Poetry · Chapter
Sonnet V explained
The poet grapples with the paradox of breaking his own vows for the sake of love, asserting that his devotion to the beloved's beauty is constant and that knowledge of the beloved surpasses all other learning.
What happens
The poet grapples with the paradox of breaking his own vows for the sake of love, asserting that his devotion to the beloved's beauty is constant and that knowledge of the beloved surpasses all other learning. He praises the beloved's divine qualities, comparing them to Jove's attributes, and humbly acknowledges the inadequacy of his earthly verse to sing heavenly praise.
Themes in this chapter
Truth and Deception
The poet acknowledges being forsworn to himself yet promises constancy to the beloved, exploring the tension between broken vows and true devotion.
Beauty and Transience
The beloved's beauty is described as celestial and eternal, yet the poet's earthly tongue highlights the transient nature of human praise.
Characters to notice
- Jove
The beloved's eye is compared to Jove's lightning and voice to his thunder, emphasizing divine power and beauty.
Key passages
“If love make me forsworn, how shall I swear to love?”
If love causes me to break my oath, how can I then vow to love faithfully?
The poet questions the paradox of swearing fidelity when love itself has made him a vow-breaker.
“Thine eye Jove's lightning seems, thy voice his dreadful thunder, Which, not to anger bent, is music and sweet fire.”
Your eye resembles Jove's lightning, and your voice his terrifying thunder, yet when not angry, it becomes harmonious music and gentle fire.
The beloved's divine attributes are compared to Jove's, but softened to express beauty rather than wrath.
“Celestial as thou art, O do not love that wrong, To sing heaven's praise with such an earthly tongue.”
Since you are heavenly, do not allow the wrong of having your celestial praise sung by such a mortal and imperfect voice.
The poet humbly acknowledges his inadequacy to properly praise the beloved's divine nature.