William Shakespeare‘s Sonnet 114 is a reflection on the complex nature of perception and the potential for self-deception in love. It delves into the intricacies of how the mind and eye interact with beauty and truth, particularly in the context of a romantic relationship. This sonnet, like many others in Shakespeare’s vast body of work, touches on themes of idealization, self-awareness, and the tension between perception and reality. The structure of the poem follows the traditional Shakespearean sonnet form, with 14 lines divided into three quatrains and a concluding couplet, employing the ABAB CDCD EFEF GG rhyme scheme.
Shakespeare’s Sonnet 114
Or whether doth my mind, being crowned with you,
Drink up the monarch’s plague, this flattery?
Or whether shall I say mine eye saith true,
And that your love taught it this alchemy,
To make of monsters and things indigest
Such cherubins as your sweet self resemble,
Creating every bad a perfect best
As fast as objects to his beams assemble?
O, ’tis the first: ’tis flattery in my seeing,
And my great mind most kingly drinks it up.
Mine eye well knows what with his gust is greeing,
And to his palate doth prepare the cup.
If it be poisoned, ’tis the lesser sin
That mine eye loves it and doth first begin.
The Structure and Tone of Sonnet 114
Sonnet 114 adheres to the conventional Shakespearean sonnet form, consisting of 14 lines written in iambic pentameter. The rhyme scheme follows the standard pattern (ABAB CDCD EFEF GG). The first three quatrains explore the tension between perception and reality, while the final couplet offers a resolution or contemplation on the implications of the speaker’s reflections. The formal structure supports the contemplative and introspective nature of the poem, inviting the reader into the speaker’s thoughts in a methodical and structured way.
The tone of Sonnet 114 is self-reflective, somewhat confessional, and tinged with irony. The speaker seems both critical and aware of his own biases and the potential for flattery in his perceptions. There is a subtle hint of frustration with himself, but also a resignation to the seductive power of the beauty or love he perceives. The tone moves between self-doubt and a resigned acknowledgment of the mind’s vulnerability to self-deception.
Analysis of Sonnet 114
Lines 1–4
“Or whether doth my mind, being crowned with you,
Drink up the monarch’s plague, this flattery?
Or whether shall I say mine eye saith true,
And that your love taught it this alchemy,”
In these opening lines, the speaker begins by questioning the nature of his perception of his lover. The phrase “crowned with you” suggests the speaker’s mind is elevated or even governed by the love or beauty of the person addressed. He wonders whether his judgment is influenced by flattery, which he likens to “the monarch’s plague,” a metaphor that implies flattery as a dangerous or corrupting force. The comparison to a plague suggests that this flattery might be both intoxicating and harmful, poisoning his perception. The second question asks whether the eye’s judgment is true, or whether it has been altered by love, described here as an “alchemy.” This term refers to a magical transformation, suggesting that love has the power to turn the mundane or flawed into something extraordinary, much like alchemy sought to transform base metals into gold.
Lines 5–8
“To make of monsters and things indigest
Such cherubins as your sweet self resemble,
Creating every bad a perfect best
As fast as objects to his beams assemble?”
The speaker now reflects on the transformative power of love. Love seems to have the ability to turn “monsters” and “indigest” things (perhaps referring to imperfections or flaws) into “cherubins,” angelic beings. This idealization of the lover reflects the theme of perception altering reality, turning every imperfection into a perfection. The comparison to “beams assemble” suggests that just as light draws objects toward it, the mind draws positive interpretations toward the beloved. This presents the danger of being so captivated by love that the person’s flaws are overlooked or ignored.
Lines 9–12
“O, ’tis the first: ’tis flattery in my seeing,
And my great mind most kingly drinks it up.
Mine eye well knows what with his gust is greeing,
And to his palate doth prepare the cup.”
Here, the speaker comes to a realization: his perception is indeed influenced by flattery. The phrase “my great mind most kingly drinks it up” acknowledges that the speaker is aware of his susceptibility to this flattery, and yet he seems to embrace it. The use of the word “kingly” suggests a sense of pride or grandeur, indicating that the speaker is not merely passively deceived, but actively enjoys and consumes the flattery. The metaphor of the “palate” and “cup” compares the eye’s perception to taste, implying that the speaker is savoring the experience of seeing his lover through a lens of idealization, much as one would enjoy a fine drink.
Lines 13–14
“If it be poisoned, ’tis the lesser sin
That mine eye loves it and doth first begin.”
The concluding couplet reveals the speaker’s final admission: even if his perception is flawed, it is a lesser sin to love the idealized image he sees. The idea of the “poisoned” perception suggests that there might be harm in seeing the lover through an unrealistic lens, yet the speaker seems to accept this flaw as something almost forgivable. His eye, and by extension his mind, are complicit in this idealization, but he seems to absolve himself of blame, as if the act of loving through flattery is itself not wholly sinful or damaging.
Conclusion
Shakespeare’s Sonnet 114 offers a nuanced exploration of perception, idealization, and the potentially dangerous effects of flattery in love. Through a careful balance of metaphor and self-reflection, the poem reveals the tension between seeing the beloved as an idealized figure and recognizing the distortions created by the mind’s infatuation. The speaker is both aware of the deception and complicit in it, embracing the flattery as a means of sustaining his emotional connection to the beloved. The sonnet’s structure and tone support this introspective journey, inviting the reader to reflect on their own perceptions of love and beauty, and the extent to which they, too, may be influenced by idealization.
