Sonnet 113: Since I Left You, Mine Eye Is In My Mind
Since I left you, mine eye is in my mind,
And that which governs me to go about
Doth part his function, and is partly blind,
Seems seeing, but effectively is out;
For it no form delivers to the heart
Of bird, of flow’r, or shape which it doth latch.
Of his quick objects hath the mind no part,
Nor his own vision holds what it doth catch;
For if it see the rud’st or gentlest sight,
The most sweet favour or deformed’st creature,
The mountain, or the sea, the day, or night,
The crow, or dove, it shapes them to your feature.
Incapable of more, replete with you,
My most true mind thus makes mine untrue.
Line 1:
“Since I left you, mine eye is in my mind,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Mine eye is in my mind: The poet’s perception is dominated by his thoughts of the beloved.
In-Depth Explanation of Text and Context:
The sonnet opens with the poet declaring that since he left the beloved, his perception is dominated by his thoughts of them. This suggests that the poet’s mind is so preoccupied with the beloved that it influences how he sees the world.
The line sets the tone for the sonnet, which explores the idea that the poet’s perception is distorted by his constant thoughts of the beloved.
Line 2:
“And that which governs me to go about”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Governs: Controls or directs.
- Go about: Move through the world or carry out daily activities.
In-Depth Explanation of Text and Context:
The poet describes how his mind, which controls his actions and perceptions, is affected by his separation from the beloved. This suggests that the poet’s thoughts of the beloved influence how he interacts with the world.
The line reflects the poet’s preoccupation with the beloved and the impact it has on his perception.
Line 3:
“Doth part his function, and is partly blind,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Part his function: Partially loses its ability to function.
- Partly blind: Unable to see clearly or accurately.
In-Depth Explanation of Text and Context:
The poet explains that his mind is partially blind and unable to function properly, suggesting that his thoughts of the beloved distort his perception of reality. This reflects the idea that the poet’s preoccupation with the beloved affects his ability to see the world clearly.
The line reinforces the poet’s sense of disorientation and his reliance on thoughts of the beloved.
Line 4:
“Seems seeing, but effectively is out;”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Effectively is out: Actually not functioning or perceiving.
In-Depth Explanation of Text and Context:
The poet describes how his mind appears to be seeing, but in reality, it is not functioning properly. This suggests that the poet’s perception is distorted by his constant thoughts of the beloved, making it difficult for him to see the world accurately.
The line reflects the poet’s sense of disorientation and his reliance on thoughts of the beloved.
Line 5:
“For it no form delivers to the heart”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Form: Shape or appearance.
- Delivers: Conveys or communicates.
In-Depth Explanation of Text and Context:
The poet explains that his mind no longer conveys the shapes or appearances of things to his heart, suggesting that his perception is so distorted by thoughts of the beloved that he cannot fully experience the world around him.
The line reinforces the poet’s sense of disorientation and his reliance on thoughts of the beloved.
Line 6:
“Of bird, of flow’r, or shape which it doth latch.”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Latch: Grasp or perceive.
In-Depth Explanation of Text and Context:
The poet describes how his mind no longer grasps the shapes of birds, flowers, or other objects, suggesting that his perception is so dominated by thoughts of the beloved that he cannot fully appreciate the beauty of the world.
The line reflects the poet’s sense of disorientation and his reliance on thoughts of the beloved.
Line 7:
“Of his quick objects hath the mind no part,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Quick objects: Immediate or vivid perceptions.
In-Depth Explanation of Text and Context:
The poet explains that his mind no longer participates in perceiving immediate or vivid objects, suggesting that his thoughts of the beloved have dulled his perception of the world.
The line reinforces the poet’s sense of disorientation and his reliance on thoughts of the beloved.
Line 8:
“Nor his own vision holds what it doth catch;”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Holds: Retains or remembers.
In-Depth Explanation of Text and Context:
The poet describes how his mind no longer retains what it perceives, suggesting that his thoughts of the beloved have made it difficult for him to remember or appreciate the world around him.
The line reflects the poet’s sense of disorientation and his reliance on thoughts of the beloved.
Line 9:
“For if it see the rud’st or gentlest sight,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Rud’st: Roughest or most crude.
- Gentlest: Most delicate or beautiful.
In-Depth Explanation of Text and Context:
The poet explains that whether he sees the roughest or gentlest sights, his perception is dominated by thoughts of the beloved. This suggests that the poet’s mind transforms everything he sees into an image of the beloved.
The line reflects the poet’s preoccupation with the beloved and the impact it has on his perception.
Line 10:
“The most sweet favour or deformed’st creature,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Favour: Appearance or face.
- Deformed’st: Most deformed or ugly.
In-Depth Explanation of Text and Context:
The poet describes how even the most beautiful or ugly sights are transformed by his thoughts of the beloved, suggesting that his perception is completely dominated by his preoccupation with the beloved.
The line reinforces the poet’s sense of disorientation and his reliance on thoughts of the beloved.
Line 11:
“The mountain, or the sea, the day, or night,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Mountain: A symbol of grandeur or stability.
- Sea: A symbol of vastness or mystery.
In-Depth Explanation of Text and Context:
The poet lists various natural sights—mountains, seas, day, and night—suggesting that even the most grand or mysterious sights are transformed by his thoughts of the beloved. This reflects the idea that the poet’s perception is completely dominated by his preoccupation with the beloved.
The line reinforces the poet’s sense of disorientation and his reliance on thoughts of the beloved.
Line 12:
“The crow, or dove, it shapes them to your feature.”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Crow: A symbol of darkness or death.
- Dove: A symbol of peace or purity.
- Feature: Appearance or likeness.
In-Depth Explanation of Text and Context:
The poet describes how even the most contrasting symbols—such as the crow and the dove—are transformed into images of the beloved, suggesting that his perception is completely dominated by his preoccupation with the beloved.
The line reflects the poet’s sense of disorientation and his reliance on thoughts of the beloved.
Line 13:
“Incapable of more, replete with you,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Incapable of more: Unable to perceive anything else.
- Replete: Full or saturated.
In-Depth Explanation of Text and Context:
The poet declares that his mind is so full of thoughts of the beloved that it is incapable of perceiving anything else. This suggests that the poet’s perception is completely dominated by his preoccupation with the beloved.
The line reinforces the poet’s sense of disorientation and his reliance on thoughts of the beloved.
Line 14:
“My most true mind thus makes mine untrue.”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Most true mind: The poet’s genuine thoughts and feelings.
- Mine untrue: His perception of reality is distorted.
In-Depth Explanation of Text and Context:
The sonnet concludes with the poet acknowledging that his genuine thoughts and feelings for the beloved have distorted his perception of reality. This suggests that the poet’s love for the beloved is so intense that it affects how he sees the world.
The line reflects the poet’s sense of disorientation and his reliance on thoughts of the beloved.
Summary of the Sonnet:
Sonnet 113 explores the idea that the poet’s perception is dominated by his thoughts of the beloved, to the point where he can no longer see the world clearly. The poet describes how his mind is so preoccupied with the beloved that it distorts his perception of reality, transforming everything he sees into an image of the beloved. He acknowledges that his genuine thoughts and feelings for the beloved have made his perception of reality untrue, reflecting the intensity of his love and its impact on his mind. The sonnet reflects Shakespeare’s exploration of the transformative power of love and its ability to dominate one’s thoughts and perceptions.
In-Depth Analysis of Sonnet 113
Summary
In Sonnet 113, Shakespeare explores the effect of separation on perception and memory. The speaker, being apart from his beloved, finds that his eyes no longer function properly—instead of accurately seeing the world, they reinterpret everything as an image of the beloved.
- First quatrain: The speaker claims that since leaving his beloved, his eye is in his mind—his physical sight is impaired, or at least altered.
- Second quatrain: His eyes fail to register objects properly, delivering no true forms to his heart. His mind does not process what he sees as it should.
- Third quatrain: Regardless of what he looks at—beauty or ugliness, land or sea, light or dark—his mind reshapes everything into the image of his beloved.
- Final couplet: His mind is so full of his beloved that it distorts his perception, making his true mind (loyal to love) deceive his vision.
Critical Analysis
1. The Separation Between Eye and Mind
- “Since I left you, mine eye is in my mind”
- The speaker’s physical sight no longer operates normally.
- Instead, his mind has taken over the role of seeing, filtering everything through memory and emotion.
- “Doth part his function, and is partly blind, / Seems seeing, but effectively is out.”
- His eyes still work, but they fail to perceive the world accurately.
- This partial blindness is not physical but emotional and psychological.
2. The Failure to Perceive Reality
- “For it no form delivers to the heart / Of bird, of flow’r, or shape which it doth latch.”
- Normally, the eye sends visual information to the heart (seat of emotions).
- But now, it captures no true forms—his mind refuses to acknowledge anything except his beloved.
- “Of his quick objects hath the mind no part, / Nor his own vision holds what it doth catch.”
- Even if his eyes physically register quick-moving objects, his mind does not accept them as real.
- His vision fails to retain an independent perception of reality.
3. The Mind’s Power to Transform All Things into the Beloved
- “For if it see the rud’st or gentlest sight, / The most sweet favour or deformed’st creature”
- Whether the most beautiful or the ugliest thing, his mind transforms it into his beloved.
- “The mountain, or the sea, the day, or night, / The crow, or dove, it shapes them to your feature.”
- These contrasting images (mountain/sea, day/night, crow/dove) show that his perception is completely dominated by love.
- The symbolism of the crow and the dove—one representing harshness, the other peace—suggests that even opposites become his beloved’s image.
4. The Final Paradox: True Love Creates False Perception
- “Incapable of more, replete with you, / My most true mind thus makes mine untrue.”
- His mind is “incapable of more”—so consumed by love that it rejects all other reality.
- Paradox: His “most true” mind (faithful to love) makes him “untrue” (deceptive in vision).
- This suggests a conflict between devotion and objectivity—his love is so strong that it distorts his world.
Theme Analysis
1. The Distorting Power of Love
- Love affects perception, reshaping reality into what the heart desires.
- The speaker is so absorbed in love that he cannot see the world as it is.
- This mirrors the theme in earlier sonnets, where love overpowers reason and sense.
2. The Role of Memory in Love
- The eye is no longer the primary tool of sight—instead, the mind controls perception.
- This suggests that memory and imagination sustain love, even in absence.
- Love is not just a present feeling, but a deep internalized force that shapes all experience.
3. The Conflict Between Reality and Subjectivity
- The poem presents a philosophical problem:
- Is what we see ever truly real?
- Or do our emotions dictate our perception?
- Shakespeare suggests that love is powerful enough to override objective reality.
Literary Devices
1. Metaphor: The Eye in the Mind
- “Mine eye is in my mind.”
- This reverses the natural order of sight, showing how memory overtakes physical perception.
2. Contrast: Beauty and Ugliness
- “The most sweet favour or deformed’st creature”
- Whether beautiful or ugly, his mind transforms all into his beloved.
- This contrast emphasizes the totality of his love, which overrides normal distinctions.
3. Symbolism: The Crow and the Dove
- “The crow, or dove, it shapes them to your feature.”
- The crow = harsh, ominous
- The dove = gentle, peaceful
- By transforming both into his beloved, the poet suggests that his love overrides all differences.
4. Paradox: True Love Creates False Perception
- “My most true mind thus makes mine untrue.”
- His mind is “true” in love, but “untrue” in reality.
- Love creates a beautiful deception, proving both its power and its danger.
Conclusion
Sonnet 113 explores how love alters perception, making the external world secondary to inner devotion. The speaker’s mind no longer registers reality objectively—instead, everything he sees is reshaped into the image of his beloved. Shakespeare masterfully captures the psychological effects of longing, showing how memory and desire can distort even the most fundamental human experiences, like sight.
