Sonnet 89: Say That Thou Didst Forsake Me For Some Fault
Say that thou didst forsake me for some fault,
And I will comment upon that offence:
Speak of my lameness, and I straight will halt,
Against thy reasons making no defence.
Thou canst not, love, disgrace me half so ill,
To set a form upon desired change,
As I’ll myself disgrace; knowing thy will,
I will acquaintance strangle, and look strange;
Be absent from thy walks; and in my tongue
Thy sweet beloved name no more shall dwell,
Lest I, too much profane, should do it wrong,
And haply of our old acquaintance tell.
For thee, against my self I’ll vow debate,
For I must ne’er love him whom thou dost hate.
Line 1:
“Say that thou didst forsake me for some fault,”
Difficult words meaning:
- Forsake: Abandon or reject.
- Fault: Flaw or mistake.
Explanation:
The speaker begins by addressing the beloved, suggesting that if they abandon him for some fault or mistake, he will accept and even elaborate on that fault.
Context:
This line sets the tone for the sonnet, introducing the theme of self-sacrifice and the speaker’s willingness to accept blame for the sake of the beloved.
Line 2:
“And I will comment upon that offence:”
Difficult words meaning:
- Comment upon: Explain or elaborate on.
- Offence: Fault or wrongdoing.
Explanation:
The speaker declares that he will not only accept the fault but also elaborate on it, further emphasizing his willingness to take the blame.
Context:
This line highlights the speaker’s selflessness and his readiness to defend the beloved’s actions, even if it means criticizing himself.
Line 3:
“Speak of my lameness, and I straight will halt,”
Difficult words meaning:
- Lameness: Physical or metaphorical weakness.
- Halt: Stop or falter.
Explanation:
The speaker suggests that if the beloved accuses him of lameness (weakness or imperfection), he will immediately accept and embody that accusation.
Context:
This line underscores the speaker’s willingness to conform to the beloved’s criticisms and accept his own flaws.
Line 4:
“Against thy reasons making no defence.”
Difficult words meaning:
- Reasons: Arguments or criticisms.
- Defence: Defense or justification.
Explanation:
The speaker declares that he will not defend himself against the beloved’s criticisms, further emphasizing his self-sacrificial attitude.
Context:
This line reflects the speaker’s unwavering loyalty and his willingness to accept the beloved’s judgment without protest.
Line 5:
“Thou canst not, love, disgrace me half so ill,”
Difficult words meaning:
- Disgrace: Shame or dishonor.
- Ill: Badly or harshly.
Explanation:
The speaker claims that the beloved cannot disgrace or shame him as much as he will disgrace himself, suggesting that he will go to greater lengths to criticize himself.
Context:
This line highlights the speaker’s determination to take on more blame and shame than the beloved could ever impose on him.
Line 6:
“To set a form upon desired change,”
Difficult words meaning:
- Set a form: Give shape or justification.
- Desired change: The beloved’s wish to end the relationship.
Explanation:
The speaker suggests that he will help the beloved justify their desire to end the relationship by taking on the blame himself.
Context:
This line reflects the speaker’s selflessness and his willingness to facilitate the beloved’s wishes, even at his own expense.
Line 7:
“As I’ll myself disgrace; knowing thy will,”
Difficult words meaning:
- Disgrace: Shame or dishonor.
- Will: Desire or intention.
Explanation:
The speaker declares that he will disgrace himself, fully aware of the beloved’s desire to end the relationship.
Context:
This line emphasizes the speaker’s acceptance of the beloved’s wishes and his readiness to take on the shame himself.
Line 8:
“I will acquaintance strangle, and look strange;”
Difficult words meaning:
- Acquaintance strangle: Sever ties or end familiarity.
- Look strange: Appear distant or unfamiliar.
Explanation:
The speaker suggests that he will cut off all ties with the beloved and act as if they are strangers, in order to fulfill the beloved’s wishes.
Context:
This line reflects the speaker’s willingness to completely distance himself from the beloved, even though it will cause him pain.
Line 9:
“Be absent from thy walks; and in my tongue”
Difficult words meaning:
- Walks: Paths or places frequented by the beloved.
Explanation:
The speaker declares that he will avoid the places the beloved frequents and will no longer speak their name.
Context:
This line underscores the speaker’s determination to remove himself from the beloved’s life, in accordance with their wishes.
Line 10:
“Thy sweet beloved name no more shall dwell,”
Difficult words meaning:
- Dwell: Reside or remain.
Explanation:
The speaker suggests that he will no longer speak the beloved’s name, further emphasizing his commitment to distancing himself.
Context:
This line highlights the speaker’s willingness to erase the beloved from his speech and, by extension, his life.
Line 11:
“Lest I, too much profane, should do it wrong,”
Difficult words meaning:
- Profane: Desecrate or misuse.
Explanation:
The speaker fears that by continuing to speak the beloved’s name, he might misuse or dishonor it, so he chooses to remain silent.
Context:
This line reflects the speaker’s deep respect for the beloved and his desire to avoid any action that might dishonor them.
Line 12:
“And haply of our old acquaintance tell.”
Difficult words meaning:
- Haply: Perhaps or by chance.
- Old acquaintance: Past relationship.
Explanation:
The speaker worries that by speaking of the beloved, he might inadvertently reveal details of their past relationship, which he wishes to avoid.
Context:
This line underscores the speaker’s commitment to preserving the beloved’s privacy and dignity, even as he distances himself.
Line 13:
“For thee, against my self I’ll vow debate,”
Difficult words meaning:
- Vow debate: Pledge to argue or fight.
Explanation:
The speaker declares that he will argue against himself on behalf of the beloved, further emphasizing his self-sacrificial devotion.
Context:
This line highlights the speaker’s willingness to take on the role of his own adversary in order to defend the beloved’s honor.
Line 14:
“For I must ne’er love him whom thou dost hate.”
Difficult words meaning:
- Ne’er: Never.
Explanation:
The speaker concludes by stating that he must never love himself if the beloved hates him, as his loyalty to the beloved outweighs his self-love.
Context:
This final line ties together the sonnet’s central theme: the speaker’s selfless devotion and his willingness to reject himself if it means aligning with the beloved’s feelings.
Overall Summary:
In Sonnet 89, Shakespeare explores the themes of self-sacrifice, loyalty, and the complexities of love. The speaker declares his willingness to accept blame and disgrace himself if the beloved chooses to end their relationship. He promises to distance himself completely, avoiding the beloved’s presence and even refraining from speaking their name, in order to fulfill the beloved’s wishes. The sonnet reflects the speaker’s deep devotion and his readiness to reject himself if it means aligning with the beloved’s feelings. It is a poignant meditation on the nature of selfless love and the willingness to endure personal pain for the sake of another.
In-Depth Analysis of Sonnet 89
Summary
In Sonnet 89, the speaker takes his self-deprecating devotion to an extreme level, promising that if the Fair Youth rejects him, he will not only accept the blame but also actively reinforce the youth’s criticisms. The sonnet presents an intense emotional dependency, where the speaker’s identity is entirely shaped by the youth’s perception of him.
The first quatrain establishes the speaker’s willingness to assume guilt. If the youth forsakes him due to some fault, the speaker will embrace and elaborate on that fault rather than defend himself (“Say that thou didst forsake me for some fault, / And I will comment upon that offence.”). He even states that if the youth calls him lame, he will start limping immediately (“Speak of my lameness, and I straight will halt.”). This exaggerated submission suggests that the speaker values the youth’s judgment over his own sense of self.
The second quatrain intensifies this idea. The speaker asserts that the youth could never disgrace him as badly as he himself would if it aligned with the youth’s wishes (“Thou canst not, love, disgrace me half so ill / As I’ll myself disgrace; knowing thy will.”). He promises to sever all ties (“I will acquaintance strangle, and look strange”) and erase himself from the youth’s life, demonstrating how love has completely overtaken his identity.
In the third quatrain, the speaker extends his self-erasure by vowing to avoid even mentioning the youth’s name (“Thy sweet beloved name no more shall dwell”) for fear of dishonoring it. He is willing to remove every trace of their connection, illustrating an extreme form of self-denial.
The closing couplet drives home the depth of his submission. He vows to fight against himself (“For thee, against myself I’ll vow debate”) and declares that he must never love someone whom the youth hates, even if that person is himself. This final statement encapsulates the totality of his devotion—he aligns his entire sense of worth with the youth’s perspective, even to the point of self-loathing.
Critical Analysis
1. The Psychological Depth of Self-Erasure
This sonnet portrays the speaker as emotionally dependent to the extent that he is willing to erase himself entirely from the youth’s life. His identity is not separate from the youth’s perception—he does not seek to prove his worth, argue against rejection, or maintain any dignity. Instead, he internalizes every criticism, takes responsibility for the relationship’s breakdown, and actively supports his own disgrace. This highlights the psychological turmoil that unrequited or one-sided love can inflict, showing how it can lead to complete self-negation.
2. Love as an Act of Submission
Unlike earlier sonnets where the speaker wavers between love and resentment, Sonnet 89 is an unequivocal declaration of submission. The speaker does not simply accept rejection; he embraces it, amplifies it, and aligns himself with the youth’s negative judgment. The concept of agency is entirely absent—his will and emotions are secondary to those of the youth. Shakespeare explores the painful paradox of love: how it can sometimes cause a lover to willingly destroy himself rather than stand against the beloved’s wishes.
3. The Role of Honor and Shame
The sonnet also touches upon notions of honor and disgrace. The speaker suggests that he would rather disgrace himself than allow the youth to be burdened with that task. This indicates that, in his view, his own worth is only measured in relation to the youth’s reputation. His love is so absolute that he believes any association with him would be a stain on the youth’s name, further reinforcing his self-diminishing mindset.
4. The Theme of Rejection and Self-Punishment
Rather than resisting rejection, the speaker punishes himself, suggesting that love has distorted his ability to see himself as an individual apart from the youth. He treats rejection not as something to mourn but as something to affirm through his own destruction. Shakespeare presents love not as an uplifting force but as a deeply consuming one, capable of turning self-love into self-hatred.
Theme Analysis
1. Unconditional Love Taken to Extremes
The speaker’s devotion reaches its most extreme form in this sonnet. His love is not based on mutual affection but on complete submission, demonstrating how love can override self-preservation.
2. Rejection and Self-Inflicted Pain
Instead of reacting to rejection with bitterness or sorrow, the speaker willingly participates in his own downfall. The idea that he will disgrace himself more than the youth could suggests an almost masochistic pleasure in suffering for love.
3. The Loss of Self-Identity in Love
The sonnet highlights how obsessive love can lead to a loss of individuality. The speaker does not see himself as a separate person but as a reflection of the youth’s desires and perceptions. His only role is to conform to the youth’s expectations, even if it means self-destruction.
4. The Power Imbalance in Love
There is a stark power imbalance in this sonnet. The Fair Youth holds all the power, while the speaker willingly subjugates himself. This echoes a recurring theme in the sonnets—love as a force that can enslave, rendering the lover powerless.
Literary Devices
1. Hyperbole
- “Speak of my lameness, and I straight will halt.”
- The speaker exaggerates his willingness to adopt the youth’s criticisms. This hyperbolic statement underscores the extent of his devotion.
2. Irony
- “For thee, against myself I’ll vow debate.”
- The irony lies in the speaker’s willingness to argue against himself in order to align with the youth. Love, which is supposed to be affirming, has instead turned into an act of self-destruction.
3. Metaphor
- “I will acquaintance strangle, and look strange.”
- The idea of “strangling” acquaintance suggests the forceful ending of friendships, emphasizing the extremity of the speaker’s actions.
4. Repetition for Emphasis
- “For I must ne’er love him whom thou dost hate.”
- The repetition of the idea of aligning himself with the youth’s judgment reinforces the totality of his submission.
5. Enjambment
- “And in my tongue / Thy sweet beloved name no more shall dwell.”
- The enjambment allows the thought to flow over two lines, mimicking the speaker’s emotional unraveling.
Conclusion
Sonnet 89 presents one of the most extreme portrayals of self-sacrificing love in Shakespeare’s sonnets. The speaker’s complete willingness to embrace disgrace, erase his own identity, and conform to the youth’s rejection highlights the consuming nature of his love. Unlike previous sonnets where the speaker attempts to rationalize or protest mistreatment, here he fully accepts his role as the discarded lover and actively contributes to his own downfall.
Shakespeare captures the devastating effects of unreciprocated love, showing how it can erode self-worth and create a power dynamic where the lover is entirely at the mercy of the beloved. The sonnet serves as a poignant meditation on love’s ability to transform devotion into self-destruction.
