William Shakespeare’s Sonnet 69 is a striking exploration of the conflict between external beauty and internal character, capturing the poet’s concern with how reputation and virtue are sometimes discordantly perceived by society. Like many of Shakespeare’s sonnets, this poem is steeped in a reflective tone that seeks to unravel the complex relationship between appearance and substance. Through its classical structure, rich in metaphor and irony, the sonnet critiques how society’s judgment can be skewed by superficial perceptions, while underscoring the inescapable judgment of one’s true nature.
Shakespeare’s Sonnet 69
Those parts of thee that the world’s eye doth view
Want nothing that the thought of hearts can mend.
All tongues, the voice of souls, give thee that due,
Utt’ring bare truth, even so as foes commend.
Thy outward thus with outward praise is crowned,
But those same tongues that give thee so thine own
In other accents do this praise confound
By seeing farther than the eye hath shown.
They look into the beauty of thy mind,
And that, in guess, they measure by thy deeds;
Then, churls, their thoughts, although their eyes were kind,
To thy fair flower add the rank smell of weeds.
But why thy odor matcheth not thy show,
The soil is this, that thou dost common grow.
Structure and Tone of Sonnet 69
Sonnet 69 follows the traditional structure of a Shakespearean sonnet, comprising 14 lines written in iambic pentameter. This structure is divided into three quatrains and a final couplet. The rhyme scheme is ABAB CDCD EFEF GG. The tone of the poem is reflective, somewhat critical, and tinged with irony. The speaker seems to address a young man, potentially the beloved or a subject of admiration, offering a commentary on the nature of beauty and reputation. There is an implicit tension between outward appearances and the deeper, more complex qualities of the individual, with a strong suggestion that the latter is being unfairly judged.
Analysis of Sonnet 69
Lines 1-4
“Those parts of thee that the world’s eye doth view
Want nothing that the thought of hearts can mend.
All tongues, the voice of souls, give thee that due,
Utt’ring bare truth, even so as foes commend.”
In the first quatrain, Shakespeare establishes a clear distinction between appearance and inner character. The speaker asserts that the outward aspects of the person, as seen by the world, are flawless. “Those parts of thee that the world’s eye doth view” suggests the physical form, which is universally admired. The phrase “want nothing that the thought of hearts can mend” indicates that the subject’s physical attributes are complete and untouched by any flaws—this is a person whom society deems perfect. Interestingly, the speaker mentions “All tongues,” or the voices of society, which confirm this perfection by expressing approval, even from adversaries or “foes.” The irony here is that even those who may not be inclined to praise the individual still acknowledge the surface-level beauty. This sets the tone for the poem’s meditation on the difference between external and internal worth.
Lines 5-8
“Thy outward thus with outward praise is crowned,
But those same tongues that give thee so thine own
In other accents do this praise confound
By seeing farther than the eye hath shown.”
The second quatrain shifts focus to the idea of the discrepancy between the outward praise of the individual and the deeper, often unflattering judgments that arise when people look beyond the surface. Shakespeare notes that while the individual’s external beauty is lauded, the very same people who offer praise are capable of undermining that admiration by looking “farther than the eye hath shown.” Here, Shakespeare suggests that once the superficial is set aside, a different, less perfect reality is revealed—one that might not align with the idealized public perception. This deepening of insight presents the conflict at the heart of the poem: what is seen on the surface may be in harmony with social approval, but this superficial harmony is fragile when subjected to deeper scrutiny.
Lines 9-12
“They look into the beauty of thy mind,
And that, in guess, they measure by thy deeds;
Then, churls, their thoughts, although their eyes were kind,
To thy fair flower add the rank smell of weeds.”
In these lines, the speaker presents a critical shift from physical beauty to the evaluation of the subject’s character. The phrase “look into the beauty of thy mind” suggests that the observer now judges the person based on intellectual or moral qualities rather than appearance. “That, in guess, they measure by thy deeds” further implies that the judgment of character is subjective and based on one’s actions, which may not necessarily align with the perception of outward beauty. Shakespeare uses the term “churls” to refer to those who, despite outward kindness, harbor judgments about the individual’s internal nature. The metaphor of a “fair flower” tainted by the “rank smell of weeds” reinforces the image of an individual whose internal shortcomings tarnish their external beauty. The flower represents external beauty, while the weeds suggest negative qualities—immorality, dishonesty, or vice—that spoil the initial impression.
Lines 13-14
“But why thy odor matcheth not thy show,
The soil is this, that thou dost common grow.”
In the final couplet, Shakespeare offers a reason for the disparity between the outward beauty and internal flaws. The subject’s “odor” (which metaphorically represents the reputation or essence of their character) does not align with the external “show” of beauty. The “soil” is a key metaphor here: it represents the environment or circumstances from which the individual has emerged. Shakespeare’s choice of the word “common” is critical—it suggests that the subject has “grown” or developed in an ordinary, perhaps unspectacular, context, which has shaped the individual’s inner qualities. Despite the outward beauty, the subject’s origins (their character, actions, or perhaps social background) have led to a less-than-ideal reputation, overshadowing their external allure.
Conclusion
In Sonnet 69, Shakespeare expertly navigates the complex interplay between outward appearance and inner virtue. Through metaphor and irony, he critiques how society praises physical beauty while simultaneously failing to appreciate the importance of inner qualities. The poem explores the tension between what is seen and what is known, emphasizing that the true essence of a person cannot be fully captured by external appearances. The sonnet’s closing lines serve as a poignant reminder that one’s reputation—like the scent of a flower—can be tarnished by the underlying nature or “soil” from which they spring, no matter how exquisite the outward appearance may be.
