Sonnet 45: The Other Two, Slight Air, And Purging Fire
The other two, slight air, and purging fire
Are both with thee, wherever I abide;
The first my thought, the other my desire,
These present-absent with swift motion slide.
For when these quicker elements are gone
In tender embassy of love to thee,
My life, being made of four, with two alone
Sinks down to death, oppress’d with melancholy;
Until life’s composition be recured
By those swift messengers return’d from thee,
Who even but now come back again, assured
Of thy fair health, recounting it to me:
This told, I joy; but then no longer glad,
I send them back again, and straight grow sad.
.
Line 1: The other two, slight air, and purging fire
Difficult Words and Meanings:
- The other two: Refers to two of the four classical elements (air and fire).
- Slight air: Light and insubstantial air.
- Purging fire: Cleansing or purifying fire.
In-Depth Explanation:
The speaker begins by referring to two of the four classical elements—air and fire—which are traditionally associated with lightness, movement, and vitality. These elements contrast with the heavier elements of earth and water, which were the focus of the previous sonnet (Sonnet 44). The speaker uses these elements as metaphors for his thoughts and desires.
Context:
This sonnet is part of Shakespeare’s sequence addressed to the “Fair Youth.” The speaker continues the theme of the four elements, introduced in Sonnet 44, to explore the dynamics of his relationship with the beloved. The line sets up the central metaphor of the sonnet: the interplay between the elements and the speaker’s emotional state.
Line 2: Are both with thee, wherever I abide;
Difficult Words and Meanings:
- Thee: You (the beloved).
- Abide: Remain or live.
In-Depth Explanation:
The speaker states that air and fire—representing his thoughts and desires—are always with the beloved, no matter where the speaker is. This suggests that his mind and heart are constantly focused on the beloved, even when they are physically apart.
Context:
This line reinforces the theme of the speaker’s emotional connection to the beloved. It reflects the idea that love transcends physical separation and that the speaker’s thoughts and desires are always with the beloved.
Line 3: The first my thought, the other my desire,
Difficult Words and Meanings:
- The first: Air (representing thought).
- The other: Fire (representing desire).
In-Depth Explanation:
The speaker explicitly connects air to his thoughts and fire to his desires. This suggests that his thoughts and desires are constantly traveling to the beloved, bridging the gap created by physical separation.
Context:
This line develops the metaphor of the elements, linking them to the speaker’s inner life. It reflects the theme of love as a force that transcends physical boundaries.
Line 4: These present-absent with swift motion slide.
Difficult Words and Meanings:
- Present-absent: Simultaneously present (with the beloved) and absent (from the speaker).
- Swift motion: Quick movement.
In-Depth Explanation:
The speaker describes his thoughts and desires as “present-absent,” meaning they are with the beloved while being absent from himself. They move with “swift motion,” suggesting their speed and agility in traveling to the beloved.
Context:
This line emphasizes the speaker’s emotional connection to the beloved and the speed with which his thoughts and desires travel to bridge the gap of physical separation. It reflects the theme of love as a transcendent force.
Line 5: For when these quicker elements are gone
Difficult Words and Meanings:
- Quicker elements: Air and fire (representing thought and desire).
- Gone: Traveled to the beloved.
In-Depth Explanation:
The speaker explains that when air and fire (his thoughts and desires) travel to the beloved, he is left without them. This suggests that his emotional energy is entirely focused on the beloved, leaving him depleted.
Context:
This line introduces the theme of emotional depletion and the speaker’s dependence on the beloved for his sense of vitality. It reflects the idea that love is both a source of strength and a source of vulnerability.
Line 6: In tender embassy of love to thee,
Difficult Words and Meanings:
- Tender embassy: A gentle or loving mission.
- Thee: You (the beloved).
In-Depth Explanation:
The speaker describes his thoughts and desires as a “tender embassy of love” sent to the beloved. This suggests that they carry his affection and longing, serving as messengers of his love.
Context:
This line reinforces the theme of the speaker’s emotional connection to the beloved. It reflects the idea that love is a force that transcends physical separation and is constantly communicated through thoughts and desires.
Line 7: My life, being made of four, with two alone
Difficult Words and Meanings:
- Made of four: Composed of the four elements (earth, water, air, and fire).
- With two alone: Left with only earth and water.
In-Depth Explanation:
The speaker explains that his life is composed of the four elements, but when air and fire (thought and desire) are gone, he is left with only earth and water. This suggests that he feels incomplete and lifeless without his thoughts and desires.
Context:
This line highlights the speaker’s sense of emotional depletion and his dependence on the beloved for his sense of vitality. It reflects the theme of love as both a source of strength and a source of vulnerability.
Line 8: Sinks down to death, oppress’d with melancholy;
Difficult Words and Meanings:
- Sinks down to death: Feels lifeless or depressed.
- Oppress’d: Burdened or weighed down.
- Melancholy: Sadness or despair.
In-Depth Explanation:
The speaker describes himself as sinking into a state of lifelessness and despair (“sinks down to death”) when his thoughts and desires are gone. This reflects his deep emotional dependence on the beloved and the pain of separation.
Context:
This line underscores the speaker’s sorrow and his sense of emotional depletion. It reflects the theme of love as a source of both joy and suffering.
Line 9: Until life’s composition be recured
Difficult Words and Meanings:
- Life’s composition: The balance of the four elements.
- Recured: Restored or healed.
In-Depth Explanation:
The speaker suggests that his sense of vitality is restored (“recured”) when the balance of the four elements is reestablished. This implies that his thoughts and desires must return from the beloved for him to feel whole again.
Context:
This line introduces the theme of restoration and the speaker’s dependence on the beloved for his emotional well-being. It reflects the idea that love is a dynamic force that requires constant renewal.
Line 10: By those swift messengers return’d from thee,
Difficult Words and Meanings:
- Swift messengers: Air and fire (thought and desire).
- Return’d: Returned (archaic).
In-Depth Explanation:
The speaker describes his thoughts and desires as “swift messengers” that return from the beloved, restoring his sense of vitality. This suggests that his emotional well-being depends on the beloved’s presence, even if only in thought.
Context:
This line reinforces the theme of the speaker’s emotional dependence on the beloved. It reflects the idea that love is a force that requires constant communication and renewal.
Line 11: Who even but now come back again, assured
Difficult Words and Meanings:
- Even but now: Just now or recently.
- Assured: Confirmed or reassured.
In-Depth Explanation:
The speaker states that his thoughts and desires have just returned from the beloved, bringing reassurance. This suggests that the beloved’s presence, even in thought, provides comfort and restores his sense of vitality.
Context:
This line highlights the speaker’s emotional dependence on the beloved and the comfort he derives from their connection. It reflects the theme of love as a source of reassurance and renewal.
Line 12: Of thy fair health, recounting it to me:
Difficult Words and Meanings:
- Thy fair health: Your good health or well-being.
- Recounting: Reporting or describing.
In-Depth Explanation:
The speaker explains that his thoughts and desires bring news of the beloved’s “fair health,” reassuring him of the beloved’s well-being. This reflects the speaker’s concern for the beloved and his need for reassurance.
Context:
This line underscores the speaker’s emotional connection to the beloved and his concern for their well-being. It reflects the theme of love as a source of comfort and reassurance.
Line 13: This told, I joy; but then no longer glad,
Difficult Words and Meanings:
- This told: Having heard this news.
- Joy: Feel joy or happiness.
- No longer glad: Quickly return to sadness.
In-Depth Explanation:
The speaker describes his emotional state as fluctuating: he feels joy upon hearing of the beloved’s well-being but quickly returns to sadness. This reflects the transient nature of his comfort and his ongoing sense of longing.
Context:
This line highlights the speaker’s emotional volatility and his dependence on the beloved for his sense of well-being. It reflects the theme of love as a source of both joy and sorrow.
Line 14: I send them back again, and straight grow sad.
Difficult Words and Meanings:
- Send them back: Send his thoughts and desires to the beloved again.
- Straight: Immediately.
In-Depth Explanation:
The speaker concludes by stating that he sends his thoughts and desires back to the beloved and immediately grows sad again. This reflects the cyclical nature of his emotions and his ongoing sense of longing.
Context:
This line encapsulates the central theme of the sonnet: the speaker’s emotional dependence on the beloved and the transient nature of his comfort. It reflects the idea that love is a dynamic force that requires constant renewal and communication.
Summary of the Sonnet:
Sonnet 45 continues the theme of the four classical elements introduced in Sonnet 44, using air and fire as metaphors for the speaker’s thoughts and desires. The speaker describes how his thoughts and desires constantly travel to the beloved, bridging the gap of physical separation. When these “quicker elements” are gone, he feels lifeless and oppressed with melancholy. His sense of vitality is restored only when his thoughts and desires return from the beloved, bringing reassurance of the beloved’s well-being. However, this comfort is fleeting, and he quickly sends his thoughts and desires back to the beloved, returning to a state of sadness. The sonnet reflects the speaker’s emotional dependence on the beloved, the transient nature of his comfort, and the cyclical dynamics of love as a source of both joy and sorrow.
In-Depth Analysis of Sonnet 45
Summary:
Sonnet 45 serves as a companion to Sonnet 44, completing Shakespeare’s reflection on the four classical elements (earth, water, air, and fire) as they relate to love, longing, and separation.
Whereas Sonnet 44 laments that the speaker’s body is trapped by the slow-moving elements of earth and water, Sonnet 45 shifts focus to the lighter, swifter elements—air and fire—which are metaphorically linked to his thoughts and desires. These elements are able to travel instantly to his beloved, but their absence from him leaves him melancholy and lifeless.
The first quatrain establishes the elemental division:
- Air represents thought, which is light and free.
- Fire represents desire, which is passionate and consuming.
Both of these are “with thee”, meaning they travel to his beloved, leaving him behind with only earth (his body) and water (his sorrowful tears).
The second quatrain describes the impact of their departure. When air and fire leave to carry his love, his life is incomplete, sinking “down to death” in sorrow. Without these vital elements, he is left with only heaviness and grief.
The third quatrain brings momentary relief. When his thoughts and desires return from his beloved, they bring news of her well-being. This revives him, momentarily curing his sadness.
However, the final couplet expresses the cyclical nature of longing. As soon as he receives comfort, he immediately sends his thoughts and desires back to his beloved, restarting the pattern of joy and sorrow.
Critical Analysis:
Sonnet 45 is a deeply philosophical and emotional reflection on love and absence. It follows Sonnet 44’s lament over physical distance, but rather than emphasizing frustration with the body, it highlights the way thoughts and desires create an endless loop of yearning.
At its core, the sonnet conveys:
- The instability of love in absence → The speaker experiences both joy and sorrow, but neither state lasts.
- The inability to be fully satisfied → Even when his thoughts return with good news, his longing is not relieved—he must send them out again, perpetuating his sadness.
- A contrast between physical restriction and mental freedom → While his body is static, his thoughts and desires are restless, mirroring the constant movement of love.
Shakespeare masterfully uses the four elements to represent the different aspects of the self:
- Earth (body) and Water (tears/sorrow) → Heavy, slow, and associated with grief.
- Air (thoughts) and Fire (desires) → Light, quick, and associated with love’s energy and movement.
By separating these elements, Shakespeare creates a metaphor for absence—when air and fire are with the beloved, the speaker loses his sense of wholeness, leaving him weighed down by his material existence.
Theme Analysis:
- Love and Absence as a Cycle of Suffering:
- Even when the speaker receives news of his beloved, it is not enough—he immediately longs for more, creating an endless loop of desire and despair.
- This highlights love’s paradox: even in hope, there is longing.
- The Division of the Self in Love:
- Shakespeare divides the speaker into elements, showing how love pulls a person apart, leaving them incomplete.
- The beloved possesses his thought and desire, meaning he lacks control over his own emotions.
- The Four Classical Elements as a Metaphor for Love:
- Earth and Water → Body and Sorrow (Slow, heavy, restrictive).
- Air and Fire → Thought and Passion (Light, fast, expressive).
- Shakespeare connects the elements to love, showing how absence creates an imbalance.
- The Ephemeral Nature of Joy:
- The momentary relief when his thoughts return is immediately undone.
- This suggests that happiness in love is fleeting, especially in separation.
Literary Devices and Techniques:
- Extended Metaphor of the Elements:
- The entire sonnet is built around the symbolism of the four elements, emphasizing their role in human emotions and physicality.
- Personification of Thought and Desire:
- “These present-absent with swift motion slide.”
- His thoughts and desires become messengers, moving independently between him and his beloved.
- This personification emphasizes the restlessness of love, which is never fully still.
- Contrast Between Light and Heavy Elements:
- “For when these quicker elements are gone / In tender embassy of love to thee, / My life, being made of four, with two alone / Sinks down to death, oppress’d with melancholy.”
- Air and fire are “quicker”, bringing motion and life, while earth and water are slow and burdensome.
- Alliteration for Emphasis:
- “Sinks down to death, oppress’d with melancholy.”
- The repetition of ‘d’ sounds creates a weighty, sorrowful effect, reinforcing the speaker’s despair.
- Paradox in the Final Couplet:
- “This told, I joy; but then no longer glad, / I send them back again, and straight grow sad.”
- The contrast between joy and sadness in the same breath highlights the instability of love—happiness in absence is always temporary.
Comparison to Other Sonnets on Love and Absence:
- Sonnet 44 (“If the dull substance of my flesh were thought”) → Focuses on the body’s limitations, while Sonnet 45 explores thought and desire as restless, independent forces.
- Sonnet 27 (“Weary with toil, I haste me to my bed”) → Also portrays the mind as active even in sleep, continuing love’s torment even in rest.
- Sonnet 50 (“How heavy do I journey on the way”) → Another exploration of the physical burden of separation, using movement and heaviness as metaphors for grief.
Conclusion:
Sonnet 45 is a brilliant continuation of Sonnet 44, shifting the focus from the body’s physical slowness to the mind’s restless movement. While thought and desire can travel instantly to the beloved, they leave the speaker incomplete, reinforcing the idea that love in absence is a state of constant imbalance.
Shakespeare uses the classical four-element framework to create a rich metaphor for longing—when his beloved holds his air (thought) and fire (passion), he is left weighed down by earth and water, sinking into melancholy. The final couplet beautifully captures love’s paradox: even when momentary joy is found, it is immediately replaced by the need for more, making absence a perpetual cycle of longing.
