Sonnet 145: Those Lips That Love’s Own Hand Did Make
Those lips that Love’s own hand did make,
Breathed forth the sound that said ‘I hate’,
To me that languished for her sake:
But when she saw my woeful state,
Straight in her heart did mercy come,
Chiding that tongue that ever sweet
Was used in giving gentle doom;
And taught it thus anew to greet;
‘I hate’ she altered with an end,
That followed it as gentle day,
Doth follow night, who like a fiend
From heaven to hell is flown away.
‘I hate’, from hate away she threw,
And saved my life, saying ‘not you’.
Line 1:
“Those lips that Love’s own hand did make,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Love’s own hand: The creative power of love.
Explanation:
The speaker begins by describing the beloved’s lips as a creation of Love itself, emphasizing their beauty and significance. This line sets the tone for the sonnet, which explores the power of words and emotions.
Line 2:
“Breathed forth the sound that said ‘I hate’,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Breathed forth: Spoke or uttered.
Explanation:
The speaker reveals that the beloved’s lips spoke the words “I hate,” which contrasts sharply with the idea of them being created by Love. This line introduces the central conflict of the sonnet: the pain caused by the beloved’s harsh words.
Line 3:
“To me that languished for her sake:”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Languished: Suffered or pined.
Explanation:
The speaker describes himself as suffering for the beloved’s sake, highlighting the depth of his emotional pain. This line emphasizes the contrast between his devotion and her rejection.
Line 4:
“But when she saw my woeful state,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Woeful: Full of sorrow or misery.
Explanation:
The speaker notes that the beloved noticed his suffering. This line marks a turning point in the sonnet, as her reaction to his pain becomes the focus.
Line 5:
“Straight in her heart did mercy come,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Straight: Immediately.
- Mercy: Compassion or forgiveness.
Explanation:
The speaker describes how the beloved’s heart was moved to mercy upon seeing his suffering. This line introduces the theme of redemption and the transformative power of compassion.
Line 6:
“Chiding that tongue that ever sweet”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Chiding: Scolding or rebuking.
- Ever sweet: Always gentle or kind.
Explanation:
The speaker suggests that the beloved’s heart rebuked her tongue for speaking harshly, as it is usually gentle. This line emphasizes the contrast between her usual kindness and her momentary cruelty.
Line 7:
“Was used in giving gentle doom;”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Gentle doom: Kind judgment or fate.
Explanation:
The speaker describes the beloved’s tongue as typically delivering kind words, reinforcing the idea that her harsh words were out of character. This line highlights the tension between her nature and her actions.
Line 8:
“And taught it thus anew to greet;”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Anew: Again or in a new way.
- Greet: Speak or address.
Explanation:
The speaker suggests that the beloved’s heart taught her tongue to speak kindly again. This line reflects the transformative power of compassion and the possibility of redemption.
Line 9:
“‘I hate’ she altered with an end,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Altered: Changed or modified.
- End: Conclusion or addition.
Explanation:
The speaker describes how the beloved changed the phrase “I hate” by adding to it. This line introduces the idea that her initial harshness was softened by her compassion.
Line 10:
“That followed it as gentle day,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Gentle day: Peaceful or kind daylight.
Explanation:
The speaker compares the change in the beloved’s words to the arrival of a gentle day after a dark night. This line emphasizes the contrast between her initial cruelty and her subsequent kindness.
Line 11:
“Doth follow night, who like a fiend”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Fiend: Devil or evil spirit.
Explanation:
The speaker compares the dark night to a fiend, symbolizing the beloved’s initial harshness. This line reinforces the contrast between darkness and light, cruelty and kindness.
Line 12:
“From heaven to hell is flown away.”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Flown: Flown (archaic form of “flown”).
Explanation:
The speaker describes the night (and the beloved’s cruelty) as fleeing from heaven to hell, symbolizing the departure of negativity and the return of peace. This line emphasizes the transformative power of compassion.
Line 13:
“‘I hate’, from hate away she threw,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Threw: Cast or discarded.
Explanation:
The speaker describes how the beloved discarded the hateful words, symbolizing her rejection of cruelty. This line reflects the theme of redemption and the power of love to overcome negativity.
Line 14:
“And saved my life, saying ‘not you’.”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Saved my life: Rescued me from despair.
Explanation:
The speaker concludes by stating that the beloved saved his life by changing her words to “not you,” indicating that her hate was not directed at him. This line encapsulates the sonnet’s theme of redemption and the transformative power of love.
Overall Context and Themes:
Sonnet 145 explores the themes of love, cruelty, and redemption. The speaker describes the pain caused by the beloved’s harsh words and the joy of her subsequent kindness. The poem delves into the transformative power of compassion and the possibility of redemption in love. The contrast between darkness and light, cruelty and kindness, underscores the emotional journey of the speaker and the beloved. The sonnet’s vivid imagery and emotional intensity make it a powerful exploration of the complexities of love and human relationships.
In-Depth Analysis of Sonnet 145
Summary
Sonnet 145 stands out in Shakespeare’s sequence for its lighter tone and playful wordplay. Unlike the intense themes of jealousy, betrayal, and moral struggle in the previous sonnets, this one focuses on a moment of mercy and love.
The poem narrates an emotional transformation in the speaker’s beloved. Initially, she utters the words “I hate”, causing him deep despair. However, she quickly amends her statement, softening it by adding “not you”, thereby saving his life from emotional devastation.
This sudden shift mirrors the contrast between night and day, hell and heaven, despair and hope. The beloved, once appearing cruel, turns merciful and reassures the speaker of her love.
Critical Analysis
A Departure from the Dark Lady’s Cruelty
This sonnet seems at odds with the portrayal of the Dark Lady in previous sonnets.
- In earlier sonnets (such as Sonnet 144), she is depicted as deceitful, lustful, and morally corrupt, tempting both the speaker and the Fair Youth.
- Here, however, she displays kindness and remorse, suggesting that her character is not entirely heartless.
The poem’s shift in tone may suggest:
- A momentary act of tenderness, showing that the Dark Lady is not entirely evil.
- A different woman altogether, though this is less likely.
Tone and Style: Simplicity and Playfulness
Unlike the dense allegory and heavy symbolism of other sonnets, Sonnet 145 is straightforward and lighthearted.
- It has a sing-song rhythm, making it feel less intense and more personal.
- The structure follows a clear emotional arc, where despair turns into relief.
- The playful pun on “I hate” → “not you” adds a comic and romantic effect.
Theme Analysis
- Love’s Power to Transform
- The beloved begins with hatred, but quickly changes to mercy.
- This transformation mirrors how love itself is unpredictable, shifting between cruelty and kindness.
- The Importance of Words in Love
- The entire conflict in the poem hinges on a single phrase (“I hate”), showing how words have the power to hurt and heal.
- This echoes the Elizabethan belief in the weight of language—words could shape reality and emotions.
- Contrast Between Despair and Hope
- The imagery of night turning into day reflects the speaker’s emotional change.
- Hell and heaven are used as opposing forces, much like how love can feel like both torment and bliss.
Literary Devices
- Wordplay (Antithesis: “I hate” → “not you”)
- Shakespeare plays with reversal, showing how a simple change in wording can alter meaning completely.
- This reflects love’s unpredictability—just as quickly as it causes pain, it can bring relief.
- Contrast (Night vs. Day, Hell vs. Heaven)
- The transition from darkness (hate) to light (love) mirrors the shift in emotions.
- The phrase “Doth follow night, who like a fiend / From heaven to hell is flown away” personifies night as a villain fleeing in the face of love’s kindness.
- Personification of Mercy
- The line “Straight in her heart did mercy come” gives mercy a physical presence, as if it enters her and takes control of her actions.
- This highlights the power of compassion in love.
- Simple Language and Rhyming Couplets
- Unlike Shakespeare’s usual dense, layered poetry, this sonnet is remarkably simple, possibly suggesting a more personal or intimate moment.
Conclusion
Sonnet 145 is one of the most playful and straightforward sonnets in Shakespeare’s sequence. Unlike the surrounding sonnets filled with jealousy, lust, and betrayal, this one captures a brief moment of romantic mercy.
The light tone, simple structure, and clever wordplay suggest that the poem may have been written as a personal, heartfelt message rather than a grand meditation on love’s complexities. However, its contrast with the darker themes of the Dark Lady sonnets makes it stand out as a rare glimpse of tenderness in an otherwise troubled relationship.
