William Shakespeare’s Sonnet 91 is a powerful reflection on the value of love, particularly in contrast to materialistic and external sources of pride. The sonnet’s structure and tone, along with its profound exploration of human emotions, reveal the depth of Shakespeare’s insight into the nature of love, self-worth, and the human condition.
Shakespeare’s Sonnet 91
Some glory in their birth, some in their skill,
Some in their wealth, some in their body’s force,
Some in their garments, though newfangled ill,
4Some in their hawks and hounds, some in their horse;
And every humor hath his adjunct pleasure,
Wherein it finds a joy above the rest.
But these particulars are not my measure;
8All these I better in one general best.
Thy love is ⌜better⌝ than high birth to me,
Richer than wealth, prouder than garments’ cost,
Of more delight than hawks or horses be;
12And having thee, of all men’s pride I boast.
Wretched in this alone, that thou mayst take
All this away, and me most wretched make.
The Structure and Tone of Sonnet 91
Sonnet 91 follows the traditional Shakespearean sonnet form, consisting of 14 lines written in iambic pentameter. The rhyme scheme is ABABCDCDEFEFGG, typical of the Shakespearean sonnet, which divides the poem into three quatrains (four-line stanzas) and a final rhymed couplet. The use of iambic pentameter creates a rhythmic flow, lending the poem a sense of harmony and order that mirrors the poet’s argument about the nature of true value.
The tone of the sonnet is contemplative, reflective, and somewhat resigned. It begins with an exploration of various external sources of pride and ends with a profound statement of vulnerability. Shakespeare contrasts fleeting, superficial sources of pride with the lasting, inner pride that comes from love. By the end, there is an air of quiet desperation, as the poet reveals the potential for this love to be taken away, rendering him vulnerable to despair.
Analysis of Sonnet 91
Lines 1–4
Some glory in their birth, some in their skill,
Some in their wealth, some in their body’s force,
Some in their garments, though newfangled ill,
Some in their hawks and hounds, some in their horse;
In these opening lines, Shakespeare explores the various sources of pride that people commonly take in their lives. He mentions physical prowess (“body’s force”), wealth, and social status (“birth”), as well as material goods such as clothing and animals like hawks, hounds, and horses. These are all emblematic of external pride—things that others can see and that society values. The reference to “newfangled ill” in line 3 introduces an ironic twist, suggesting that some people take pride in fashions or trends that may be shallow or transient, highlighting the ephemerality of these sources of pride.
The use of the word “glory” in line 1 signals an intense pride or admiration, setting up a stark contrast with the more lasting and profound pride the speaker will later describe. These initial four lines establish that people seek validation from various worldly sources, but Shakespeare’s tone is already subtly critical—these sources of pride, while numerous, are ultimately superficial.
Lines 5–8
And every humor hath his adjunct pleasure,
Wherein it finds a joy above the rest.
But these particulars are not my measure;
All these I better in one general best.
Here, the speaker broadens the scope of his argument. The phrase “every humor” likely refers to the traditional concept of the four humors in medicine, which in Shakespeare’s time were believed to dictate a person’s character and mood. Each individual, Shakespeare suggests, finds a specific source of pride or pleasure (“adjunct pleasure”) based on their own inclinations or nature. Yet, the speaker distances himself from these temporary, individual pleasures, stating that they do not define him (“not my measure”).
The phrase “All these I better in one general best” presents a pivotal moment in the sonnet. The “one general best” refers to the love the speaker holds for the person addressed in the poem. This love, according to the speaker, surpasses all the worldly pride and pleasures discussed in the earlier lines. The contrast is clear—while others may take pride in fleeting, external things, the speaker finds a more enduring and fulfilling pride in his love.
Lines 9–12
Thy love is better than high birth to me,
Richer than wealth, prouder than garments’ cost,
Of more delight than hawks or horses be;
And having thee, of all men’s pride I boast.
In these lines, the speaker directly praises the person he loves, elevating their love above all the external sources of pride. “Thy love is better than high birth to me” indicates that the speaker values love more than any aristocratic privilege. “Richer than wealth” emphasizes that love surpasses material wealth, while “prouder than garments’ cost” suggests that the love the speaker feels is more valuable than any outward display of fashion or status. The final line, “of all men’s pride I boast,” asserts that the speaker’s pride is not rooted in external things, but in the love he shares with the person addressed. The use of the word “boast” here conveys a sense of humble pride, as if the speaker is claiming a treasure that cannot be equaled by material things.
Lines 13–14
Wretched in this alone, that thou mayst take
All this away, and me most wretched make.
In the final couplet, the tone shifts from exultant pride to a vulnerable, almost tragic realization. The speaker acknowledges the precariousness of his position—his happiness and pride are dependent on the love he receives from the person addressed. “Wretched in this alone” reveals the deep insecurity the speaker feels, knowing that if this love were to be taken away, he would be left with nothing. This conclusion introduces a poignant emotional complexity to the poem: although the speaker finds his greatest pride in love, it also makes him vulnerable to intense sorrow should that love be lost.
Conclusion
In Sonnet 91, Shakespeare crafts a meditation on the fleeting nature of external sources of pride and the enduring value of love. The speaker contrasts worldly pride—based on birth, wealth, appearance, or possessions—with the deeper, more lasting pride that comes from love. Through a structure that builds from a series of external examples to a singular, internal one, Shakespeare demonstrates the primacy of love over materialistic concerns. However, in the final lines, the poet also explores the fragility of love, acknowledging that its loss would render him vulnerable to despair. The sonnet’s balanced exploration of pride, love, and vulnerability gives it both emotional depth and philosophical complexity, reflecting the universal human experience of seeking value and meaning beyond the superficial.
