William Shakespeare’s Sonnet 117 is part of the Fair Youth sequence, a series of sonnets dedicated to a young man of great beauty and promise. Like many of Shakespeare’s sonnets, Sonnet 117 deals with themes of love, guilt, apology, and the poet’s relationship with his addressee. It is a deeply introspective poem in which the speaker addresses his own faults and acknowledges the ways in which he has failed his beloved. The tone is remorseful yet defensive, blending regret with a plea for understanding. This essay will begin by analyzing the overall structure and tone of the poem before proceeding to a detailed analysis of each quatrain.
Shakespeare’s Sonnet 117
Accuse me thus: that I have scanted all
Wherein I should your great deserts repay,
Forgot upon your dearest love to call,
Whereto all bonds do tie me day by day;
That I have frequent been with unknown minds,
And given to time your own dear-purchased right;
That I have hoisted sail to all the winds
Which should transport me farthest from your sight.
Book both my willfulness and errors down,
And on just proof surmise accumulate;
Bring me within the level of your frown,
But shoot not at me in your wakened hate,
Since my appeal says I did strive to prove
The constancy and virtue of your love.
The Structure and Tone of Sonnet 117
Sonnet 117 follows the traditional structure of a Shakespearean sonnet, comprising 14 lines that are divided into three quatrains (four-line sections) and a final couplet. The meter is iambic pentameter, which gives the poem a rhythmic regularity, often evoking a sense of balance even as the speaker struggles with feelings of guilt and self-recrimination.
The tone of the poem is primarily apologetic, yet there is also an undertone of defensiveness. The speaker acknowledges his mistakes, but he also seeks to justify them, asking for understanding rather than condemnation. The use of phrases like “accuse me” and “bring me within the level of your frown” suggests a confrontation, yet the appeal for mercy is central to the tone, which moves between self-pity and self-assertion.
Analysis of Sonnet 117
Lines 1–4
“Accuse me thus: that I have scanted all
Wherein I should your great deserts repay,
Forgot upon your dearest love to call,
Whereto all bonds do tie me day by day;”
In these opening lines, the speaker anticipates the accusations that the beloved might level against him. The verb “accuse” immediately sets the confrontational tone, as the speaker prepares himself to be judged. He admits that he has failed to repay the “great deserts” (the beloved’s kindness or virtues), acknowledging that he has neglected to honor the bond between them. The phrase “forgot upon your dearest love to call” reflects the speaker’s failure to show proper affection or recognition. This line suggests a deeper sense of regret: by not calling on the beloved’s love, the speaker has neglected their emotional duty. The phrase “all bonds do tie me day by day” reinforces the idea of the inescapable obligations that love brings, yet the speaker seems to feel burdened by them, perhaps indicating a sense of guilt and personal responsibility.
Lines 5–8
“That I have frequent been with unknown minds,
And given to time your own dear-purchased right;
That I have hoisted sail to all the winds
Which should transport me farthest from your sight.”
In the second quatrain, the speaker continues his self-incrimination, admitting that he has “frequent been with unknown minds.” This could refer to his attentions being diverted elsewhere, perhaps to other relationships or distractions, all of which have taken him away from his true love. The phrase “given to time your own dear-purchased right” is a powerful line that suggests the speaker has squandered or neglected the beloved’s “right”—a right to his devotion, trust, and loyalty. “Your own dear-purchased right” may also allude to the idea that the beloved has earned the speaker’s loyalty through time and effort, yet the speaker has failed to honor this. The metaphor of “hoisting sail to all the winds” conjures an image of setting off on a voyage, but it is a voyage that takes the speaker far away from the beloved, highlighting his emotional distance and the pain of separation. The winds symbolize external influences or desires that pull the speaker away from his commitment to the beloved.
Lines 9–12
“Book both my willfulness and errors down,
And on just proof surmise accumulate;
Bring me within the level of your frown,
But shoot not at me in your wakened hate.”
In these lines, the speaker requests that the beloved document his faults—both his “willfulness” and “errors.” The use of the word “book” evokes a formal, almost legal tone, suggesting that the speaker is prepared for the consequences of his actions, but he asks that these faults be recorded in a way that is measured and fair. “On just proof surmise accumulate” suggests that any judgment should be based on concrete evidence and rational thought, rather than emotion or impulse. The speaker acknowledges that he deserves the beloved’s anger, asking to be “brought within the level of your frown,” which would be a mild form of reproach, but he asks that the beloved not respond with “wakened hate.” The phrase “wakened hate” implies that the speaker fears the consequences of provoking deep, lasting anger. This line suggests that while the speaker is accepting responsibility, he hopes that his beloved will not react with vengeance, but with a more measured, perhaps forgiving, response.
Lines 13–14
“Since my appeal says I did strive to prove
The constancy and virtue of your love.”
In the final couplet, the speaker offers a defense of his actions. He asserts that despite his faults, he has been striving to prove the constancy and virtue of the beloved’s love. This line reflects the speaker’s belief that his mistakes, while serious, have not been made out of a lack of affection or respect for the beloved. Instead, he sees them as part of a larger, ongoing effort to demonstrate his commitment. The phrase “strive to prove” suggests that the speaker’s actions, while imperfect, are motivated by a deep desire to affirm the strength and worth of the beloved’s love. The constancy and virtue of love are central to Shakespeare’s sonnets, and here the speaker reaffirms the enduring quality of the relationship, even as he acknowledges his failings.
Conclusion
Shakespeare’s Sonnet 117 offers a compelling exploration of guilt, self-awareness, and the complexity of human relationships. Through its apologetic yet defensively structured tone, the speaker navigates the delicate balance between taking responsibility for his actions and pleading for understanding. The poem’s formal structure and its vivid metaphors, such as the imagery of winds and sails, help convey the speaker’s inner turmoil and his struggle with the consequences of his emotional choices. Ultimately, Sonnet 117 is a powerful meditation on the imperfections of love, the possibility of redemption, and the hope for forgiveness in the face of human error.
