Sonnet 135: Whoever Hath Her Wish, Thou Hast Thy Will
Whoever hath her wish, thou hast thy Will,
And Will to boot, and Will in over-plus;
More than enough am I that vexed thee still,
To thy sweet will making addition thus.
Wilt thou, whose will is large and spacious,
Not once vouchsafe to hide my will in thine?
Shall will in others seem right gracious,
And in my will no fair acceptance shine?
The sea, all water, yet receives rain still,
And in abundance addeth to his store;
So thou, being rich in Will, add to thy Will
One will of mine, to make thy large will more.
Let no unkind, no fair beseechers kill;
Think all but one, and me in that one Will.
Line 1:
“Whoever hath her wish, thou hast thy Will,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Hath: Archaic form of “has.”
- Thou: You (archaic or poetic form of “you”).
- Thy: Your (archaic or poetic form of “your”).
- Will: This word is a pun—it refers both to the poet’s name (William Shakespeare) and to the concept of desire or volition.
Explanation:
The speaker addresses a woman, suggesting that while others may have their wishes fulfilled, she possesses “Will” (a play on the poet’s name and the idea of desire). This line introduces the central theme of the sonnet: the interplay between desire, possession, and the poet’s identity. The pun on “Will” creates a layered meaning, blending personal and universal desires.
Line 2:
“And Will to boot, and Will in over-plus;”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- To boot: In addition, besides.
- Over-plus: Excess, more than enough.
Explanation:
The speaker continues the pun on “Will,” emphasizing that the woman not only has “Will” but also an excess of it. This repetition reinforces the idea of abundance and highlights the poet’s playful yet obsessive focus on the concept of “Will.” The tone is both witty and slightly desperate, as the speaker seems to be vying for her attention.
Line 3:
“More than enough am I that vexed thee still,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Vexed: Annoyed, troubled.
- Still: Continually, always.
Explanation:
The speaker acknowledges that he has been a source of annoyance or trouble for the woman, yet he persists in his pursuit. This line reveals a tension between the speaker’s desire and the woman’s potential reluctance, adding a layer of emotional complexity to the poem.
Line 4:
“To thy sweet will making addition thus.”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Sweet will: Her desire or volition, with a tone of endearment.
- Addition: Increase, augmentation.
Explanation:
The speaker suggests that his own “Will” (desire or identity) is adding to hers, further emphasizing the theme of abundance and the merging of desires. The use of “sweet” adds a tender tone, contrasting with the earlier mention of vexation.
Line 5:
“Wilt thou, whose will is large and spacious,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Wilt thou: Will you (archaic form).
- Large and spacious: Extensive, generous.
Explanation:
The speaker appeals to the woman’s generosity, describing her “will” as vast and accommodating. This line continues the theme of abundance while also hinting at the speaker’s hope that she will include him in her desires.
Line 6:
“Not once vouchsafe to hide my will in thine?”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Vouchsafe: Grant, condescend to give.
- Thine: Yours (archaic form).
Explanation:
The speaker pleads with the woman to accept his “will” (desire or identity) within hers. The use of “vouchsafe” suggests a tone of humility, as if he is asking for a favor. This line underscores the speaker’s longing for unity and acceptance.
Line 7:
“Shall will in others seem right gracious,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Right gracious: Very pleasing or favorable.
Explanation:
The speaker questions why the desires of others are treated with favor and kindness, while his own “will” is seemingly ignored. This line introduces a note of jealousy or frustration, highlighting the speaker’s sense of exclusion.
Line 8:
“And in my will no fair acceptance shine?”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Fair acceptance: Kind or favorable reception.
Explanation:
The speaker laments that his own desires are not met with the same warmth or approval as those of others. This line deepens the emotional tension, revealing the speaker’s vulnerability and longing for recognition.
Line 9:
“The sea, all water, yet receives rain still,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Receives rain still: Continues to accept rain.
Explanation:
The speaker uses the metaphor of the sea, which is already full of water, yet it still accepts rain. This illustrates the idea that even something already abundant can accommodate more, serving as a plea for the woman to accept his “will” despite her own abundance.
Line 10:
“And in abundance addeth to his store;”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Addeth: Adds (archaic form).
- Store: Supply, reserve.
Explanation:
The sea, already vast, continues to grow by accepting rain. This reinforces the speaker’s argument that the woman, who is already rich in “Will,” can easily accommodate his desires without losing anything.
Line 11:
“So thou, being rich in Will, add to thy Will”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Rich in Will: Abundant in desire or possession of “Will.”
Explanation:
The speaker directly compares the woman to the sea, urging her to add his “will” to her own. The repetition of “Will” continues the pun, blending the personal and the universal.
Line 12:
“One will of mine, to make thy large will more.”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Large will: Extensive desire or possession.
Explanation:
The speaker asks the woman to include his “will” in hers, suggesting that it will only enhance her already abundant desires. This line encapsulates the speaker’s plea for unity and acceptance.
Line 13:
“Let no unkind, no fair beseechers kill;”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Unkind: Cruel, harsh.
- Beseechers: Those who beg or plead.
Explanation:
The speaker urges the woman not to reject or harm those who sincerely plead with her, including himself. This line adds a moral dimension to the poem, appealing to her sense of kindness and fairness.
Line 14:
“Think all but one, and me in that one Will.”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Think all but one: Consider all desires as one.
- One Will: Unified desire or identity.
Explanation:
The speaker concludes by asking the woman to unify all desires into one, including his own. This final line emphasizes the theme of unity and the merging of identities, bringing the sonnet to a poignant close.
Overall Context and Themes:
Sonnet 135 is one of Shakespeare’s most playful and complex sonnets, revolving around the pun on “Will” (both the poet’s name and the concept of desire). The speaker addresses a woman who is already abundant in “Will,” pleading for her to accept his desires as part of hers. The poem explores themes of longing, unity, and the interplay between personal and universal desires. The repeated use of “Will” creates a layered meaning, blending wit, humor, and emotional depth.
In-Depth Analysis of Sonnet 135
Summary
Sonnet 135 is a playful yet deeply layered poem in which the speaker addresses the Dark Lady, lamenting her rejection of him while simultaneously making a witty, sexual plea for her acceptance. The poem revolves around the multiple meanings of the word “Will”—a reference to the poet’s own name (William Shakespeare), a euphemism for sexual desire, and a term for male genitalia.
The speaker begins by pointing out that the Dark Lady has her “Will”—suggesting both that she has control over her own desires and that she may already have other lovers named “Will” or possessing “will.” Yet, despite this, he insists she should accept his “Will” as well, arguing that since she has such a “large and spacious will” (a reference to her appetite for lovers), she should be willing to take him in.
He continues the wordplay by comparing her to the sea, which, despite already being full of water, still receives rain. Just as the sea is not harmed by more water, the Dark Lady should not resist taking one more “Will”—the speaker himself—into her embrace.
In the final couplet, he pleads with her not to be unkind and reject him while accepting other suitors. Instead, he asks her to focus her desires on just one person—and hopes that person is him.
Critical Analysis
This sonnet is an example of Shakespeare’s bawdy humor and double entendre, blending wit with frustration. While it can be read as a straightforward plea for acceptance, it is heavily laced with wordplay and sexual innuendo, making it one of Shakespeare’s most openly erotic sonnets.
At its core, the sonnet criticizes the Dark Lady’s promiscuity while paradoxically asking her to extend that promiscuity to include the speaker. The irony is that he condemns her for having many lovers, yet insists that, since she is already open to multiple partners, she should not exclude him. This exposes a contradiction in male desire—wanting exclusivity while being attracted to a woman who does not offer it.
The poem also plays on themes of abundance vs. deprivation. The Dark Lady is described as having an excess of “Will”, while the speaker, despite being a “Will” himself, is left outside of her favor. The use of the sea and rain metaphor reinforces this: the ocean is vast and already full of water, but it still absorbs the rain, so why should she reject one more lover?
Ultimately, Sonnet 135 presents love and desire in economic and naturalistic terms, framing the pursuit of passion as both a competition for access and an inevitable natural impulse.
Theme Analysis
- Sexual Desire and Wordplay
- The entire sonnet is built around a play on the word “Will”, which means:
- The speaker’s name (William Shakespeare)
- Desire or lust (especially sexual)
- Male genitalia
- A lover’s consent or willpower
- The repetition of “Will” reinforces both the speaker’s frustration and his persistence in pursuing the Dark Lady.
- Infidelity and Promiscuity
- The sonnet suggests that the Dark Lady is sexually uninhibited, and the speaker is jealous yet also enticed by this fact. He questions why she accepts other men’s “will” but not his.
- The paradox of criticizing her promiscuity while demanding to be included in it highlights the hypocrisy of male desire.
- Abundance vs. Exclusion
- The ocean and rain metaphor suggests that the Dark Lady has room for more lovers, yet the speaker is left out despite her apparent openness.
- This reflects the speaker’s sense of rejection and frustration—he sees himself as worthy but unfairly denied.
- Love as a Transaction
- The speaker treats love as something that can be given or withheld, reinforcing a competitive, transactional view of relationships.
- He suggests that just as the ocean does not refuse rain, the Dark Lady should not refuse one more lover—turning desire into a metaphor for excess and accumulation.
Literary Devices
- Pun / Wordplay on “Will”
- “Whoever hath her wish, thou hast thy Will”
- “Will” refers to the speaker, other lovers, desire, and male genitalia.
- “So thou, being rich in Will, add to thy Will / One will of mine, to make thy large will more.”
- The Dark Lady is already “rich in Will” (has many lovers) but should add the speaker’s “Will” to the collection.
- “Large will” could mean strong desire or a reference to her body’s sexual openness.
- Metaphor – The Ocean and Rain
- “The sea, all water, yet receives rain still, / And in abundance addeth to his store”
- Here, the Dark Lady is the sea, and lovers are the raindrops. She already has many, so why refuse one more?
- The metaphor reflects the speaker’s jealousy yet also his belief that she should not be exclusive.
- Irony
- The speaker criticizes the Dark Lady’s many lovers but demands to be included among them.
- He mocks her promiscuity but relies on it to make his case for inclusion.
- This irony reveals his own contradictions and helplessness in the face of desire.
- Alliteration
- “Wilt thou, whose will is large and spacious”
- The repetition of “w” sounds mimics the speaker’s persistence and pleading tone.
- Rhyming Couplets
- The final lines encapsulate the speaker’s desperate plea:
- “Let no unkind, no fair beseechers kill; / Think all but one, and me in that one Will.”
- He asks the Dark Lady not to reject him while accepting others, urging her to focus on just one man—himself.
Conclusion
Sonnet 135 is one of Shakespeare’s most playful, erotic, and paradoxical poems, using wordplay, irony, and metaphor to express sexual frustration and desire. The multiple meanings of “Will” allow Shakespeare to craft a sonnet that is both clever and deeply suggestive.
The poem ultimately critiques the contradictions in male desire—the speaker is both jealous of the Dark Lady’s promiscuity yet eager to participate in it. The ocean metaphor reinforces the idea that love and lust are about excess, accumulation, and inevitable indulgence.
In the end, Sonnet 135 is not just a plea for intimacy but a commentary on the insatiability of human desire—no matter how much one has, they always want more.
