Sonnet 150: O! From What Power Hast Thou This Powerful Might
O! from what power hast thou this powerful might,
With insufficiency my heart to sway?
To make me give the lie to my true sight,
And swear that brightness doth not grace the day?
Whence hast thou this becoming of things ill,
That in the very refuse of thy deeds
There is such strength and warrantise of skill,
That, in my mind, thy worst all best exceeds?
Who taught thee how to make me love thee more,
The more I hear and see just cause of hate?
O! though I love what others do abhor,
With others thou shouldst not abhor my state:
If thy unworthiness raised love in me,
More worthy I to be beloved of thee.
Line 1:
“O! from what power hast thou this powerful might,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Hast thou: Have you (archaic form).
- Might: Power or influence.
Explanation:
The speaker begins by marveling at the beloved’s power to influence him, questioning its source. This line sets the tone for the sonnet, which explores the paradox of love’s power over reason.
Line 2:
“With insufficiency my heart to sway?”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Insufficiency: Lack of merit or worth.
- Sway: Control or influence.
Explanation:
The speaker questions how the beloved, despite her flaws, can control his heart. This line introduces the theme of love’s irrational power.
Line 3:
“To make me give the lie to my true sight,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Give the lie: Contradict or deny.
- True sight: Accurate perception.
Explanation:
The speaker suggests that the beloved’s power makes him deny what he sees clearly, emphasizing the conflict between love and reason.
Line 4:
“And swear that brightness doth not grace the day?”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Brightness: Light or beauty.
- Grace: Adorn or enhance.
Explanation:
The speaker describes how the beloved’s influence makes him deny obvious truths, such as the brightness of day. This line underscores the irrationality of love.
Line 5:
“Whence hast thou this becoming of things ill,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Whence: From where.
- Becoming: Attractiveness or charm.
- Things ill: Flaws or imperfections.
Explanation:
The speaker questions how the beloved can make flaws seem attractive, highlighting the transformative power of love.
Line 6:
“That in the very refuse of thy deeds”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Refuse: Waste or worthless remnants.
- Deeds: Actions or behavior.
Explanation:
The speaker suggests that even the worst aspects of the beloved’s actions have a certain charm, emphasizing the irrationality of his love.
Line 7:
“There is such strength and warrantise of skill,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Warrantise: Assurance or guarantee.
- Skill: Ability or artistry.
Explanation:
The speaker marvels at the strength and artistry in the beloved’s flaws, further emphasizing the paradox of his attraction to her imperfections.
Line 8:
“That, in my mind, thy worst all best exceeds?”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Exceeds: Surpasses or outshines.
Explanation:
The speaker concludes that the beloved’s worst qualities surpass the best qualities of others in his mind, highlighting the irrationality of his love.
Line 9:
“Who taught thee how to make me love thee more,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Thee: You (archaic form).
Explanation:
The speaker questions who taught the beloved to make him love her more, emphasizing the mystery and power of her influence.
Line 10:
“The more I hear and see just cause of hate?”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Just cause: Valid reason.
Explanation:
The speaker marvels that he loves the beloved more even as he sees more reasons to hate her, highlighting the irrationality of his emotions.
Line 11:
“O! though I love what others do abhor,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Abhor: Detest or loathe.
Explanation:
The speaker acknowledges that he loves what others despise, emphasizing the uniqueness and irrationality of his love.
Line 12:
“With others thou shouldst not abhor my state:”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Abhor: Detest or reject.
- State: Condition or situation.
Explanation:
The speaker suggests that the beloved should not reject him as others do, given his unique devotion. This line reflects his hope for reciprocation.
Line 13:
“If thy unworthiness raised love in me,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Unworthiness: Lack of merit or value.
Explanation:
The speaker suggests that the beloved’s flaws inspired his love, emphasizing the paradox of his attraction to her imperfections.
Line 14:
“More worthy I to be beloved of thee.”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Worthy: Deserving.
- Beloved of thee: Loved by you.
Explanation:
The speaker concludes that if the beloved’s flaws inspired his love, then he is more deserving of her love in return. This line encapsulates the sonnet’s theme of paradoxical love and the hope for reciprocation.
Overall Context and Themes:
Sonnet 150 explores the paradox of love’s power to transform flaws into virtues and to inspire devotion despite reason. The speaker marvels at the beloved’s ability to make him love her despite her imperfections and his awareness of her faults. The poem delves into themes of irrational love, the transformative power of affection, and the hope for reciprocation. The sonnet’s vivid imagery and emotional intensity make it a powerful exploration of the complexities of love and human emotion.
In-Depth Summary
In Sonnet 150, the speaker marvels at the mysterious power his beloved possesses—how she is able to make him love her despite her flaws and unworthiness. He is astounded that she can sway his heart even though she lacks the qualities that should inspire devotion. Her influence is so great that he is forced to deny reality, making him question his own perception, as if swearing that daylight is not bright.
He then ponders how she manages to make even her worst qualities appear admirable, turning vice into virtue in his mind. He wonders who taught her this skill of making him love her more despite having reasons to hate her. He acknowledges that while others reject her, he continues to love her, but he hopes that she will not extend this rejection to him.
In the closing couplet, he argues that if her undeserving nature could inspire love in him, then by contrast, his worthiness should make him more deserving of her love. This is a final, desperate plea for reciprocity.
Critical Analysis
This sonnet continues the themes of obsessive, irrational love that dominate the Dark Lady sequence (Sonnets 127-152). The speaker struggles to comprehend why he remains devoted to someone who is so obviously flawed and unworthy. He recognizes that his love defies logic, but he cannot resist its power.
The tone is one of frustration, disbelief, and yearning. The speaker is both amazed by and resentful of his beloved’s ability to manipulate his emotions. The contrast between reason and passion is central to the poem—his intellect tells him that she is undeserving, yet his emotions compel him to love her all the more.
The final couplet is particularly ironic and poignant. The speaker argues that if she, as an unworthy woman, has inspired love in him, then logically, as a worthy man, he should be even more deserving of love. However, the implied irony is that love does not follow logic; his worthiness does not guarantee her affection.
Theme Analysis
1. Love’s Power to Overcome Reason
- The speaker acknowledges that love has distorted his perception.
- He swears that “brightness doth not grace the day,” illustrating how love has made him deny even the most obvious truths.
2. The Paradox of Love and Hatred
- The speaker is caught in a love-hate dynamic—he loves her more despite seeing her faults clearly.
- “Who taught thee how to make me love thee more, / The more I hear and see just cause of hate?”
- This highlights the irrational, masochistic nature of love.
3. The Unworthiness of the Beloved
- The speaker continually emphasizes that the Dark Lady is undeserving of his love, yet she holds immense power over him.
- The closing couplet suggests a desperate bargaining for affection—he argues that if she, though unworthy, can be loved, then he, as a worthier person, should be loved in return.
4. Love as a Form of Self-Deception
- The poem explores self-delusion, where the speaker convinces himself that even his beloved’s worst qualities are admirable.
- He acknowledges the absurdity of his devotion, yet remains powerless against it.
Literary Devices
1. Rhetorical Questions
- The sonnet is structured around unanswered questions, emphasizing the speaker’s bewilderment and emotional turmoil:
- “O! from what power hast thou this powerful might, / With insufficiency my heart to sway?”
- These questions reflect his desperate search for reason behind his irrational love.
2. Irony
- The entire poem is deeply ironic—the speaker knows that his beloved is unworthy, yet he cannot resist her.
- In the final couplet, he argues that he should be loved because he is worthy, but love does not follow fairness or merit.
3. Paradox
- The speaker claims that the more reasons he has to hate her, the more he loves her:
- “Who taught thee how to make me love thee more, / The more I hear and see just cause of hate?”
- This paradox highlights love’s irrational and contradictory nature.
4. Hyperbole (Exaggeration)
- The speaker exaggerates his blindness to truth, claiming he would even deny that daylight is bright:
- “And swear that brightness doth not grace the day?”
- This dramatic statement underscores love’s power to distort perception.
5. Contrast (Juxtaposition)
- Virtue vs. Vice:
- “Thy worst all best exceeds.” → Her worst qualities appear better than the best qualities of others.
- Worthiness vs. Unworthiness:
- The speaker claims she is unworthy, yet she is loved, whereas he, being worthy, is not.
6. Alliteration
- Shakespeare uses repetition of sounds to enhance musicality:
- “With insufficiency my heart to sway?” (repetition of “s” sound).
- “That, in my mind, thy worst all best exceeds?” (repetition of “t” and “w” sounds).
7. Personification
- Love is depicted as having power and skill, almost as if it is a magician or deceiver that manipulates perception.
Conclusion
Sonnet 150 is a passionate exploration of love’s ability to defy reason. The speaker, fully aware of his beloved’s flaws, struggles to understand why he remains hopelessly devoted to her. His rhetorical questions highlight his emotional turmoil, while the final couplet attempts (in vain) to rationalize love’s unfairness. Shakespeare masterfully portrays love as a force that overrides logic, distorts perception, and renders even the wisest helpless.
