Text and Context:
The poet laments that Fortune has provided him with a life of public service or entertainment, which has led to the development of “public manners.” This suggests that the poet feels constrained by the expectations and behaviors associated with his public role, which have negatively impacted his personal life.
The line reflects the poet’s sense of frustration and his belief that his public life has compromised his true nature.
Line 5:
“Thence comes it that my name receives a brand,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Thence: From that.
- Brand: A mark of disgrace or stigma.
In-Depth Explanation of Text and Context:
The poet explains that his public life has led to his name being stigmatized or disgraced, suggesting that his reputation has been tarnished by his association with public service or entertainment. This reflects the idea that the poet feels misunderstood and unfairly judged by society.
The line reinforces the poet’s sense of victimization and his plea for sympathy.
Line 6:
“And almost thence my nature is subdu’d”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Subdu’d: Suppressed or altered.
In-Depth Explanation of Text and Context:
The poet laments that his true nature has been almost completely suppressed or altered by his public life, suggesting that he feels disconnected from his authentic self. This reflects the idea that the poet’s public role has had a profound and negative impact on his personal identity.
The line reinforces the poet’s sense of frustration and his plea for understanding.
Line 7:
“To what it works in, like the dyer’s hand:”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Dyer’s hand: The hand of someone who dyes fabric, often stained by the dye.
In-Depth Explanation of Text and Context:
The poet compares his altered nature to the hand of a dyer, which becomes stained by the dye it works with. This suggests that the poet feels that his public life has permanently marked and changed him, just as a dyer’s hand is stained by the dye.
The line reflects the poet’s sense of resignation and his belief that his true nature has been irreparably altered.
Line 8:
“Pity me then and wish I were renew’d;”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Pity: Sympathy or compassion.
- Renew’d: Restored or rejuvenated.
In-Depth Explanation of Text and Context:
The poet pleads for the beloved’s pity and expresses a desire to be renewed or restored to his true self. This suggests that the poet believes the beloved’s sympathy and support can help him overcome the negative effects of his public life.
The line reinforces the poet’s plea for understanding and his hope for personal renewal.
Line 9:
“Whilst, like a willing patient, I will drink”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Willing patient: Someone who is eager to be healed.
In-Depth Explanation of Text and Context:
The poet compares himself to a willing patient who is eager to take medicine, suggesting that he is ready to undergo any treatment or penance to be healed. This reflects the poet’s desire for redemption and his willingness to make amends for his mistakes.
The line reinforces the poet’s plea for sympathy and his hope for personal renewal.
Line 10:
“Potions of eysell, ‘gainst my strong infection;”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Potions: Medicines or remedies.
- Eysell: Vinegar, often used as a remedy in Shakespeare’s time.
- Infection: A moral or spiritual corruption.
In-Depth Explanation of Text and Context:
The poet describes himself as taking bitter remedies, such as vinegar, to cure his “strong infection,” suggesting that he is willing to endure hardship to overcome his moral or spiritual corruption. This reflects the poet’s desire for redemption and his willingness to make amends for his mistakes.
The line reinforces the poet’s plea for sympathy and his hope for personal renewal.
Line 11:
“No bitterness that I will bitter think,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Bitterness: Hardship or suffering.
In-Depth Explanation of Text and Context:
The poet declares that he will not consider any hardship too bitter to endure, suggesting that he is willing to undergo any suffering to achieve redemption. This reflects the poet’s determination to overcome his mistakes and be restored to his true self.
The line reinforces the poet’s plea for sympathy and his hope for personal renewal.
Line 12:
“Nor double penance, to correct correction.”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Penance: Punishment or atonement.
- Correct correction: To make amends for past mistakes.
In-Depth Explanation of Text and Context:
The poet declares that he is willing to undergo double penance to correct his mistakes, suggesting that he is committed to making amends and achieving redemption. This reflects the poet’s determination to overcome his past and be restored to his true self.
The line reinforces the poet’s plea for sympathy and his hope for personal renewal.
Line 13:
“Pity me then, dear friend, and I assure ye”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Assure: Promise or guarantee.
In-Depth Explanation of Text and Context:
The poet pleads for the beloved’s pity and promises that their sympathy will be enough to cure him. This suggests that the poet believes the beloved’s support and understanding can help him overcome his past mistakes and achieve redemption.
The line reinforces the poet’s plea for sympathy and his hope for personal renewal.
Line 14:
“Even that your pity is enough to cure me.”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Pity: Sympathy or compassion.
- Cure: Heal or restore.
In-Depth Explanation of Text and Context:
The sonnet concludes with the poet declaring that the beloved’s pity is enough to cure him, suggesting that their sympathy and support can help him overcome his past mistakes and achieve redemption. This reflects the poet’s belief in the transformative power of love and understanding.
The line reinforces the poet’s plea for sympathy and his hope for personal renewal.
Summary of the Sonnet:
Sonnet 111 is a plea for sympathy and understanding from the beloved. The poet blames Fortune for the hardships and mistakes in his life, and he seeks the beloved’s support in holding Fortune accountable. He laments that his public life has led to his name being stigmatized and his true nature being suppressed, but he expresses a desire to be renewed and restored to his authentic self. The poet compares himself to a willing patient who is eager to take bitter remedies to cure his moral or spiritual corruption, and he declares that he is willing to undergo any hardship or penance to achieve redemption. The sonnet concludes with the poet pleading for the beloved’s pity, which he believes is enough to cure him. The sonnet reflects Shakespeare’s belief in the transformative power of love and understanding, which can help overcome past mistakes and achieve personal renewal.
In-Depth Analysis of Sonnet 111
Summary
In Sonnet 111, Shakespeare laments his misfortune, blaming Fortune for forcing him into a public life that has harmed his reputation. He asks his beloved to pity him, acknowledging that his environment has influenced him negatively. However, he expresses a willingness to undergo penance and purification, hoping that his beloved’s pity alone will be enough to heal him.
- The first quatrain: He asks his beloved to blame Fortune for his circumstances, which have forced him into a life of public exposure that has stained his reputation.
- The second quatrain: He acknowledges that his surroundings have tainted him, comparing his condition to a dyer’s hand permanently stained by his work.
- The third quatrain: He vows to endure any suffering or penance to cleanse himself, even drinking bitter potions.
- The final couplet: He reassures his beloved that their pity and love are enough to restore him.
Critical Analysis
1. The Role of Fortune and Fate
- The opening lines personify Fortune as a goddess responsible for his difficult life choices.
- “O, for my sake do you with fortune chide, / The guilty goddess of my harmful deeds.”
- He blames fate for pushing him into undesirable circumstances rather than personal failings.
- “That did not better for my life provide, / Than public means which public manners breeds.”
- Shakespeare suggests that his profession (likely as a playwright and actor) has forced him into public life, exposing him to corruption and criticism.
- The phrase “public means which public manners breeds” implies that being in the public eye leads to moral decay.
2. The Metaphor of the Dyer’s Hand
- “Thence comes it that my name receives a brand, / And almost thence my nature is subdu’d / To what it works in, like the dyer’s hand.”
- He compares his life to a dyer’s hand, which becomes stained by the dye it works with.
- This metaphor suggests that his profession has marked him permanently, shaping his character and reputation.
- This also echoes the Renaissance belief that environment shapes morality—he fears he has been tainted by his surroundings.
3. The Theme of Penance and Redemption
- “Pity me then and wish I were renew’d.”
- He asks his beloved for compassion, implying that he wants to be cleansed and renewed.
- “Whilst, like a willing patient, I will drink / Potions of eysell, ‘gainst my strong infection.”
- “Eysell” (a type of vinegar or bitter medicinal drink) symbolizes his willingness to endure suffering to purify himself.
- He presents himself as a “willing patient”, ready to take any bitter cure for his moral “infection.”
4. The Power of Love’s Pity
- “No bitterness that I will bitter think, / Nor double penance, to correct correction.”
- He will accept any suffering without complaint—he is eager to redeem himself.
- “Pity me then, dear friend, and I assure ye / Even that your pity is enough to cure me.”
- In the final lines, he shifts the responsibility to his beloved—their pity and understanding are enough to heal him.
- This suggests that love and compassion have a redemptive power greater than any self-inflicted suffering.
Theme Analysis
1. The Corrupting Influence of Society
- Shakespeare suggests that his profession has forced him into a corrupting environment.
- The dyer’s hand metaphor highlights the way circumstances can shape a person’s character.
2. The Desire for Purification
- The poet acknowledges his flaws but expresses a deep desire to change.
- His willingness to undergo suffering reflects a theme of moral redemption.
3. The Redemptive Power of Love
- Ultimately, his beloved’s compassion is the true cure.
- This suggests that love, understanding, and forgiveness can restore a person’s dignity and self-worth.
Literary Devices
1. Personification of Fortune
- Fortune is described as a “guilty goddess”, implying that fate has wronged him.
- This reflects the Renaissance belief in fate and destiny shaping one’s life.
2. Metaphor: The Dyer’s Hand
- The image of a dyer’s hand stained by his work symbolizes how Shakespeare’s profession has left a permanent mark on him.
- This suggests that he cannot escape the effects of his public life.
3. Imagery of Medicine and Penance
- The “potions of eysell” (bitter medicine) symbolize his willingness to endure pain for redemption.
- The phrase “double penance, to correct correction” suggests he is willing to punish himself even more than necessary.
4. Direct Appeal to the Beloved
- The repeated pleas for pity make the sonnet deeply personal and emotional.
- The shift from self-inflicted penance to the power of love adds a sense of hope at the end.
Conclusion
Sonnet 111 is a deeply personal lament about Shakespeare’s struggles with his public life. He blames Fortune for forcing him into a profession that has tainted his reputation. However, he expresses a willingness to endure suffering and purify himself, ultimately believing that his beloved’s pity alone can redeem him. The poem blends themes of fate, corruption, redemption, and love, culminating in a plea for understanding and forgiveness.
