Sonnet 91: Some Glory In Their Birth, Some In Their Skill
Some glory in their birth, some in their skill,
Some in their wealth, some in their body’s force,
Some in their garments though new-fangled ill;
Some in their hawks and hounds, some in their horse;
And every humour hath his adjunct pleasure,
Wherein it finds a joy above the rest:
But these particulars are not my measure,
All these I better in one general best.
Thy love is better than high birth to me,
Richer than wealth, prouder than garments’ cost,
Of more delight than hawks and horses be;
And having thee, of all men’s pride I boast:
Wretched in this alone, that thou mayst take
All this away, and me most wretched make.
Line 1:
“Some glory in their birth, some in their skill,”
Difficult words meaning:
- Glory: Take pride or boast.
- Birth: Noble lineage or high social status.
Explanation:
The speaker begins by noting that some people take pride in their noble birth, while others boast of their skills or talents.
Context:
This line sets the tone for the sonnet, introducing the theme of what people value and take pride in, contrasting it with the speaker’s own values.
Line 2:
“Some in their wealth, some in their body’s force,”
Difficult words meaning:
- Wealth: Material riches.
- Body’s force: Physical strength or prowess.
Explanation:
The speaker continues by listing other sources of pride: wealth and physical strength.
Context:
This line further emphasizes the variety of things people value, setting up a contrast with the speaker’s own source of pride.
Line 3:
“Some in their garments though new-fangled ill;”
Difficult words meaning:
- Garments: Clothing or attire.
- New-fangled ill: Fashionable but tasteless or excessive.
Explanation:
The speaker notes that some people take pride in their clothing, even if it is overly fashionable or tasteless.
Context:
This line highlights the superficiality of some people’s values, contrasting them with the speaker’s deeper source of pride.
Line 4:
“Some in their hawks and hounds, some in their horse;”
Difficult words meaning:
- Hawks and hounds: Symbols of hunting and leisure.
- Horse: A prized possession or status symbol.
Explanation:
The speaker adds that some people take pride in their possessions, such as hawks, hounds, and horses, which are associated with leisure and status.
Context:
This line continues to list the various things people value, further setting up the contrast with the speaker’s own values.
Line 5:
“And every humour hath his adjunct pleasure,”
Difficult words meaning:
- Humour: Temperament or inclination.
- Adjunct pleasure: Associated or accompanying pleasure.
Explanation:
The speaker suggests that every temperament or inclination has its own associated pleasure, which brings joy to the individual.
Context:
This line reflects the idea that people find joy in different things, depending on their personal inclinations.
Line 6:
“Wherein it finds a joy above the rest:”
Difficult words meaning:
- Wherein: In which.
Explanation:
The speaker notes that each person finds a particular joy that surpasses all others, based on their individual preferences.
Context:
This line emphasizes the subjective nature of joy and pride, setting up the speaker’s own unique source of happiness.
Line 7:
“But these particulars are not my measure,”
Difficult words meaning:
- Particulars: Specific things or details.
- Measure: Standard or criterion.
Explanation:
The speaker declares that these specific sources of pride are not what he values or measures his own happiness by.
Context:
This line marks a shift in the sonnet, as the speaker begins to contrast the values of others with his own.
Line 8:
“All these I better in one general best.”
Difficult words meaning:
- Better: Surpass or exceed.
- General best: One supreme source of happiness.
Explanation:
The speaker claims that he surpasses all these specific sources of pride with one supreme source of happiness: the beloved’s love.
Context:
This line introduces the central theme of the sonnet: the speaker’s belief that the beloved’s love is the greatest source of joy and pride.
Line 9:
“Thy love is better than high birth to me,”
Difficult words meaning:
- High birth: Noble lineage or social status.
Explanation:
The speaker declares that the beloved’s love is more valuable to him than noble birth or high social status.
Context:
This line emphasizes the speaker’s prioritization of love over material or social advantages.
Line 10:
“Richer than wealth, prouder than garments’ cost,”
Difficult words meaning:
- Prouder: More valuable or esteemed.
- Garments’ cost: The expense of fine clothing.
Explanation:
The speaker suggests that the beloved’s love is more valuable than wealth and more esteemed than expensive clothing.
Context:
This line continues to highlight the speaker’s belief that love surpasses material possessions in value.
Line 11:
“Of more delight than hawks and horses be;”
Difficult words meaning:
- Delight: Joy or pleasure.
Explanation:
The speaker claims that the beloved’s love brings him more joy than the pleasures associated with hawks and horses.
Context:
This line reinforces the idea that the beloved’s love is the greatest source of happiness for the speaker.
Line 12:
“And having thee, of all men’s pride I boast:”
Difficult words meaning:
- Boast: Take pride or glory.
Explanation:
The speaker declares that having the beloved’s love makes him the proudest of all men, as it is the greatest source of his joy.
Context:
This line underscores the speaker’s belief that the beloved’s love is the ultimate source of pride and happiness.
Line 13:
“Wretched in this alone, that thou mayst take”
Difficult words meaning:
- Wretched: Miserable or unhappy.
Explanation:
The speaker admits that his only source of misery is the possibility that the beloved might take their love away from him.
Context:
This line introduces a note of vulnerability, as the speaker acknowledges the fragility of his happiness.
Line 14:
“All this away, and me most wretched make.”
Difficult words meaning:
- Wretched: Miserable or unhappy.
Explanation:
The speaker concludes by stating that if the beloved were to take their love away, it would make him the most miserable of all.
Context:
This final line ties together the sonnet’s central theme: the speaker’s belief that the beloved’s love is the greatest source of his joy and pride, but also the potential source of his deepest sorrow.
Overall Summary:
In Sonnet 91, Shakespeare explores the themes of love, pride, and vulnerability. The speaker contrasts the various things people take pride in—such as noble birth, wealth, physical strength, and material possessions—with his own source of pride and joy: the beloved’s love. He declares that the beloved’s love surpasses all other sources of happiness, making him the proudest of all men. However, the speaker also acknowledges that his happiness is fragile, as the loss of the beloved’s love would make him utterly wretched. The sonnet is a poignant meditation on the supreme value of love and the vulnerability that comes with it.
In-Depth Analysis of Sonnet 91
Summary
In Sonnet 91, Shakespeare explores the theme of love as the highest form of wealth and pride, surpassing all other worldly accomplishments. The poem begins by listing various sources of pride and joy that people find in life—some take pride in their noble birth, others in their skill, wealth, physical strength, clothing, or hobbies such as falconry and horsemanship. The speaker, however, dismisses all of these as insignificant compared to the love he has for the Fair Youth.
In the first quatrain, Shakespeare catalogs the different ways people define their personal value:
- Some value birth (noble lineage).
- Some take pride in skill (abilities and accomplishments).
- Others place importance on wealth.
- Some admire physical strength or appearance.
- Others find joy in fashion, hunting, and horses.
The second quatrain presents the contrast: while others find joy in these pursuits, the speaker claims that his source of pride is greater than all of them combined. The phrase “All these I better in one general best” conveys that his love for the youth surpasses all worldly pleasures.
In the third quatrain, the speaker directly compares love to the things others take pride in:
- Love is better than noble birth.
- Love is richer than wealth.
- Love is prouder than luxurious clothing.
- Love is more pleasurable than hunting and horses.
The final couplet introduces a dramatic shift in tone. While love is the greatest source of joy and pride, it also has a unique vulnerability: the youth has the power to take it all away. “Wretched in this alone, that thou mayst take / All this away, and me most wretched make.” The speaker acknowledges that his entire happiness and self-worth rest in the youth’s hands, making him utterly dependent on the beloved’s affection.
Critical Analysis
1. The Transience of Worldly Pride vs. the Depth of Love
The sonnet contrasts different sources of pride. Most people value material and social status—wealth, noble birth, possessions, and physical prowess. These forms of pride are external and often fleeting. The speaker, however, finds his pride in love, something intangible but deeply personal.
However, this also introduces a paradox: while love is greater than all worldly achievements, it is also the most fragile. Wealth and status can be lost, but they do not necessarily depend on another person’s will. Love, on the other hand, is entirely dependent on the beloved’s continued affection. This is the ultimate vulnerability expressed in the final couplet.
2. Love as the Ultimate Possession and Source of Identity
The speaker’s identity and self-worth are tied entirely to the love he receives. His “boast” is not in his own achievements, but in simply having the youth’s affection. This reinforces a recurring idea in Shakespeare’s sonnets: love is not just an emotional connection, but a defining aspect of one’s existence.
This also speaks to the idea of love as a possession. The speaker feels rich because he possesses the youth’s love. However, the twist is that this possession is not secure—the beloved can take it away at any time. This creates a tension between pride and fear.
3. The Irony of Complete Devotion
In celebrating his love as the greatest treasure, the speaker also reveals his greatest weakness. His devotion gives him supreme joy, yet it also exposes him to extreme misery. This irony heightens the emotional depth of the poem—love is both the ultimate prize and the ultimate risk.
4. The Universality of Desire and Pride
The first quatrain presents a broad perspective on human desire. Everyone takes pride in something—status, skills, physical beauty, or possessions. By listing these various pursuits, Shakespeare captures the diversity of human ambition. Yet, in rejecting all of them in favor of love, the speaker suggests that love is the one thing that transcends all other worldly achievements.
Theme Analysis
1. Love as the Highest Form of Value
The speaker asserts that love is greater than any material possession or social status. This theme reinforces the idea that love is the most meaningful pursuit in life, outweighing all worldly riches and honors.
2. The Fragility of Love
While love is the greatest treasure, it is also precarious. The final couplet introduces the idea that love, unlike birth or wealth, can be taken away at any moment, leaving the speaker “most wretched.” This highlights the theme of love’s power not only to bring joy but also to cause immense suffering.
3. Love as a Measure of Self-Worth
The sonnet suggests that love defines a person’s identity and sense of self-worth. The speaker does not take pride in his own achievements but in the simple fact of being loved. This theme explores the idea that love is not just an emotion but a source of personal validation.
4. The Universality of Human Desire
By listing various things that people take pride in, the sonnet reflects on the universal nature of human ambition. Everyone seeks meaning and validation in different ways, but the speaker suggests that love is the highest and most fulfilling form of pride.
Literary Devices
1. Enumeration (Listing Multiple Sources of Pride)
- “Some glory in their birth, some in their skill, / Some in their wealth, some in their body’s force.”
- Shakespeare lists different sources of pride, showing the variety of human ambitions before rejecting them in favor of love.
2. Contrast (Between Worldly Pride and Love)
- “All these I better in one general best.”
- The speaker contrasts love with all other sources of pride, emphasizing its superiority.
3. Hyperbole (Exaggeration for Emphasis)
- “Thy love is better than high birth to me, / Richer than wealth, prouder than garments’ cost.”
- The speaker exaggerates the value of love, suggesting it surpasses all worldly achievements.
4. Antithesis (Juxtaposition of Opposites)
- “And having thee, of all men’s pride I boast: / Wretched in this alone, that thou mayst take / All this away, and me most wretched make.”
- The first line expresses supreme pride, while the last lines express the ultimate despair, creating a striking contrast.
5. Parallelism (Repetition of Similar Sentence Structures)
- “Some in their hawks and hounds, some in their horse.”
- The repetition of “some in” establishes a rhythmic structure, reinforcing the variety of human desires.
Conclusion
Sonnet 91 is a meditation on the nature of pride and the supremacy of love over all worldly achievements. The poem presents love as the ultimate source of joy, surpassing wealth, status, skill, and physical strength. However, this supreme joy comes with an inherent vulnerability: love is the only treasure that can be taken away by another’s will.
The final couplet delivers a powerful emotional shift—from triumphant pride to deep insecurity. This paradox encapsulates the essence of love in Shakespeare’s sonnets: it is the highest form of fulfillment, yet it is also the most fragile.
