Sonnet 121: ‘Tis Better To Be Vile Than Vile Esteemed
‘Tis better to be vile than vile esteemed,
When not to be receives reproach of being,
And the just pleasure lost which is so deemed
Not by our feeling but by others’ seeing.
For why should others’ false adulterate eyes
Give salutation to my sportive blood?
Or on my frailties why are frailer spies,
Which in their wills count bad what I think good?
No, I am that I am, and they that level
At my abuses reckon up their own;
I may be straight, they they themselves be bevel.
By their rank thoughts my deeds must not be shown,
Unless this general evil they maintain:
All men are bad, and in their badness reign.
Sonnet Line 1:
“‘Tis better to be vile than vile esteemed,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Vile: Morally reprehensible or wicked.
- Esteemed: Regarded or judged by others.
In-Depth Explanation:
The speaker begins with a provocative statement, arguing that it is better to actually be vile (wicked) than to be judged as vile by others. This line introduces the central theme of the sonnet: the conflict between one’s true self and how one is perceived by society. The speaker challenges the idea that external judgment holds more weight than one’s own sense of self.
Context:
This sonnet explores themes of morality, reputation, and the tension between inner truth and external perception. The speaker questions the validity of societal judgment and asserts the importance of self-definition.
Sonnet Line 2:
“When not to be receives reproach of being,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Reproach: Blame or criticism.
- Being: Existence or character.
In-Depth Explanation:
The speaker elaborates on the first line, suggesting that even when one is not vile, they may still be criticized or blamed as if they were. This highlights the unfairness of societal judgment, where one’s true nature is often misrepresented or misunderstood.
Context:
The speaker critiques the hypocrisy of society, where people are judged unfairly regardless of their actual behavior. This line reinforces the idea that external judgment is unreliable and often unjust.
Sonnet Line 3:
“And the just pleasure lost which is so deemed”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Just: Rightful or deserved.
- Deemed: Judged or considered.
In-Depth Explanation:
The speaker laments that when one is unfairly judged, they lose the “just pleasure” (the rightful enjoyment) that comes from being true to oneself. This line suggests that societal judgment can rob individuals of their sense of fulfillment and authenticity.
Context:
The speaker continues to explore the consequences of societal judgment, emphasizing how it can undermine personal happiness and self-expression.
Sonnet Line 4:
“Not by our feeling but by others’ seeing.”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Feeling: Internal sense or intuition.
- Seeing: External perception or judgment.
In-Depth Explanation:
The speaker contrasts internal feelings (one’s own sense of self) with external perception (how others see them). This line underscores the disconnect between how one views themselves and how they are judged by others, highlighting the subjectivity of societal judgment.
Context:
The speaker critiques the reliance on external appearances and judgments, arguing that they often fail to reflect one’s true nature.
Sonnet Line 5:
“For why should others’ false adulterate eyes”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Adulterate: Corrupt or impure.
- Eyes: Perspective or judgment.
In-Depth Explanation:
The speaker questions why the flawed and corrupt perspectives of others should have any authority or influence. The phrase “false adulterate eyes” suggests that societal judgment is tainted and unreliable.
Context:
The speaker challenges the validity of societal judgment, arguing that it is often biased and distorted.
Sonnet Line 6:
“Give salutation to my sportive blood?”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Salutation: Greeting or acknowledgment.
- Sportive blood: Playful or lively nature.
In-Depth Explanation:
The speaker questions why others’ flawed judgments should dictate or acknowledge their own “sportive blood” (their lively or playful nature). This line suggests that one’s true self should not be subject to the approval or disapproval of others.
Context:
The speaker asserts the importance of self-definition and rejects the idea that one’s worth is determined by external judgment.
Sonnet Line 7:
“Or on my frailties why are frailer spies,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Frailties: Weaknesses or flaws.
- Spies: Observers or critics.
In-Depth Explanation:
The speaker questions why those who are equally flawed (“frailer spies”) should judge their own weaknesses. This line highlights the hypocrisy of critics who are no better than the person they judge.
Context:
The speaker critiques the double standards of societal judgment, pointing out the flaws in those who pass judgment.
Sonnet Line 8:
“Which in their wills count bad what I think good?”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Wills: Desires or judgments.
- Count: Consider or regard.
In-Depth Explanation:
The speaker notes that critics often condemn what they themselves consider good, further emphasizing the subjectivity and hypocrisy of societal judgment.
Context:
The speaker continues to challenge the validity of external judgment, arguing that it is often inconsistent and self-serving.
Sonnet Line 9:
“No, I am that I am, and they that level”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Level: Aim or direct (often with criticism).
In-Depth Explanation:
The speaker defiantly declares, “I am that I am,” asserting their own identity and rejecting the judgments of others. This line echoes biblical language (Exodus 3:14), emphasizing the speaker’s self-assurance and autonomy.
Context:
The speaker takes a firm stand against societal judgment, affirming their right to self-definition.
Sonnet Line 10:
“At my abuses reckon up their own;”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Abuses: Faults or wrongdoings.
- Reckon up: Count or list.
In-Depth Explanation:
The speaker suggests that those who criticize their faults are actually revealing their own flaws. This line highlights the hypocrisy of critics who project their own shortcomings onto others.
Context:
The speaker turns the tables on their critics, arguing that judgment often reflects the judge’s own failings.
Sonnet Line 11:
“I may be straight, they they themselves be bevel.”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Straight: Honest or upright.
- Bevel: Crooked or flawed.
In-Depth Explanation:
The speaker contrasts their own integrity (“straight”) with the flaws of their critics (“bevel”). This line reinforces the idea that critics are often hypocritical and unreliable.
Context:
The speaker asserts their moral superiority over their critics, further rejecting the validity of external judgment.
Sonnet Line 12:
“By their rank thoughts my deeds must not be shown,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Rank: Foul or corrupt.
- Deeds: Actions or behavior.
In-Depth Explanation:
The speaker declares that their actions should not be judged by the corrupt thoughts of others. This line emphasizes the importance of self-definition and the rejection of biased judgment.
Context:
The speaker reaffirms their autonomy, refusing to let others define their worth.
Sonnet Line 13:
“Unless this general evil they maintain:”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- General evil: Universal wickedness or corruption.
In-Depth Explanation:
The speaker suggests that critics only maintain their judgment by asserting that “all men are bad.” This line critiques the cynical worldview of those who judge others harshly.
Context:
The speaker exposes the flawed logic of critics who justify their judgment by assuming universal corruption.
Sonnet Line 14:
“All men are bad, and in their badness reign.”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Reign: Rule or dominate.
In-Depth Explanation:
The speaker concludes by summarizing the critics’ perspective: that all people are inherently bad and that this badness dominates human behavior. This line serves as a critique of cynicism and the tendency to judge others harshly.
Context:
The sonnet ends with a powerful rejection of societal judgment, affirming the speaker’s belief in self-definition and the importance of inner truth over external perception.
In-Depth Analysis of Sonnet 121
Summary
In Sonnet 121, Shakespeare delivers a defiant meditation on morality, reputation, and hypocrisy. The speaker begins with a striking assertion: it is better to be truly “vile” than to be considered vile when one is innocent. The injustice of being falsely accused or judged by society is a central concern. The speaker argues that true pleasure—possibly referring to love, passion, or personal freedom—is often taken away not because it is wrong in itself but because others deem it so.
The second quatrain critiques those who pass judgment on him. He condemns “false adulterate eyes”—those who project their own moral corruption onto others—and questions why such hypocrites should have the power to scrutinize his behavior. He insists that what they consider “bad” is merely a reflection of their own skewed perspective.
In the third quatrain, the speaker asserts his individuality: “I am that I am”—a phrase with biblical echoes that emphasizes self-definition and resistance to external judgment. He turns the accusations back on his critics, arguing that those who accuse him of wrongdoing are likely guilty themselves. He states that just because others have “rank thoughts,” he should not be judged by their corrupt minds.
The concluding couplet presents a stark view of humanity: if people insist on condemning him, they must believe that “all men are bad” and that wickedness is universal. This cynical conclusion suggests that moral judgment is often nothing more than a power game, in which the accusers are just as flawed as those they accuse.
Critical Analysis
Sonnet 121 is one of Shakespeare’s most direct and rebellious sonnets, challenging societal norms and the hypocrisy of moral judgment. Unlike the more romantic sonnets of the Fair Youth sequence, this poem expresses frustration at the way society polices personal behavior, particularly in matters of morality and pleasure.
The sonnet aligns with Renaissance skepticism about outward virtue versus inner truth. Shakespeare’s speaker resents being labeled as “vile” when he sees himself as morally autonomous, rejecting the authority of those who judge him. The line “I am that I am” is particularly powerful—it echoes God’s declaration in the Bible (Exodus 3:14), reinforcing the speaker’s claim to self-sovereignty. This phrase later influenced existentialist and Romantic ideas about individualism and authenticity.
The poem’s argument also has a psychological dimension. The speaker suggests that those who judge him project their own corruption onto him. This anticipates modern psychological theories about projection, where people condemn in others what they repress in themselves.
Unlike more self-pitying sonnets, Sonnet 121 is defiant rather than despairing. The speaker does not seek validation or forgiveness but instead asserts his independence from society’s moral gaze. This marks a departure from earlier sonnets, where the speaker often portrays himself as a victim of love or fate. Here, he takes an active stance against false judgment.
Theme Analysis
- Hypocrisy and Moral Judgment
- The sonnet critiques society’s tendency to judge others while being equally flawed. The speaker argues that people condemn others not because of true morality but because of their own prejudices and insecurities.
- Individualism and Self-Definition
- The phrase “I am that I am” asserts the speaker’s right to define his own identity, rejecting the idea that others’ opinions determine his worth. This theme anticipates modern ideas about personal autonomy.
- The Corrupting Power of Society’s Gaze
- The sonnet suggests that pleasure and virtue are often distorted by how others perceive them. The speaker resents the fact that his actions are judged not by their intrinsic value but by external scrutiny.
- The Nature of Evil
- The final couplet suggests a dark, almost nihilistic view: if people insist on judging him as wicked, then they must believe that wickedness is universal. This hints at a broader philosophical question about whether morality is absolute or socially constructed.
Literary Devices
- Paradox
- “’Tis better to be vile than vile esteemed” – This paradox suggests that actual wrongdoing is preferable to false condemnation, challenging conventional morality.
- Biblical Allusion
- “I am that I am” – This phrase echoes God’s words in Exodus 3:14, reinforcing the speaker’s assertion of self-sovereignty and unchangeable identity.
- Metaphor
- “False adulterate eyes” – The metaphor portrays society’s judgmental gaze as corrupt and deceptive, implying that those who judge others are morally tainted themselves.
- Antithesis
- “I may be straight, though they themselves be bevel” – The contrast between “straight” (honest, upright) and “bevel” (crooked, distorted) highlights the speaker’s claim that his accusers are morally twisted.
- Irony
- The final couplet suggests an ironic conclusion: if everyone is condemned as bad, then moral judgment itself loses meaning. This reinforces the poem’s skepticism toward rigid moral systems.
Conclusion
Sonnet 121 stands out for its fierce individualism and critique of hypocrisy. Shakespeare’s speaker refuses to be defined by the moral judgments of others, arguing that societal condemnation is often driven by projection and corruption. The poem resonates with later existentialist ideas about authenticity and self-definition. Unlike the more introspective or love-struck sonnets, this one is bold, combative, and unapologetic. It ultimately presents a powerful argument against moral hypocrisy, insisting that self-knowledge is more important than the approval of others.
