William Shakespeare‘s Sonnet 143 is a complex and deeply emotional exploration of love, neglect, and the pursuit of unattainable desires. This essay will analyze the overall structure and tone of the poem, followed by a detailed examination of each quatrain and the concluding couplet, focusing on their literary techniques and thematic significance.
Shakespeare’s Sonnet 143
Lo, as a careful huswife runs to catch
One of her feathered creatures broke away,
Sets down her babe, and makes all swift dispatch
In pursuit of the thing she would have stay,
Whilst her neglected child holds her in chase,
Cries to catch her whose busy care is bent
To follow that which flies before her face,
Not prizing her poor infant’s discontent;
So runn’st thou after that which flies from thee,
Whilst I, thy babe, chase thee afar behind.
But if thou catch thy hope, turn back to me
And play the mother’s part: kiss me, be kind.
So will I pray that thou mayst have thy will,
If thou turn back and my loud crying still.
The Structure and Tone of Sonnet 143
Sonnet 143 adheres to the traditional structure of a Shakespearean sonnet, consisting of 14 lines, organized into three quatrains (four-line stanzas) followed by a rhyming couplet. The rhyme scheme is ABAB CDCD EFEF GG, characteristic of Shakespeare’s sonnets.
The tone of the poem is sorrowful and plaintive, with a deep sense of longing and frustration. The speaker, addressing his lover, expresses feelings of abandonment, emphasizing the emotional pain caused by the lover’s preoccupation with something or someone else. Despite this, the tone is not one of bitterness but rather a desperate plea for attention, care, and reciprocation of love.
Analysis of Sonnet 143
Lines 1–4
Lo, as a careful huswife runs to catch
One of her feathered creatures broke away,
Sets down her babe, and makes all swift dispatch
In pursuit of the thing she would have stay,
In the opening quatrain, Shakespeare employs a metaphor comparing the lover to a “careful huswife” (housewife). This figure, typically associated with domestic responsibility and nurturing, is shown abandoning her infant to pursue a “feathered creature” (likely a bird or a metaphor for something fleeting). The imagery evokes the idea of something important being neglected—her child, in this case—while she chases after what seems to be a more pressing concern. The “swift dispatch” indicates urgency and commitment to the chase, suggesting that the pursuit is of something fleeting and difficult to hold onto.
The metaphor emphasizes a dual neglect: the lover (represented by the child) is ignored while the object of desire (symbolized by the bird) is actively sought. The speaker is setting up a comparison to his own situation, where he is the neglected one in the pursuit of a lover who chases after something that is not him.
Lines 5–8
Whilst her neglected child holds her in chase,
Cries to catch her whose busy care is bent
To follow that which flies before her face,
Not prizing her poor infant’s discontent;
The second quatrain deepens the image of neglect. The neglected child, symbolizing the speaker, “holds her in chase”—in other words, the speaker is metaphorically chasing after the lover, trying to gain their attention, but to no avail. The “busy care” of the mother is focused on the pursuit, and the child’s cries are ignored. Shakespeare uses this to emphasize the imbalance in the relationship, where the lover’s “busy care” is consumed by something that “flies before her face,” a fleeting distraction, while the speaker’s “poor infant’s discontent” is undervalued.
This section poignantly highlights the emotional neglect the speaker feels, likening it to a child crying for the attention of a mother who is too preoccupied to notice. The metaphor of the child chasing after the mother reinforces the vulnerability and powerlessness the speaker feels in the relationship.
Lines 9–12
So runn’st thou after that which flies from thee,
Whilst I, thy babe, chase thee afar behind.
But if thou catch thy hope, turn back to me
And play the mother’s part: kiss me, be kind.
In the third quatrain, the speaker directly addresses the lover. The “runst thou after that which flies from thee” suggests that the lover is chasing something that is elusive, much like the metaphorical bird. This captures the futility of the lover’s pursuit: the object of their desire is unattainable, and their chasing only distances them further from the speaker.
The speaker then asks the lover, “if thou catch thy hope,” to turn back and return to them. The lover is urged to “play the mother’s part” and provide the care and affection that has been so lacking. The image of the mother turning back to her neglected child is now used to plead for the lover’s return and attention. The words “kiss me, be kind” are simple yet powerful requests for affection, underscoring the speaker’s longing for emotional reciprocation.
This stanza suggests that while the lover chases after unattainable desires, the speaker is willing to forgive and offer them unconditional love, as long as the lover returns to them.
Lines 13–14
So will I pray that thou mayst have thy will,
If thou turn back and my loud crying still.
In the final couplet, the speaker resolves to pray for the lover’s happiness, but only on the condition that they return to the speaker and end their emotional suffering. The “loud crying” refers to the distress the speaker has been experiencing, which will cease once the lover returns and shows the care and affection that the speaker has been seeking.
The resolution to pray for the lover’s happiness, even in their neglect, is a testament to the speaker’s love and sacrifice. It suggests a relationship where the speaker is willing to endure hardship and emotional turmoil for the sake of the lover, but only if the lover acknowledges their pain and returns to them.
Conclusion
Shakespeare’s Sonnet 143 is a poignant meditation on love, neglect, and the emotional pain of unrequited or misdirected affection. Through the extended metaphor of the neglectful mother and her child, the poem explores themes of longing, abandonment, and the delicate balance of emotional care in a relationship. The speaker’s voice is filled with both vulnerability and resolve, pleading for the lover’s attention while also expressing a willingness to forgive and support the lover’s desires. Ultimately, Sonnet 143 serves as a powerful commentary on the complexities of love, highlighting the painful consequences of emotional neglect, while still maintaining the hope of reconciliation and tenderness.
