William Shakespeare’s Sonnet 33 is one of the poems that explores the themes of fleeting beauty, the capricious nature of life, and the steadfastness of love. Written in the form of a Shakespearean sonnet—14 lines in iambic pentameter, divided into three quatrains and a concluding couplet—this sonnet employs rich imagery, metaphors, and contrasts. Below is a detailed analysis of the structure, tone, and specific meaning behind each section of the sonnet.
Shakespeare’s Sonnet 33
Full many a glorious morning have I seen
Flatter the mountain tops with sovereign eye,
Kissing with golden face the meadows green,
Gilding pale streams with heavenly alchemy,
Anon permit the basest clouds to ride
With ugly rack on his celestial face,
And from the forlorn world his visage hide,
Stealing unseen to west with this disgrace.
Even so my sun one early morn did shine
With all-triumphant splendor on my brow,
But, out alack, he was but one hour mine;
The region cloud hath masked him from me now.
Yet him for this my love no whit disdaineth;
Suns of the world may stain when heaven’s sun staineth.
The Structure and Tone of Sonnet 33
Sonnet 33 adheres to the formal structure of a Shakespearean sonnet, consisting of 14 lines with a consistent rhyme scheme (ABABCDCDEFEFGG). The meter used is iambic pentameter, which gives the poem its rhythmic flow. The poem is divided into three quatrains and a final couplet, a common organization in Shakespeare’s sonnets, with each quatrain developing a distinct aspect of the poem’s theme and the concluding couplet offering a resolution or final thought.
The tone of the sonnet is a blend of melancholy, reflection, and acceptance. There is a clear lamentation in the speaker’s words, particularly when contemplating the fleeting nature of beauty and love. Yet, the closing couplet suggests a resolution of this sadness, demonstrating the speaker’s continued devotion. It’s a tone of reconciliation, as the speaker accepts that imperfection and transience are part of the natural order of things, and that love transcends these inevitable changes.
Analysis of Sonnet 33
Lines 1–4
“Full many a glorious morning have I seen
Flatter the mountain tops with sovereign eye,
Kissing with golden face the meadows green,
Gilding pale streams with heavenly alchemy,”
In the opening quatrain, the speaker reflects on the beauty of the morning sun, which has the power to touch and transform the world with its light. The image of the “sovereign eye” refers to the sun’s commanding presence, as it “flatter[s]” the mountain tops—an image that conveys both admiration and authority. The sun’s rays are described as “kissing” the green meadows and “gilding” the pale streams, using metaphorical language that elevates the sun to a divine or alchemical status, suggesting that it has the power to turn the mundane into something precious.
The imagery here contrasts the vitality and warmth of the sun with the coolness of the streams and the green meadows, establishing a theme of balance between light and dark, beauty and decay, which will be explored further in the poem.
Lines 5–8
“Anon permit the basest clouds to ride
With ugly rack on his celestial face,
And from the forlorn world his visage hide,
Stealing unseen to west with this disgrace.”
In the second quatrain, the speaker shifts from the praise of the sun to its temporary concealment. The sun, once triumphant, now allows “the basest clouds to ride” across its face, obscuring its light. The “ugly rack” (clouds driven by the wind) are described as blemishing the sun’s once pristine visage, a metaphor for how the sun’s beauty is marred by the imperfection of nature.
The phrase “forlorn world” further emphasizes the desolate effect of the sun’s departure, and the sun’s retreat to the west—“stealing unseen”—suggests both the inevitability of the sun’s fading and a sense of loss. There is a profound sadness in the idea that something so brilliant can so quickly be hidden, symbolizing the fleeting nature of beauty, love, or triumph in life.
Lines 9–12
“Even so my sun one early morn did shine
With all-triumphant splendor on my brow,
But, out alack, he was but one hour mine;
The region cloud hath masked him from me now.”
The speaker now introduces a personal connection, likening the sun’s transient beauty to his own experiences. “My sun” refers metaphorically to the beloved, who once shone “with all-triumphant splendor” upon the speaker. The metaphor suggests that the speaker was once bathed in the light of the beloved’s affection or presence, experiencing a brief period of joy and fulfillment.
However, this joy is short-lived. “Out alack” expresses regret, as the speaker reveals that the beloved’s affection, like the sun, was only “one hour mine,” a fleeting moment. The “region cloud” once again obscures the beloved, just as the clouds obscure the sun. This reinforces the idea of impermanence, where beauty and love are ephemeral, always subject to change or loss.
Lines 13–14 (Couplet)
“Yet him for this my love no whit disdaineth;
Suns of the world may stain when heaven’s sun staineth.”
The final couplet brings a resolution to the speaker’s lament. Despite the loss or temporary absence of the beloved, the speaker’s love remains unchanged. “No whit disdaineth” means that the speaker does not harbor any bitterness or hatred for the beloved, even though the beloved’s “sun” has been temporarily obscured. The final line, “Suns of the world may stain when heaven’s sun staineth,” presents a philosophical reflection. It suggests that when the divine (heaven’s sun) is stained or obscured, it is natural for lesser things (the “suns of the world”) to experience the same fate. The speaker acknowledges that imperfection is inherent in the nature of things, and that love endures despite these temporary separations or flaws.
Conclusion
Shakespeare’s Sonnet 33 is a poignant exploration of the themes of love, loss, and the transient nature of beauty. Through the metaphor of the sun and clouds, the poem meditates on the ephemeral nature of both natural beauty and human relationships. However, the final couplet provides a note of acceptance, suggesting that love does not fade with external changes. Even when the “sun” of the beloved is momentarily hidden, true love remains unaffected. Shakespeare’s use of metaphor and imagery transforms the mundane into the profound, offering a timeless reflection on the challenges and beauty of love.
