# Sonnet LVII explained — Poetry

> Chapter companion for Poetry by William Shakespeare.

## What happens

The speaker describes his complete subservience to his beloved, waiting endlessly like a slave or servant for any sign of the beloved's desire, and refusing to question or judge the beloved's actions or whereabouts.

## Themes in this chapter

### Love and Desire

The speaker's total devotion and submission to the beloved's desires, waiting endlessly without complaint.

### Truth and Deception

The speaker refuses to question the beloved's actions, accepting whatever they do without judgment.

## Character check-ins

### William Shakespeare

The speaker of the sonnet, expressing his devotion and servitude.

### Love

Personified as a true fool that thinks no ill of the beloved.

## Key lines

> Being your slave, what should I do but tend Upon the hours and times of your desire?

As your devoted servant, my only duty is to wait for your every wish and command.

_The speaker frames his love as a form of servitude, emphasizing his complete submission._

> Nor dare I question with my jealous thought Where you may be, or your affairs suppose

I do not allow myself to wonder where you are or what you might be doing, even out of jealousy.

_The speaker suppresses any jealous or suspicious thoughts about the beloved's activities._

> So true a fool is love that in your will, Though you do anything, he thinks no ill.

Love is such a faithful fool that no matter what you do, it refuses to see any wrongdoing.

_The speaker concludes that love's blindness to fault is both its folly and its truth._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_28_se/chapters/lvii
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_28_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_28_se/chapters