Shakespeare’s Sonnet 119, part of his Fair Youth sequence, presents a complex exploration of love, self-reflection, and personal growth. The speaker contemplates the mistakes and errors of judgment made in the name of love, as well as the paradoxical idea that suffering and “ruin” can lead to eventual improvement and strength. This essay will break down the sonnet’s structure and tone before offering a detailed analysis of each quatrain, concluding with a final reflection on its thematic richness.
Shakespeare’s Sonnet 119
What potions have I drunk of siren tears
Distilled from limbecks foul as hell within,
Applying fears to hopes and hopes to fears,
Still losing when I saw myself to win!
What wretched errors hath my heart committed,
Whilst it hath thought itself so blessèd never!
How have mine eyes out of their spheres been fitted
In the distraction of this madding fever!
O, benefit of ill! Now I find true
That better is by evil still made better;
And ruined love, when it is built anew,
Grows fairer than at first, more strong, far greater.
So I return rebuked to my content,
And gain by ills thrice more than I have spent.
The Structure and Tone of Sonnet 119
Sonnet 119 follows the structure of a traditional Shakespearean sonnet: three quatrains (four-line stanzas) and a rhymed couplet at the end. The rhyme scheme is ABAB CDCD EFEF GG, which is typical of Shakespeare’s work. The poem’s meter is iambic pentameter, further reinforcing its connection to the established form.
The tone of Sonnet 119 is deeply introspective and regretful in the first three quatrains, shifting toward a tone of acceptance and philosophical reflection in the final couplet. The speaker reflects on past mistakes, particularly those related to love, and undergoes a kind of emotional and intellectual evolution that leads to a greater understanding of the nature of both love and suffering. The transition from turmoil to insight is central to the sonnet’s meaning.
Analysis of Sonnet 119
Lines 1–4
What potions have I drunk of siren tears
Distilled from limbecks foul as hell within,
Applying fears to hopes and hopes to fears,
Still losing when I saw myself to win!
In the opening quatrain, the speaker begins by describing the negative emotions and misguided actions he has taken in love. The reference to “siren tears” suggests the allure of false promises and the deceptive nature of desires that lead one astray. Sirens, in classical mythology, are creatures whose songs are so beautiful that they lure sailors to their doom, symbolizing the way in which love or hope can be seductive but ultimately destructive.
The metaphor of “limbecks foul as hell” refers to a distillery or alembic (a chemical apparatus), implying that these deceptive emotions are like potions brewed from evil or poisonous ingredients. The speaker acknowledges that he has applied fear to hope and hope to fear, revealing his emotional turmoil and confusion. These mixed emotions suggest a profound sense of disorientation, where the pursuit of love becomes a struggle between conflicting desires and anxieties. The phrase “Still losing when I saw myself to win!” encapsulates the speaker’s frustration with the futility of his efforts, where victory in love seems ever elusive despite his ambitions.
Lines 5–8
What wretched errors hath my heart committed,
Whilst it hath thought itself so blessèd never!
How have mine eyes out of their spheres been fitted
In the distraction of this madding fever!
The speaker now reflects more directly on the “wretched errors” his heart has made, acknowledging the mistakes of both judgment and action. The heart, typically associated with love, is here depicted as misled and flawed, leading to regret over choices made in a state of passion or confusion. “Thought itself so blessèd never” suggests that, at times, the heart may have deluded itself into thinking it was blessed or fortunate in its pursuit of love, only to realize the opposite.
“How have mine eyes out of their spheres been fitted” refers to the idea that the speaker’s perception has been clouded, and he has failed to see things as they truly are. His “eyes” are metaphorically “out of their spheres,” meaning his judgment has been distorted by emotional excess. The phrase “distraction of this madding fever” amplifies the intensity of his internal chaos, comparing his emotional state to a fever, where reason is lost in the throes of madness.
Lines 9–12
O, benefit of ill! Now I find true
That better is by evil still made better;
And ruined love, when it is built anew,
Grows fairer than at first, more strong, far greater.
In this section, the speaker undergoes a significant shift in perspective. The “benefit of ill” refers to the unexpected advantages or lessons that can be learned through suffering and pain. The paradox here is striking: “better is by evil still made better.” This suggests that hardship or misfortune can lead to growth and improvement, as if suffering were a catalyst for transformation.
The line “ruined love, when it is built anew” is central to the theme of the sonnet. The speaker suggests that love, once damaged or broken, can be renewed and, through the process of rebuilding, become stronger, “fairer,” and “far greater” than it was in its original form. This idea resonates with the broader theme of the sonnet that suffering is not just a destructive force but one that can lead to greater strength and clarity.
Lines 13–14
So I return rebuked to my content,
And gain by ills thrice more than I have spent.
In the final couplet, the speaker resolves to accept the lessons of his emotional turmoil. The phrase “I return rebuked to my content” indicates that the speaker has been chastened or “rebuked” by his past mistakes, but in this rebuke, he finds a deeper contentment. He gains wisdom and self-awareness, and through this process, he finds fulfillment that was not accessible to him before.
The closing line—“gain by ills thrice more than I have spent”—sums up the entire theme of the sonnet. The speaker suggests that his emotional suffering has not been in vain; instead, it has enriched him. The “ills” or hardships of love have led to a threefold increase in understanding, wisdom, and strength, suggesting that suffering in love ultimately results in a net gain rather than loss.
Conclusion
Sonnet 119 encapsulates the paradoxical nature of love and suffering. Shakespeare’s exploration of emotional turmoil and personal growth speaks to the complexity of human experience. The speaker’s journey from confusion and regret to acceptance and self-improvement mirrors the transformative power of love and loss. Through the lens of the sonnet, we see that hardship is not merely something to be endured but something that can lead to greater wisdom and strength. In this way, Shakespeare’s Sonnet 119 reinforces the idea that life’s challenges, even in love, have the potential to foster growth and renewal.
