When in disgrace with fortune and men’s eyes
I all alone beweep my outcast state,
And trouble deaf heaven with my bootless cries,
And look upon myself, and curse my fate,
Wishing me like to one more rich in hope,
Featured like him, like him with friends possessed,
Desiring this man’s art, and that man’s scope,
With what I most enjoy contented least;
Yet in these thoughts my self almost despising,
Haply I think on thee, and then my state,
Like to the lark at break of day arising
From sullen earth, sings hymns at heaven’s gate;
For thy sweet love remembered such wealth brings
That then I scorn to change my state with kings.
Line 1: “When in disgrace with fortune and men’s eyes”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Disgrace – Dishonor, shame, or misfortune.
- Fortune – Luck or fate.
- Men’s eyes – The opinions or judgments of others.
Explanation & Context:
The speaker describes a time when he is out of favor with both luck (fortune) and society (men’s eyes). This suggests that he feels abandoned, unsuccessful, or looked down upon by others. The phrase “men’s eyes” emphasizes that he feels judged and rejected.
Line 2: “I all alone beweep my outcast state,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Beweep – To weep over, to cry about.
- Outcast state – A position of rejection or exile.
Explanation & Context:
He feels completely alone, crying over his status as an outcast. This self-pity suggests that he is suffering from social rejection, financial hardship, or emotional distress. It builds on the previous line by reinforcing his sense of abandonment.
Line 3: “And trouble deaf heaven with my bootless cries,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Trouble deaf heaven – To pray or cry out to an unresponsive God.
- Bootless – Useless, ineffective.
Explanation & Context:
The speaker prays or cries out to heaven, but heaven is “deaf”, meaning his prayers are ignored or unanswered. His cries are “bootless” (useless), which suggests that no matter how much he begs for help, nothing changes. This line conveys a sense of hopelessness and frustration.
Line 4: “And look upon myself, and curse my fate,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Curse my fate – To resent one’s life circumstances.
Explanation & Context:
In his despair, the speaker examines his own life and resents his misfortune. He sees himself as deeply unlucky and feels trapped in a cycle of self-pity and sadness. This line completes the introduction of his melancholy state before he begins to wish for another life.
Line 5: “Wishing me like to one more rich in hope,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Like to – Similar to, like.
- Rich in hope – Having strong optimism for the future.
Explanation & Context:
He envies those who have hope and optimism—people who look forward to the future with confidence. He feels so defeated that he wishes he could trade places with someone who still has dreams and aspirations.
Line 6: “Featured like him, like him with friends possessed,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Featured like him – Having the good looks of another man.
- With friends possessed – Surrounded by close friends.
Explanation & Context:
The speaker compares himself to others, wishing he had better looks and more companionship. He feels unattractive and alone, while others seem to have beauty and friendship. This deepens his self-doubt and sense of inadequacy.
Line 7: “Desiring this man’s art, and that man’s scope,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Art – Skill or talent.
- Scope – Opportunity or ability.
Explanation & Context:
He is jealous of other people’s talents and opportunities. Some have skills he lacks, while others have greater potential or freedom in life. This suggests that his sense of worthlessness extends beyond just appearance and friendships—it affects his abilities and ambitions as well.
Line 8: “With what I most enjoy contented least;”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Contented least – Least satisfied.
Explanation & Context:
Ironically, the things that he used to love now bring him no joy. His depression or low self-esteem prevents him from appreciating what he has, making everything feel hollow and unfulfilling.
Line 9: “Yet in these thoughts myself almost despising,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Almost despising – Nearly hating himself.
Explanation & Context:
His self-pity and jealousy have made him feel worthless, to the point where he nearly despises himself. This line marks the lowest point in the sonnet, where his sadness and dissatisfaction peak.
Line 10: “Haply I think on thee, and then my state,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Haply – By chance, fortunately.
- State – Mood or condition.
Explanation & Context:
Just when he reaches his lowest moment, he remembers his beloved, and everything changes. The word “haply” suggests that this thought comes unexpectedly, like a sudden ray of hope.
Line 11: “Like to the lark at break of day arising”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Lark – A bird known for its beautiful song.
- Break of day – Dawn, sunrise.
- Arising – Rising up.
Explanation & Context:
His mood lifts just like a lark flying into the sky at sunrise. This powerful image symbolizes renewal, hope, and joy. The lark’s song suggests a return to happiness and a sense of spiritual upliftment.
Line 12: “From sullen earth, sings hymns at heaven’s gate;”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Sullen earth – The gloomy, dark world.
- Sings hymns at heaven’s gate – Joyfully praises God or the universe.
Explanation & Context:
Just as a lark rises from the dark earth to sing joyfully toward heaven, the speaker’s spirit rises from despair to joy when he thinks of his beloved. This contrast between gloom and happiness reinforces the power of love to heal sorrow.
Line 13: “For thy sweet love remembered such wealth brings”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Sweet love – The love of the person he admires.
- Such wealth brings – Provides great emotional or spiritual richness.
Explanation & Context:
The memory of his beloved brings him emotional riches far greater than any material wealth. Love, in his eyes, is the ultimate source of happiness, worth more than fame, fortune, or social status.
Line 14: “That then I scorn to change my state with kings.”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Scorn to change – Refuse to trade.
- State – Condition or position in life.
Explanation & Context:
Now, he no longer envies anyone, not even a king. The love he feels is so fulfilling that he would not trade places with the most powerful or wealthy person in the world. This is the ultimate resolution—his happiness and sense of self-worth are restored by love.
Final Analysis:
Sonnet 29 captures the emotional journey from despair to joy through the power of love.
- Theme of Isolation & Self-Doubt – The speaker begins by feeling abandoned and unsuccessful, consumed by self-pity and envy.
- Theme of Transformation – His perspective changes completely when he remembers his beloved.
- Powerful Contrast – The darkness of self-pity is replaced by the brightness of love, much like a lark rising at dawn.
- Love as the Ultimate Riches – The poem concludes with a triumphant declaration that love is worth more than power, fame, or fortune.
This sonnet is one of Shakespeare’s most uplifting, showing how love can rescue us from the depths of despair and give life new meaning.
Summary
In Sonnet 29, the speaker begins in a state of deep despair, feeling abandoned by both fortune and society. He laments his isolation, believing that even heaven ignores his prayers. In his misery, he envies the success, talents, and social standing of others, feeling inadequate and discontented.
However, the tone shifts dramatically in the ninth line (the volta) when the speaker remembers his beloved. This thought transforms his sorrow into joy, much like a lark rising from the darkness of the earth to sing at heaven’s gate. The sonnet concludes with a triumphant declaration: the love of the beloved is so fulfilling that the speaker would not trade places even with a king.
Critical Analysis
Sonnet 29 is a deeply personal meditation on self-worth, despair, and the redemptive power of love. The speaker begins in utter dejection, feeling as though he has been rejected by both society and fate. His suffering is heightened by his comparison to others, which only deepens his sense of inadequacy.
The turning point (volta) in line 9 marks a shift from self-pity to hope. The thought of the beloved elevates the speaker emotionally and spiritually, just as the lark soars from the earth to the sky. This imagery emphasizes love’s ability to uplift and transform.
The final couplet provides a powerful resolution: the speaker rejects material wealth and power, asserting that love itself is the greatest fortune. This conclusion challenges societal values, suggesting that true happiness is found not in status, but in deep emotional connection.
Theme Analysis
1. The Contrast Between Despair and Joy
The poem moves from utter despair to exultant joy, illustrating how love has the power to completely transform one’s emotional state. The contrast makes the speaker’s ultimate realization even more profound.
2. The Power of Love to Redeem
The sonnet suggests that love is more valuable than wealth, talent, or social standing. The speaker, initially consumed by self-pity, finds solace and purpose in the thought of his beloved.
3. Envy and Self-Doubt
The speaker’s envy of others highlights the universal human tendency to compare oneself to others. However, the poem suggests that such comparisons are meaningless, as true fulfillment comes from love, not external achievements.
4. The Illusion of Worldly Success
The final lines challenge the idea that power and wealth bring happiness. The speaker, once despondent over his lack of fortune, ultimately rejects these desires, recognizing that love provides a richer and more lasting happiness than material success.
Literary Devices
1. Contrast (Juxtaposition)
- “When in disgrace with fortune and men’s eyes… For thy sweet love remembered such wealth brings”
→ The poem contrasts deep sorrow and joyful triumph, highlighting love’s ability to completely alter one’s perspective. - “Yet in these thoughts myself almost despising, / Haply I think on thee, and then my state…”
→ The sudden shift from self-loathing to happiness emphasizes the volta in the poem.
2. Imagery
- “Like to the lark at break of day arising / From sullen earth, sings hymns at heaven’s gate”
→ The lark, a symbol of hope and renewal, represents the speaker’s spiritual upliftment upon remembering his beloved. - “And trouble deaf heaven with my bootless cries”
→ The personification of heaven as deaf conveys the speaker’s sense of abandonment and hopelessness.
3. Metaphor
- “And trouble deaf heaven with my bootless cries”
→ Heaven is metaphorically portrayed as deaf, emphasizing the speaker’s feeling that his prayers and pleas go unheard. - “For thy sweet love remembered such wealth brings”
→ Love is metaphorically equated with wealth, reinforcing the theme that love provides a greater richness than material success.
4. Personification
- “And trouble deaf heaven with my bootless cries”
→ Heaven is personified as “deaf”, underscoring the speaker’s sense of spiritual isolation. - “For thy sweet love remembered such wealth brings”
→ Love is given the ability to bestow wealth, reinforcing the idea that emotional fulfillment is more valuable than material success.
5. Alliteration
- “Haply I think on thee, and then my state…”
→ The repetition of the “th” sound adds to the musicality of the transition from sorrow to joy. - “Sings hymns at heaven’s gate”
→ The repeated “h” sound creates a light, uplifting tone, mirroring the lark’s ascent.
6. Paradox
- “With what I most enjoy contented least”
→ The speaker paradoxically finds no joy in what he once loved, illustrating the depths of his despair. - “That then I scorn to change my state with kings.”
→ The speaker, once envious of others, now rejects the idea of trading places with a king, illustrating love’s transformative power.
Conclusion
Sonnet 29 is a masterful meditation on self-doubt, envy, and the redemptive power of love. Shakespeare captures the universal experience of despair, showing how human nature tends to compare and long for what others have. However, the poem ultimately offers a hopeful resolution—love has the power to elevate, heal, and bring greater joy than any worldly success.
The contrast between sorrow and joy, the personification of fortune and heaven, and the powerful imagery of the lark all contribute to the sonnet’s emotional depth. The final lines deliver a profound message: true wealth lies not in fortune, but in the love one shares with another.
