So is it not with me as with that Muse,
Stirred by a painted beauty to his verse,
Who heaven itself for ornament doth use
And every fair with his fair doth rehearse,
Making a couplement of proud compare
With sun and moon, with earth and sea’s rich gems,
With April’s first-born flowers, and all things rare,
That heaven’s air in this huge rondure hems.
O! let me, true in love, but truly write,
And then believe me, my love is as fair
As any mother’s child, though not so bright
As those gold candles fixed in heaven’s air:
Let them say more that like of hearsay well;
I will not praise that purpose not to sell.
Line 1: “So is it not with me as with that Muse,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Muse – A source of inspiration, often referring to poetic or artistic inspiration.
Explanation & Context:
Shakespeare begins by distancing himself from other poets who rely on exaggerated praise and artificial inspiration. He claims that his approach to poetry is different from “that Muse”—which could refer to other poets who exaggerate beauty in their writing.
This sets the tone for the sonnet, in which Shakespeare criticizes poets who use excessive and grand comparisons to describe their beloveds rather than writing with sincerity.
Line 2: “Stirred by a painted beauty to his verse,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Painted beauty – Artificial beauty, possibly referring to makeup or exaggerated descriptions.
- Stirred – Inspired or motivated.
Explanation & Context:
Shakespeare suggests that other poets are influenced by superficial or artificial beauty. “Painted beauty” could refer to women who use makeup to enhance their appearance, but it also symbolizes poets who artificially beautify their subjects with flowery, unrealistic praise.
In contrast, Shakespeare implies that his love is based on genuine affection, not on exaggerated poetic conventions.
Line 3: “Who heaven itself for ornament doth use”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Ornament – Decoration or embellishment.
- Doth – Does (old English form).
Explanation & Context:
Here, Shakespeare criticizes poets who describe their beloveds using celestial imagery—such as comparing them to heaven, stars, or divine beauty. He implies that such comparisons are unnecessary and artificial.
This continues his argument that true love does not need excessive poetic embellishment.
Line 4: “And every fair with his fair doth rehearse,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Fair – Beauty or a beautiful person.
- Rehearse – Repeat or list out.
Explanation & Context:
Shakespeare is saying that some poets repeatedly compare one beautiful thing to another, making beauty seem like a performance rather than something genuine. They endlessly describe their lovers using grand comparisons to nature or celestial bodies, rather than speaking from true emotion.
Line 5: “Making a couplement of proud compare”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Couplement – A pairing or connection.
- Proud compare – Overly grand or boastful comparisons.
Explanation & Context:
Shakespeare criticizes poets who link their beloveds to the most magnificent things in the universe—creating “proud comparisons” that sound impressive but lack sincerity.
He continues to emphasize that he does not wish to indulge in such poetic exaggeration.
Line 6: “With sun and moon, with earth and sea’s rich gems,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Rich gems – Precious stones or valuable treasures.
Explanation & Context:
Many poets compare their lovers to the sun, the moon, the earth’s beauty, or the riches of the sea. Shakespeare suggests that such comparisons, while grand, do not necessarily capture true love.
He subtly mocks the idea that a person’s beauty must be likened to the most majestic things in nature to be appreciated.
Line 7: “With April’s first-born flowers, and all things rare,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- April’s first-born flowers – The earliest blossoms of spring, symbolizing freshness and beauty.
- All things rare – Everything unique and precious.
Explanation & Context:
Other poets compare their lovers to rare and delicate things, like the first flowers of spring or anything that is considered exceptionally beautiful. Shakespeare, however, does not believe such grand metaphors are necessary to express love.
Line 8: “That heaven’s air in this huge rondure hems.”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Heaven’s air – The sky or atmosphere.
- Huge rondure – The vast round shape of the world or universe.
- Hems – Encloses or surrounds.
Explanation & Context:
Shakespeare refers to the entire world—everything enclosed within the sky. Other poets, he suggests, use everything under heaven as a comparison for their beloveds, exaggerating their beauty.
By listing these comparisons, Shakespeare highlights their overuse and subtly mocks their poetic extravagance.
Line 9: “O! let me, true in love, but truly write,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- True in love – Honest and sincere in expressing love.
- Truly write – To write truthfully, without exaggeration.
Explanation & Context:
Shakespeare states his intention: unlike other poets who use excessive comparisons, he wants to write truthfully about love. He values sincerity over poetic embellishment, making this sonnet a declaration of honest affection.
Line 10: “And then believe me, my love is as fair”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Fair – Beautiful, lovely.
Explanation & Context:
Shakespeare assures the reader that his beloved is beautiful—not because of grand comparisons but because of their inherent charm. He does not need to compare them to celestial bodies to prove their worth.
Line 11: “As any mother’s child, though not so bright”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Mother’s child – Any ordinary human being.
- Bright – Radiant, luminous (in comparison to stars or celestial bodies).
Explanation & Context:
Shakespeare acknowledges that his beloved is as beautiful as any person born of a mother, but not necessarily as bright as the stars (“gold candles” in the next line). This is a rare moment of poetic humility—he admits that his love, though beautiful, is not beyond human comparison.
This reinforces the theme of sincerity: rather than pretending his beloved is divine, he embraces their human beauty.
Line 12: “As those gold candles fixed in heaven’s air:”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Gold candles – A metaphor for the stars.
- Fixed in heaven’s air – Stationed in the sky, referring to the stars’ permanence.
Explanation & Context:
Shakespeare contrasts his lover with the stars, implying that their beauty, while great, is not as dazzling as celestial bodies. This reinforces his commitment to truthfulness rather than exaggerated comparisons.
Line 13: “Let them say more that like of hearsay well;”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Say more – Use grander praise.
- Like of hearsay well – Prefer secondhand stories or exaggerated accounts.
Explanation & Context:
Shakespeare dismisses those who prefer to hear and believe poetic exaggerations. He implies that many people enjoy over-the-top descriptions of love, even if they are untrue.
He, however, prefers to speak truthfully rather than engage in such poetic traditions.
Line 14: “I will not praise that purpose not to sell.”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Praise – Give exaggerated compliments.
- That purpose not to sell – That which is not meant to be marketed or sold.
Explanation & Context:
Shakespeare ends by emphasizing that he will not falsely praise something just to make it seem more valuable. Unlike poets who “sell” their words with grand metaphors, he chooses honesty over poetic embellishment.
This sonnet, then, is a rejection of exaggerated poetic traditions. Shakespeare insists on sincerity, proving that love does not need to be wrapped in grand comparisons to be real and meaningful.
Analysis of Sonnet 21
Sonnet 21 is a response to the exaggerated, flowery language used by other poets who compare their beloved to the sun, moon, and celestial wonders. Shakespeare rejects false and excessive praise, insisting instead on writing with truth and sincerity.
Summary
The speaker begins by contrasting himself with a certain type of poet (“that Muse”) who is inspired by superficial, “painted” beauty. These poets exaggerate their descriptions, comparing their lovers to the heavens, nature, and priceless gems.
However, the speaker insists that his love is real and does not require such artificial embellishments. He acknowledges that his beloved is as fair as any other person’s child, even if they are not as bright as the stars.
In the final couplet, the speaker states that he does not need to overpraise his love like a salesman trying to sell something. Instead, his love is genuine and needs no false comparisons.
Critical Analysis
1. A Rejection of Poetic Hyperbole
- The speaker mocks poets who use over-the-top metaphors to describe their lovers.
- Shakespeare was likely critiquing the poetic conventions of his time, especially those found in Petrarchan sonnets, which often compared women to divine and natural wonders.
2. True Love vs. False Adoration
- The sonnet suggests that true love does not need exaggeration—it should be described as it truly is.
- The speaker values honest expression over grandiose, unrealistic comparisons.
3. The Role of Poetry
- The sonnet raises the question: Should poetry seek to elevate beauty beyond reality, or should it simply tell the truth?
- Shakespeare implies that poetry should be grounded in sincerity rather than artificial embellishment.
Themes
1. Sincerity in Love and Poetry
- The poet emphasizes that his love is real and does not need excessive flattery.
- He criticizes poets who write just to impress, rather than to express genuine feelings.
2. The Limitations of Metaphors
- Shakespeare suggests that no poetic metaphor can truly capture the essence of real love.
- By rejecting comparisons to the sun, moon, and stars, he highlights the human, rather than divine, nature of love.
3. Commercialization of Love
- The final couplet compares exaggerated poetry to a salesperson’s pitch:
- “Let them say more that like of hearsay well; / I will not praise that purpose not to sell.”
- The speaker refuses to “sell” his love through false embellishment.
Literary Devices
1. Contrast – Artificial vs. Genuine Poetry
- The poem contrasts over-the-top poetic flattery with sincere, truthful poetry.
2. Imagery – Celestial and Natural Elements
- Shakespeare lists traditional poetic comparisons:
- “Sun and moon,” “earth and sea’s rich gems,” “April’s first-born flowers”
- These images are dismissed as unnecessary decorations in poetry.
3. Metaphor – Poetry as a Marketplace
- The idea of “praising to sell” suggests that exaggerated poetry is like false advertising.
4. Irony – A Poem That Criticizes Poetic Excess
- Shakespeare himself is writing a poem while criticizing poets for writing excessive poetry.
Conclusion
Sonnet 21 is Shakespeare’s defense of sincerity in love poetry. Instead of using extravagant, unrealistic comparisons, he argues for honest, heartfelt expression.
This sonnet stands in contrast to many romantic sonnets of the Elizabethan era, where women were often compared to celestial and divine objects. Shakespeare rejects this trend, emphasizing that real love does not need embellishment—it is beautiful as it is.
