Sonnets
Which of Shakespeare's sonnets do you think has dated the most? That is, which one do you think is least likely to be appreciated by a contemporary audience, and why?
posted by Natalie Grinnell @ 9:35 AM
12 comments
English Literature to 1800
This weblog is part of Natalie Grinnell's English 201: English Literature to 1800 course at Wofford College.
12 Comments:
The majority of Shakespeare's Sonnets have universal meaning. One sonnet which I think might not be appreciated by a contemporary audience is sonnet 127. The first line, "In the old age black was not counted fair" refers to beauty standards which have changed. Shakespeare recognizes the changing beauty standards in his own time; however the point of the sonnet was lost on me. A modern lover would not have to apologize for his/her loves dark features. Beauty is not as narrow a definition as Shakespeare refers to. Even if the standard is not as narrow as Shakespeare seems to define it; the sonnet does not connect with the modern reader on the same level as others.
I agree with Brent that sonnet 127 is not as relevant to today’s world but I also feel that sonnet 135 is just as outdated. The true interpretation of the poem is lost to us. The pun with the world “Will” has lost its originally meaning and scholars can only guess what it really means. Because of this it is very hard to interpret the rest of the poem and its meaning. I also found the wills confusing because some are capitalized and others were not. The last couplet could be referring to unkindness, the poet or a lover.
I agree with the first thing Brent said. I think that a lot of the emotions and images portrayed in these sonnets are timeless, and will not grow stale. However, some of these sonnets, which rely more heavily on standards of the time, have dated. Sonnet 107 caught my eye first. It seems to me that a contemporary reader reading Sonnet 107, who did not have the footnotes presented in our anthology, would miss out on a number of the historical references. Without having at least some historical stepping point, the sonnet quickly becomes confusing, as it references a number of people and things that were contemporary at that time but are not any more.
I think Sonnet 146 is the most outdated because I think it is a very dark reflection upon Judgment Day. I think people now tend to feel much less comfortable with this portrayl of judgment. Nowadays people want to talk about how they are getting saved and how the Judgment Day will be glorious. Most people will not admit that they are just going to become worm food. I just think this sonnet would make people uncomfortable today. The rest of them seem still to date to me.
The sonnet that seems most like one that wouldn't be appreciated today is sonnet 94. The first lines state, "They that have power to hurt and will do none, that do not do the thing they most do show." Today people that have any kind of power use it to their advantage and the advantage of others. This sonnet is saying that people that have power do not use it to do what that power was intended for. Today the thing that people want most is either being rich or having power. This world is a very materialistic world and people use their power to get what they want. In sonnet 94, the people "are themselves stone." That means that they stand still and do nothing to help or change things.
I believe that sonnet 130 is Shakespeare’s most outdated poem because today’s society is wrapped up in physical appearance. The poem reads, “My mistress’ eyes are nothing like the sun; / Coral is far more red than her lips’ red / If snow be white, why then her breasts are dun; / If hairs be wires, black wires grow on her head” (ll. 1-4). The speaker describes the physical appearance of his beloved to be quite ugly, but loves her regardless. Today’s society would not place much emphasis on a person lacking physical beauty. Magazine ads and commercials on television promote beautiful people with beautiful bodies. Shakespeare is able to see past the physical and look to his beloved’s inward beauty.
I feel that it is hard to say what people as a whole would appreciate and not appreciate because everyone is different. I think that someone who appreciates poetry will appreaciate most, if not all of the sonnets. However, I feel that many people may not appreciate Sonnet 128 the way that Shakespeare attended for the reader to appreciate it. The speaker is talking about a spinet or virginal. I'm not sure what these are, but they are older instruments. At the same time the music of Shakespeare's day is very different than the music we listen to today. This poem seems to focus around Shakespeare's music. Nevertheless, the reader can see that Shakespeare does appreciate these instruments even sayign that it makes "Dead wood (the instrument) more blessed than living lips" (L12).
I think that Sonnet 135 is the most "dated," mainly because of the puns on the word "Will." The puns are probably relevant to the time period, possibly an allusion to something political or relating to society that was going on at the time. Because of this, it doesn't have the same appeal to us now that it might have had to Shakespeare's audience then.
I had originally thought sonnet 127 was the most outdated poem, but several other people covered that one, so I'll go with sonnet 3. This poem is outdated because it's message to a young man is basically that he needs to settle down and have children and a legacy. In our current society, I think the tide is going the other way. Young people are encouraged to be educated and get good jobs before settling down. Getting married and having children is something most people do now because they believe it will be personally fulfilling.
I agree with Brent. I believe sonnet 127 is the most outdated and would be the one that is least appreciated by modern society. I feel that Shakespeare presents a standard of what beauty was considered to be during his time. However, today, the idea of beauty is much broader. There can be all types of beauty. I think modern readers would not approve of a lover having to apologize for his looks. Today that would be considered lowering oneself and would be a sign of low self-esteem.
I believe that Sonnet 130 is an outdated portrayal of love. In it, Shakespeare compares his lover to other beautiful things from nature such as the sun, coral, snow, and roses, though in each comparison, he shows the natural things to be more beautiful. However, I believe that this may have been intended to be humorous. I agree with Margaret Ann that if this was not his intention, it reflects the difference between our society's obsession with ideal beauty to their society, which is not as focused on it.
Sonnet 130 seems to be the most outdated. It has the pun on "will" as said above and the comparisons of his mistress to nature, basically calling his mistress ugly. I do think with the comparisons he could've been using it for humor, which is still funny to me. However, if he is not, then it is quite contrary to our society.
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