Shakespeare‘s Sonnet 135 is one of the more intricate and playful sonnets in the Fair Youth sequence. At its core, it explores the theme of desire and the complexities of willpower, using wordplay and metaphysical considerations. Below, we will break down the structure and tone of the poem before delving into a detailed analysis of each section.
Shakespeare’s Sonnet 135
Whoever hath her wish, thou hast thy will,
And will to boot, and will in overplus.
More than enough am I that vex thee still,
To thy sweet will making addition thus.
Wilt thou, whose will is large and spacious,
Not once vouchsafe to hide my will in thine?
Shall will in others seem right gracious,
And in my will no fair acceptance shine?
The sea, all water, yet receives rain still,
And in abundance addeth to his store;
So thou, being rich in will, add to thy will
One will of mine to make thy large will more.
Let no unkind, no fair beseechers kill.
Think all but one, and me in that one will.
The Structure and Tone of Sonnet 135
Sonnet 135 follows the traditional structure of a Shakespearean sonnet: 14 lines written in iambic pentameter, divided into three quatrains followed by a concluding couplet. The rhyme scheme is ABAB CDCD EFEF GG, a hallmark of the Shakespearean sonnet form. Each quatrain develops a distinct facet of the poem’s central argument, and the final couplet offers a resolution or reflection.
The tone of Sonnet 135 is somewhat playful, yet tinged with frustration. Shakespeare uses a series of puns and wordplay to explore the nature of “will,” both as a metaphor for desire and as a more literal concept of intention or volition. The repetition of the word “will” throughout the sonnet adds a playful, almost humorous quality to the speaker’s lament, but it also hints at deeper emotional undercurrents, suggesting a tension between the speaker’s desires and the object of his affection’s indifference.
Analysis of Sonnet 135
Lines 1–4
Whoever hath her wish, thou hast thy will,
And will to boot, and will in overplus.
More than enough am I that vex thee still,
To thy sweet will making addition thus.
In the opening lines, the speaker immediately begins with a wordplay on the multiple meanings of “will.” He acknowledges that the person he addresses already has “her wish,” meaning they have what they desire, but the speaker goes on to suggest that they have even more than that—”will to boot” and “will in overplus.” The repetition of “will” implies both a literal will (as in desire or intention) and perhaps a metaphorical “will” referring to personal agency. The speaker implies that they have become a source of constant vexation, adding to the addressee’s “will” by continuing to annoy or trouble them. This clever repetition and expansion on the idea of will sets up the main thematic concern of the sonnet: the speaker’s desire to become part of the other person’s will.
Lines 5–8
Wilt thou, whose will is large and spacious,
Not once vouchsafe to hide my will in thine?
Shall will in others seem right gracious,
And in my will no fair acceptance shine?
In these lines, the speaker contrasts his own will with that of the person he addresses. He points out that this individual’s “will is large and spacious,” implying that they possess abundant desires or intentions. The speaker laments that, despite this vast capacity for will, they will not “vouchsafe” (or deign) to include the speaker’s own desires (“my will”) within theirs. The rhetorical question “Shall will in others seem right gracious?” suggests that others’ desires are met with generosity or kindness, while the speaker’s own desires go unacknowledged. There is a palpable sense of frustration here, as the speaker feels excluded from the addressee’s will—a kind of rejection that has both personal and emotional weight.
Lines 9–12
The sea, all water, yet receives rain still,
And in abundance addeth to his store;
So thou, being rich in will, add to thy will
One will of mine to make thy large will more.
The metaphor of the sea receiving rain is crucial in this section. The sea, despite being already full of water, continues to accept rain, increasing its stores. Similarly, the speaker asks the addressee, who is “rich in will,” to accept the speaker’s will, thereby adding to the “large will” of the other person. This metaphor suggests that the speaker’s desire is not a burden but rather something that would enrich the other person’s already abundant capacity for desire. It speaks to the idea of love and longing as a form of mutual enrichment, even when it seems like there is already enough.
Lines 13–14
Let no unkind, no fair beseechers kill.
Think all but one, and me in that one will.
The final couplet provides a resolution to the speaker’s plea. The phrase “Let no unkind, no fair beseechers kill” suggests that no other desires or suitors should stand in the way of the speaker’s wish. The speaker urges the addressee to “think all but one,” prioritizing the speaker’s desire above all others. The closing sentiment—”me in that one will”—reiterates the central plea of the poem: that the speaker’s will (desire) should be integrated into the addressee’s own, as the only desire that truly matters.
Conclusion
In Sonnet 135, Shakespeare masterfully employs the word “will” as both a literal and figurative concept, examining the nature of desire and the dynamics of relationship. The speaker, through clever metaphors and rhetorical questions, expresses a longing to be acknowledged within the object of their affection’s will. The tension between the speaker’s frustration at being rejected and the playful nature of the wordplay creates an emotionally rich, multifaceted exploration of desire. Ultimately, the sonnet is about the delicate balance between individual volition and mutual longing, offering a poignant commentary on love and the complexities of human interaction.
