Poetry · Chapter
Sonnet XXXIX explained
The poet reflects on the paradox of praising his beloved, who is the better part of himself, and considers separation as a means to give due praise.
What happens
The poet reflects on the paradox of praising his beloved, who is the better part of himself, and considers separation as a means to give due praise. He acknowledges the torment of absence but finds solace in thoughts of love that deceive time.
Themes in this chapter
Love and Desire
The poet's love for the friend is so deep that he considers the friend the better part of himself.
Time and Mortality
The poet uses thoughts of love to deceive time and mitigate the torment of absence.
Characters to notice
- William Shakespeare
The poet speaker who contemplates the nature of praise and separation.
- Youth
The beloved friend who is praised as the better part of the poet.
Key passages
“O, how thy worth with manners may I sing, When thou art all the better part of me?”
How can I properly praise your worth when you are the better part of myself?
The poet questions how to praise the beloved without self-praise.
“Even for this let us divided live, And our dear love lose name of single one, That by this separation I may give That due to thee which thou deservest alone.”
Let us live apart and no longer be called one, so that through separation I can give you the praise you alone deserve.
The poet proposes separation as a way to offer genuine praise.
“O absence, what a torment wouldst thou prove, Were it not thy sour leisure gave sweet leave To entertain the time with thoughts of love, Which time and thoughts so sweetly doth deceive.”
Absence would be a torment if it did not allow me to pass the time with sweet thoughts of love, which deceive both time and my thoughts.
The poet finds comfort in love thoughts during separation.