Sonnet 133

[Harry]

Beshrew that heart that makes my heart to groan
For that deep wound it gives my friend and me!
Is't not enough to torture me alone,
But slave to slavery my sweet'st friend must be?
Me from myself thy cruel eye hath taken,
And my next self thou harder hast engross'd:
Of him, myself, and thee, I am forsaken;
A torment thrice threefold thus to be cross'd.
Prison my heart in thy steel bosom's ward,
But then my friend's heart let my poor heart bail;
Whoe'er keeps me, let my heart be his guard;
Thou canst not then use rigor in my gaol:
And yet thou wilt; for I, being pent in thee,
Perforce am thine, and all that is in me.

I'm heading out of town unexpectedly for a couple of days and thought I'd post another.

This is the first direct mention of the Youth in the Dark Lady sonnets. Of course, it is an assumption that the Youth of the first 126 sonnets is "my friend" here, but that seems a likely assumption. A few of the Youth sonnets refer to an affair between the Youth and the Poet's mistress. It appears this sonnet refers to the same affair.

To me, this sonnet picks up where 131 left off. The disquiet there is given form here. The Dark Lady has seduced the Youth. The Poet always presents it that way. Blame lies with the Dark Lady and never with the Youth.

[shaxper]

I wonder though. The sonnet is so devoid of jealousy and anger, and I'm forced to wonder why. Is the poet so far above such human emotions, is he simply so overpowered by sadness that no other emotion matters, or have we identified the players correctly?

In this circumstance, the poet's sweet'st friend is mysterious; never identified and never acting entirely as a seperate entity. I would wonder if Shakespeare's friend might either, in fact, be The Dark Lady who, in enslaving the poet enslaves herself somehow, or a metaphor for an aspect of the poet himself. Either might explain why this "friend" is his sweet'st friend. Perhaps, in keeping with Shakespeare's baudiness which is not always intended to be comical, his sweet'st friend is also his "will" or "fool", though this notion is not clearly supported, aside from it being "harder" engrossed. It might fit in with the Dark Lady bringing out a sexual sinfulness in him that he wishes to distance from himself. Perhaps there is a baudy meaning in "But then my friend's heart let my poor heart bail"? We might then wonder in what way she is torturing him and what all this groaning is about.

Another possibility is that the torturer in this circumstance is not the Dark Lady, but rather a condition or circumstance; perhaps an act of Fate. In this case, the sweet'st friend COULD be The Dark Lady, equally tortured by the circumstance in the poet's mind.

[Harry]

The Poet never shows jealousy or anger toward the Youth. This is one of the characteristics of the Poet's relationship with the Youth. The Poet is the ideal lover whose love never changes. It is among the sonnets written about the Youth that we find such sonnets as # 18 (Shall I compare thee to a summer's day...) and #116 (Let me not to the marriage of true minds admit impediments...). The ideal of love and forebearance is never better expressed than when the Poet speaks of his "lovely boy."

This sonnet really ought to be read with #134. They make a linked pair. Also, it is not always clear, in a single sonnet, whom the characters might be (for example, many of the Youth sonnets don't identify the sex of the beloved). There are other sonnets in both the Dark Lady and the Youth groups that speak of the affair between the Dark Lady and the Youth. When viewed in that context, it seems clear to me that the friend is the Youth.

That said, other meanings might also be true. There are layered meanings and the friend might be the Youth on one level, and one of the alternates you suggest on another.

[shaxper]

Harry said:

This sonnet really ought to be read with #134. They make a linked pair. Also, it is not always clear, in a single sonnet, whom the characters might be (for example, many of the Youth sonnets don't identify the sex of the beloved). There are other sonnets in both the Dark Lady and the Youth groups that speak of the affair between the Dark Lady and the Youth. When viewed in that context, it seems clear to me that the friend is the Youth.

Yes. Never having read most of the other sonnets, my opinions are based only upon what we've read so far. I'll have to get through 134, but time is scarce for me at the moment. I'll try for tomorrow and then rethink my thoughts on 133 as well. Thanks!

[Harry]

Yes, I know that you aren't familiar with the all the sonnets. I hate to suggest that "the answer is elsewhere." But, in this case it is true. I think you'll see as we go along. Or maybe you'll end up deciding I'm all wet. Wouldn't be the first time I was wrong about something.

[shaxper]

Nothing wrong with being wrong. You've certainly seen me have my share of it! I'm quite confident you'll be right in this circumstance, but even if you aren't, it'll never discredit you as a valuable contributor to the board. We all need to be less afraid to embarrass ourselves here. After all, we're here to share and have fun! I like debating much more than I like worrying about who wins the debate ;D

[Harry]

Oh, I'm okay with being wrong. Having fun debating and learning is the whole point of a site like this.

[shaxper]

Somehow, I'm begining to feel like the host of some early morning kids show.

"It's okay to be wrong, boys and girls. Let's sing our 'It's okay to be wrong' song"


Okay, it's a random thought. Sue me

[The_Turtle]

Any particular reason why there is no new sonnet? Are you waiting for someone to respond to 134? Well, it ain't gonna be me this time. I have nothing insightful or particularly noteworthy to say about it.
Thank God that it's okay to be wrong, if it weren't, I might just as well quit posting here and now

[Harry]

No, just been busy. I'll get on it right away.