William Shakespeare’s Sonnet 87 stands as a poignant exploration of self-awareness, possession, and the impermanence of love or affection. Written in the typical Shakespearean sonnet form, the poem consists of 14 lines with a regular iambic pentameter rhythm and follows the ABABCDCDEFEFGG rhyme scheme. The speaker bids farewell to someone who was once cherished but is now deemed too valuable to be possessed. This sonnet touches on the themes of self-worth, the limits of human control, and the tension between the fleeting nature of affection and the desire to possess.
Shakespeare’s Sonnet 87
Farewell, thou art too dear for my possessing,
And like enough thou know’st thy estimate.
The charter of thy worth gives thee releasing;
My bonds in thee are all determinate.
For how do I hold thee but by thy granting,
And for that riches where is my deserving?
The cause of this fair gift in me is wanting,
And so my patent back again is swerving.
Thy self thou gav’st, thy own worth then not knowing,
Or me, to whom thou gav’st it, else mistaking;
So thy great gift, upon misprision growing,
Comes home again, on better judgment making.
Thus have I had thee as a dream doth flatter,
In sleep a king, but waking no such matter.
The Structure and Tone of Sonnet 87
Shakespeare’s Sonnet 87 adheres to the conventional structure of a Shakespearean sonnet: three quatrains (four-line stanzas) followed by a couplet (two-line stanza). The rhyme scheme, ABABCDCDEFEFGG, is traditional, offering a consistent framework for the argument the poet wishes to make. The poem begins with the first quatrain establishing the dilemma of possessing something that is too precious to own. In the second and third quatrains, Shakespeare delves deeper into the nature of worth and self-granting, ultimately arriving at the realization that the “gift” of love or affection is transient. The closing couplet delivers a powerful reflection, encapsulating the conflict of the poem.
The tone of Sonnet 87 is melancholic and reflective, tinged with a sense of resignation. The speaker acknowledges that they are no longer in control of the situation and must accept the loss of something or someone too valuable to be owned. There is also an undercurrent of irony, especially when the speaker compares their fleeting control of the relationship to a dream in which they are a king, only to wake up and realize that it was all an illusion. This tone of disillusionment carries through the entire sonnet, culminating in a somber realization.
Analysis of Sonnet 87
Lines 1–4
“Farewell, thou art too dear for my possessing,
And like enough thou know’st thy estimate.
The charter of thy worth gives thee releasing;
My bonds in thee are all determinate.”
In the opening lines, the speaker bids farewell to the subject of the poem, expressing that they are “too dear for my possessing,” implying that the subject’s value has become too great for the speaker to maintain or control. The use of “dear” carries a dual meaning, referencing both emotional attachment and the literal value of the person or thing in question. The line “And like enough thou know’st thy estimate” suggests that the subject is aware of their own worth, reinforcing the idea that they are beyond the speaker’s reach.
The phrase “The charter of thy worth gives thee releasing” indicates that the subject’s intrinsic value—like a formal document or deed—allows them to free themselves from any obligations or bonds to the speaker. The phrase “My bonds in thee are all determinate” signals that the speaker’s connection or attachment to the subject is now finite and defined. There is a sense of finality in these lines, as the speaker recognizes that their claim to the subject is no longer valid.
Lines 5–8
“For how do I hold thee but by thy granting,
And for that riches where is my deserving?
The cause of this fair gift in me is wanting,
And so my patent back again is swerving.”
The second quatrain continues with the theme of conditional possession. The speaker admits that their hold on the subject is not intrinsic but is granted by the subject’s own decision: “For how do I hold thee but by thy granting.” The use of “granting” here suggests a temporary or voluntary act on the subject’s part, which the speaker acknowledges is not guaranteed.
The next line, “And for that riches where is my deserving?” introduces a sense of self-doubt. The speaker questions their worthiness, wondering why they have been granted such a “riches” (likely referring to love or affection) when they have done nothing to deserve it. There is an underlying awareness that the gift of affection or love is unearned, and the speaker may feel unworthy of it.
The phrase “The cause of this fair gift in me is wanting” further suggests that the speaker feels inadequate, as if the reason they were given this “gift” (the affection or relationship) is lacking. This inadequacy leads to a reversal of fortune: “And so my patent back again is swerving.” A “patent” in this context refers to the speaker’s claim or right to the subject, and “swerving” indicates that this right is being withdrawn or reversed. The speaker acknowledges that their claim was always fragile and is now in the process of being rescinded.
Lines 9–12
“Thy self thou gav’st, thy own worth then not knowing,
Or me, to whom thou gav’st it, else mistaking;
So thy great gift, upon misprision growing,
Comes home again, on better judgment making.”
In the third quatrain, Shakespeare introduces an intriguing paradox: “Thy self thou gav’st, thy own worth then not knowing.” Here, the speaker suggests that the subject
gave themselves to the speaker without fully understanding their own worth. This act of self-giving was done in ignorance, either of their own value or of the speaker’s true nature. This admission casts a shadow of regret or error upon the act of giving.
The line “Or me, to whom thou gav’st it, else mistaking” implies that the subject may have made a mistake in choosing the speaker. The word “mistaking” introduces a sense of misjudgment, indicating that the speaker was not the right recipient of the “gift.” The phrase “So thy great gift, upon misprision growing” refers to a misunderstanding or misinterpretation (misprision), suggesting that the initial act of giving was flawed. The gift, now seen in the light of clearer judgment, “comes home again,” symbolizing a return to the original position of separation or loss. This return is based on a more accurate, informed judgment.
Lines 13–14
“Thus have I had thee as a dream doth flatter,
In sleep a king, but waking no such matter.”
The final couplet offers a powerful metaphor for the entire experience: “Thus have I had thee as a dream doth flatter.” The speaker compares the fleeting nature of their relationship or possession to a dream that flatters the dreamer with false impressions. In dreams, the dreamer may feel powerful or important, but upon waking, the reality is far different. This metaphor encapsulates the speaker’s experience of holding something valuable only to realize that it was never truly theirs to possess in the first place. The “dream” represents an illusion, and the waking reality represents the sobering truth that the affection or relationship was not as enduring or genuine as it initially appeared.
Conclusion
Shakespeare’s Sonnet 87 is a profound meditation on possession, worth, and self-awareness. Through a series of emotional shifts, the speaker comes to terms with the realization that they cannot claim ownership of something or someone whose value transcends their own ability to possess. The poem explores themes of self-doubt, misjudgment, and the impermanence of relationships. The final couplet encapsulates the irony of the speaker’s situation, drawing a parallel between the dreamlike illusion of possession and the harsh reality of loss. Ultimately, Sonnet 87 is a reflection on the limits of human agency and the understanding that true possession is not always within our control.
