Let those who are in favour with their stars
Of public honour and proud titles boast,
Whilst I, whom fortune of such triumph bars
Unlook’d for joy in that I honour most.
Great princes’ favourites their fair leaves spread
But as the marigold at the sun’s eye,
And in themselves their pride lies buried,
For at a frown they in their glory die.
The painful warrior famoused for fight,
After a thousand victories once foiled,
Is from the book of honour razed quite,
And all the rest forgot for which he toiled:
Then happy I, that love and am beloved,
Where I may not remove nor be removed.
Line 1: “Let those who are in favour with their stars”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- In favour with their stars – Favored by fate or destiny (astrology reference).
Explanation & Context:
Shakespeare begins the sonnet by addressing those who are blessed by good fortune or fate. “Stars” were believed to control human destiny, and people born under favorable stars were considered lucky.
This introduces the contrast between those who seek worldly fame and those who find true happiness in love.
Line 2: “Of public honour and proud titles boast,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Public honour – Recognition, fame, or status in society.
- Proud titles – High ranks, noble distinctions.
Explanation & Context:
The poet describes how people favored by fate take pride in their social status, titles, and fame. This emphasizes the external nature of worldly success—these individuals define themselves by their public recognition.
Line 3: “Whilst I, whom fortune of such triumph bars”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Fortune – Luck or destiny.
- Triumph bars – Prevents from achieving victories.
Explanation & Context:
Shakespeare contrasts himself with those who are lucky in worldly matters. He claims that fortune has barred (prevented) him from experiencing great triumphs, meaning he does not possess the public status or honors that others boast about.
This reinforces the theme of fate and personal contentment.
Line 4: “Unlook’d for joy in that I honour most.”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Unlook’d for joy – Unexpected happiness.
- Honour most – Value the most.
Explanation & Context:
Even though he lacks worldly achievements, the poet finds an unexpected joy in something he treasures above all—his love.
This shifts the focus from external success to personal fulfillment. Shakespeare suggests that love is more valuable than status or fame.
Line 5: “Great princes’ favourites their fair leaves spread”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Great princes’ favourites – People who are close to royalty and enjoy privilege.
- Fair leaves spread – Flourish, like flowers blooming.
Explanation & Context:
Shakespeare uses an analogy: those who are close to kings and rulers are like flowers spreading their leaves to absorb sunlight. This means they thrive in the glow of their ruler’s favor.
This sets up the idea that their success is dependent on external forces, just like flowers depend on the sun.
Line 6: “But as the marigold at the sun’s eye,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Marigold – A flower that opens in sunlight and closes in darkness.
- Sun’s eye – The sun’s light.
Explanation & Context:
He compares these powerful people to marigolds, which bloom in the presence of the sun but close when it is absent. This suggests that their fortunes are unstable—when the ruler’s favor is gone, their power vanishes.
This highlights the temporary and fragile nature of worldly success.
Line 7: “And in themselves their pride lies buried,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Pride lies buried – Their achievements and confidence disappear.
Explanation & Context:
The moment they lose favor with the ruler, all their pride and achievements become meaningless. Their entire identity was tied to external validation, and without it, they are nothing.
Line 8: “For at a frown they in their glory die.”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- At a frown – With just a disapproving look.
- In their glory die – Lose all their status and power instantly.
Explanation & Context:
Shakespeare emphasizes the instability of power—someone who enjoys great success today can lose everything with just a single disapproving glance from their ruler.
This reinforces the idea that external achievements are fleeting and unreliable.
Line 9: “The painful warrior famoused for fight,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Painful warrior – A soldier who has endured great hardship.
- Famoused for fight – Renowned for his battles.
Explanation & Context:
Shakespeare shifts to another example—warriors who have fought bravely and won many battles. These men endure suffering and hardship, gaining fame through their victories.
This introduces the idea that even military glory is temporary.
Line 10: “After a thousand victories once foiled,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Foiled – Defeated.
Explanation & Context:
Even after achieving a thousand victories, a warrior can be foiled (defeated) just once and everything he has accomplished will be forgotten.
This reinforces the theme of how quickly worldly fame can vanish.
Line 11: “Is from the book of honour razed quite,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Book of honour – The record of history or fame.
- Razed quite – Completely erased.
Explanation & Context:
Shakespeare states that after one failure, a warrior can be erased from the book of honor, meaning all his achievements become irrelevant.
This suggests that history and public recognition are unreliable—they only remember success and forget past effort.
Line 12: “And all the rest forgot for which he toiled:”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- All the rest forgot – Everything else is ignored.
- Toiled – Worked hard for.
Explanation & Context:
Despite years of effort, a single failure can overshadow a lifetime of accomplishments. This line reinforces how unstable and unfair public recognition can be.
Line 13: “Then happy I, that love and am beloved,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Happy I – I am truly fortunate.
- Love and am beloved – Both give and receive love.
Explanation & Context:
Unlike those who seek fame and status, the poet finds true happiness in love. He does not rely on external validation, as his love is personal and unconditional.
This marks the resolution of the sonnet—Shakespeare declares that love is more fulfilling than fame or power.
Line 14: “Where I may not remove nor be removed.”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Remove nor be removed – Neither leave nor be taken away.
Explanation & Context:
Unlike the fleeting nature of power and fame, love is stable and unchanging. The poet finds joy in love because it is not subject to fate, rulers, or public opinion.
This final line beautifully contrasts love with the temporary nature of worldly success, showing that love provides lasting fulfillment.
Final Analysis:
In Sonnet 25, Shakespeare contrasts the fleeting nature of fame, power, and public honor with the enduring stability of love. He argues that:
- Worldly success is unstable – Those who gain public honor are like marigolds, dependent on external forces.
- Fame is temporary – Even great warriors can be forgotten after one defeat.
- Love is the true source of happiness – Unlike fame and power, love is stable and secure.
Shakespeare presents love as superior to worldly success because it is independent of fate and external forces. This sonnet expresses deep gratitude for love, as it provides a sense of permanence and fulfillment that public recognition cannot offer.
Summary
In Sonnet 25, the speaker contrasts the fleeting nature of worldly success with the enduring power of love. He acknowledges that some individuals, favored by fortune, boast of their public honors and high status. However, he takes pride in something far more meaningful—his love.
Shakespeare illustrates the instability of worldly power by comparing princes’ favorites to marigolds, which bloom in the sun but wither at the slightest displeasure. Similarly, a warrior may achieve countless victories, but a single defeat can erase all his past glories. This highlights the fragility of status and reputation.
In contrast, the speaker finds true happiness in love, which, unlike fame and fortune, cannot be taken away. The final couplet emphasizes the security of love, stating that the speaker neither wishes to leave nor fears being cast aside.
Critical Analysis
Sonnet 25 explores the contrast between temporary, external achievements and permanent, internal fulfillment. Shakespeare critiques the uncertain nature of fame and fortune, which depend on external forces such as royal favor or military success. He argues that love, being deeply personal and reciprocal, provides a more stable and lasting joy.
The speaker’s perspective reflects a common theme in Shakespeare’s sonnets—a rejection of materialistic values in favor of emotional truth. While aristocrats and warriors strive for recognition, their success is fragile. The marigold metaphor captures the precarious nature of favor: it flourishes in sunlight (royal favor) but perishes with a frown. Similarly, the warrior’s entire legacy can be erased by a single failure, exposing the unfair and unforgiving nature of history.
By contrast, the speaker’s love is untouched by external forces. The closing lines affirm that love, unlike status, is enduring and provides a sense of belonging and emotional security.
Theme Analysis
1. The Fleeting Nature of Fame and Fortune
Shakespeare emphasizes how worldly achievements are dependent on external approval. Those who rise through fortune can fall just as easily, making their success unstable and temporary.
2. The Enduring Power of Love
Unlike fame, which is conditional, love is permanent and independent of external forces. The speaker takes pride in being loved, suggesting that personal relationships offer a deeper, more fulfilling form of happiness.
3. The Fragility of Status
The references to royal favor and military success highlight how quickly power and reputation can vanish. Shakespeare suggests that even great achievements can be erased by a single misstep, reinforcing the unpredictability of fortune.
4. Love as an Unshakable Bond
The closing lines emphasize the steadfast nature of love. The speaker does not fear abandonment, nor does he wish to leave his beloved, portraying love as a source of stability and security.
Literary Devices
1. Metaphor
- “Great princes’ favourites their fair leaves spread / But as the marigold at the sun’s eye.”
→ The comparison of courtiers to marigolds suggests their dependence on royal favor, which can disappear instantly. - “The painful warrior famoused for fight / After a thousand victories once foiled.”
→ The warrior represents those who seek fame, showing how even great successes can be erased by a single defeat.
2. Personification
- “Fortune of such triumph bars”
→ Fortune is personified as something that grants or denies success, reinforcing the randomness of fate. - “At a frown they in their glory die.”
→ A prince’s mere displeasure can destroy his favorite’s status, emphasizing the instability of power.
3. Alliteration
- “Famoused for fight”
- “Book of honour razed quite”
→ The repetition of consonants enhances the poem’s rhythm and emphasizes key ideas.
4. Contrast (Juxtaposition)
- The unstable fame of courtiers and warriors is contrasted with the secure and lasting nature of love, reinforcing the speaker’s argument that love is superior to worldly success.
5. Enjambment
- The poem uses run-on lines to create a flowing, natural rhythm, mirroring the unpredictability of fate and reinforcing the contrast between transient fame and enduring love.
Conclusion
Shakespeare’s Sonnet 25 is a reflection on the impermanence of worldly success and the enduring nature of love. Through vivid imagery and sharp contrasts, the speaker highlights the instability of power and reputation, which are subject to fortune’s whims. In contrast, love provides a stable and lasting joy, making it the speaker’s greatest source of pride. The sonnet ultimately asserts that true happiness lies not in external recognition, but in the deep and unwavering bond of love.
