William Shakespeare’s Sonnet 136, like many of his works, plays with the themes of love, desire, and identity through a complex and witty exploration of language. In this sonnet, Shakespeare uses wordplay, metaphor, and a strategic rhetorical approach to explore the tension between the self and the beloved, and the power of a name in the context of love. The sonnet is structured as a single stanza of 14 lines, adhering to the traditional Shakespearean sonnet form, but the tone and language shift as the speaker moves from self-assurance to playful suggestion. This essay will examine the poem‘s structure, tone, and content through a detailed analysis of each section, providing a clearer understanding of how Shakespeare intertwines the metaphysical and the personal in this clever piece.
Shakespeare’s Sonnet 136
If thy soul check thee that I come so near,
Swear to thy blind soul that I was thy will,
And will, thy soul knows, is admitted there.
Thus far for love my love-suit, sweet, fulfill.
Will will fulfill the treasure of thy love,
Ay, fill it full with wills, and my will one.
In things of great receipt with ease we prove
Among a number one is reckoned none.
Then in the number let me pass untold,
Though in thy store’s account I one must be.
For nothing hold me, so it please thee hold
That nothing me, a something, sweet, to thee.
Make but my name thy love, and love that still,
And then thou lovest me, for my name is Will.
The Structure and Tone of Sonnet 136
Shakespeare’s Sonnet 136 follows the typical Shakespearean sonnet form: three quatrains and a final couplet, with a rhyme scheme of ABAB CDCD EFEF GG. The structure of the sonnet is tight, with each quatrain building upon the last, until the closing couplet delivers a punchline that both concludes the poem and reinforces the central theme. The meter is iambic pentameter, which allows for a natural flow and rhythm, but the regularity of the meter is disrupted at times by the strategic placement of pauses and emphases, particularly in the use of the word “will” and the many variations of it.
The tone of the sonnet is playful, confident, and filled with a touch of wit. There is an underlying humor in the speaker’s insistence on the power of his own name, “Will,” as both a literal and metaphorical device for securing love. The speaker seems to both engage in a playful flirtation and, at times, to be almost self-congratulatory in his clever use of language. Despite the lighthearted tone, there is also an element of seriousness as the poem explores the concept of identity and the significance of love in relation to the name “Will.”
Analysis of Sonnet 136
Lines 1–4
“If thy soul check thee that I come so near,
Swear to thy blind soul that I was thy will,
And will, thy soul knows, is admitted there.
Thus far for love my love-suit, sweet, fulfill.”
In the first four lines, Shakespeare introduces the central conceit of the poem: the connection between love and will, and specifically how the speaker’s name—”Will”—can be interpreted both literally and metaphorically. The opening line suggests an internal conflict, where the lover’s soul might question the proximity of the speaker. The use of “check” here implies a moral or emotional hesitation, possibly due to the speaker’s boldness. The speaker immediately attempts to reassure the lover by suggesting that their “blind soul” (perhaps referring to the irrationality of love) should accept that he is the will of their heart. Here, the word “will” takes on multiple meanings: it can refer to desire or intention, but also to the speaker’s name, which is a clever play on words.
The line “And will, thy soul knows, is admitted there” furthers this notion of “will” being synonymous with the lover’s heart or soul, implying that desire and love are one and the same. The speaker’s love-suit, or plea, is straightforward: fulfill this love, which he interprets as his will. There is an urgent yet playful tone, as though the speaker is proposing an irresistible, almost logical argument to win the lover’s affection.
Lines 5–8
“Will will fulfill the treasure of thy love,
Ay, fill it full with wills, and my will one.
In things of great receipt with ease we prove
Among a number one is reckoned none.”
These lines continue the exploration of “will” as a term with layered meanings. The repetition of “will” here is deliberate, creating a rhythm that emphasizes the power and importance of the word. The speaker argues that the lover’s “treasure”—their love—will be filled to the brim with “wills,” but his own will, his desire and his identity (the name “Will”), will be the one to fulfill the lover’s heart. This can be interpreted as a subtle argument that only the speaker’s affection, which aligns with the lover’s own will, can truly satisfy them.
The phrase “things of great receipt with ease we prove” refers to the idea that love is often given freely and openly, just as the receipt of treasure is. But the final line, “Among a number one is reckoned none,” suggests a paradox. In a world filled with “wills” (desires or suitors), the speaker’s will is a single entity, yet in the context of the lover’s heart, it is “reckoned none” unless it is the only will that matters. This paradox underscores the uniqueness of the speaker’s love, while also hinting at the competition and challenges of love in a world full of potential suitors.
Lines 9–12
“Then in the number let me pass untold,
Though in thy store’s account I one must be.
For nothing hold me, so it please thee hold
That nothing me, a something, sweet, to thee.”
In these lines, the speaker suggests that in the grand “number” of all things, he might remain “untold” or unnamed, yet in the lover’s personal accounting (“store’s account”), he must be counted as “one.” This suggests that the speaker desires to be both acknowledged and yet remain a singular entity in the lover’s heart. He plays with the idea of being “nothing” in the broader sense but “something” in the lover’s individual world.
The paradox here—being “nothing” yet “something”—is a clever use of contradiction. The speaker’s name is both a representation of his identity (“Will”) and a symbol of his desire. This mirrors the idea of love itself: sometimes intangible, yet deeply personal and significant to the individual.
Lines 13–14
“Make but my name thy love, and love that still,
And then thou lovest me, for my name is Will.”
The final two lines bring the poem to its playful climax. The speaker directly addresses the lover, proposing that if they make his name—”Will”—synonymous with love, then they will love him truly. The pun is clear: the name “Will” is both a literal name and a symbol of desire or intention (will). By loving his name, the lover implicitly loves him, thus sealing the argument with a final, almost triumphant assertion.
The closing couplet turns the whole argument into a self-referential joke, highlighting the speaker’s cleverness and wit. The poem concludes with a final twist: the speaker’s name becomes a symbol of both his identity and his power to inspire love.
Conclusion
Shakespeare’s Sonnet 136 is a witty exploration of love, identity, and language, using the multiple meanings of the word “will” to create a complex web of metaphors and wordplay. The poem reflects the poet’s typical mastery of language, blending humor with deeper philosophical questions about the nature of love and the self. By the end of the sonnet, the speaker has not only made a compelling argument for why the lover should love him, but he has also crafted an ingenious riddle that celebrates the power of words, names, and desires in the context of love.
