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Sonnet 129
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Literary Devices
Metaphor and Simile
“Sonnet 129” features three main comparisons. The first one is a metaphor in the opening quatrain: “Th’ expense of spirit in a waste of shame / Is lust in action” (Lines 1-2). The opening metaphor introduces the poem’s main thematic concern, The Dangerous Nature of Lust, while connecting lust to the moral concern of shame that the poem focuses on as it progresses.
The second comparison is the simile between the lustful lover and a baited fish or animal. This comparison takes place midway through the second quatrain and continues into the third quatrain. Here, the speaker demonstrates the animalistic nature of lust by comparing the lustful lover to an animal lured into a trap. It also demonstrates the way lust overpowers logical thinking, reducing those who fall into lust to the basest emotions humans can experience like desire, greed, instinct, and possessiveness.
The third comparison comes in the final couplet, when the speaker compares the consummation of lust and its aftermath to a moment of heaven and an eternity of hell. In using this spiritual imagery for the sonnet’s final contrast, the speaker reinforces his harsh conception of lust as something that leads only to pain, disgust, and disillusionment.
Repetition
Repetition and juxtaposition are used throughout “Sonnet 129.” The repetition happens within lines and between lines, and it is often used to introduce double meanings through the use of homonyms. The first example of repetition comes in line 2 with the repetition of the words “action” and “lust” to describe the act of consummation. The speaker inverts the order of the words, first saying “a waste of shame / is lust in action” (Lines 1-2) followed by “and till action, lust / Is” (Lines 2-3). This inversion introduces the cyclical nature of the progression of lust: Lust is not just something one feels once. It comes, is consummated, and then comes again.
In quatrain two, the speaker repeats “Past reason” twice in a row. The first use is “Past reason hunted” (Line 6), which introduces the metaphor of the animal that is baited and which suggests that the pursuit of lust is irrational. It is then “Past reason hated” (Line 7) after consummation, suggesting that the fulfillment of lust does not lead to the restoration of reason, only to further madness.
In quatrain three, repetition centers upon the verb “to have”: “Had, having, and in quest to have, extreme” (Line 10). Here, the speaker demonstrates the way the three moments of the lust progression work together: A man will lust, then consummate the lust, then regret the lust. The repetition of the word here ties the three parts of the progression together, with all three stages being described as “extreme” (Line 10). This implies that, regardless of where one is in the cycle of lust, irrationality and lack of control are the hallmarks of the experience.
Form and Meter
The poem is written in the traditional English sonnet format. It is mostly iambic pentameter with 14 lines and a set rhyme scheme that Shakespeare does not deviate from. However, there are some moments where he changes the rhythm of the line and deviates from the iambic pentameter. The most obvious line where this happens is line 4 where he writes, “Savage, extreme, rude, cruel, not to trust.” Here, Shakespeare adds an extra stressed syllable and eliminates the iambic singsong feel from the middle of the line. This gives the line a stronger, angrier tone than the rest of the sonnet, reflecting the line’s indignation and harsh description of lust.
The choice of the sonnet form is also significant because sonnets were strongly associated with love poetry in the Renaissance. In choosing the sonnet form to write a screed against lust, Shakespeare subverts many of the common tropes associated with the sonnet form, slyly suggesting that the idealized depictions of love often found in many typical sonnets are misleading.
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By William Shakespeare
