William Shakespeare’s Sonnet 145, though often overlooked among his other works, stands out for its emotional depth and the subtle interplay of sound and meaning. Unlike many of his other sonnets that focus on love, beauty, and time, Sonnet 145 is a personal meditation on language, love, and the power of words to both wound and heal. The poem uses a specific and unique structure to convey a story of emotional turmoil and reconciliation, primarily through the themes of contradiction, mercy, and transformation.
Shakespeare’s Sonnet 145
Those lips that Love’s own hand did make
Breathed forth the sound that said “I hate”
To me that languished for her sake;
But when she saw my woeful state,
Straight in her heart did mercy come,
Chiding that tongue that ever sweet
Was used in giving gentle doom,
And taught it thus anew to greet:
“I hate” she altered with an end
That followed it as gentle day
Doth follow night, who, like a fiend,
From heaven to hell is flown away.
“I hate” from hate away she threw,
And saved my life, saying “not you.”
The Structure and Tone of Sonnet 145
Shakespeare’s Sonnet 145 adheres to the traditional structure of the Shakespearean sonnet: it consists of 14 lines, divided into three quatrains followed by a rhymed couplet. The rhyme scheme is ABAB CDCD EFEF GG, typical of the Shakespearean sonnet form. This structure allows for a progression of ideas or emotions, which, in this case, mirrors the speaker’s journey from despair to redemption. The language of the poem is simple and accessible, but the emotional depth lies in its interplay of the words and their changing significance.
The tone of the sonnet fluctuates throughout the poem, transitioning from despair to hope. In the first few lines, there is an overwhelming sense of frustration and sorrow, while in the final lines, the tone shifts toward relief and gratitude. This tonal shift is crucial for understanding the emotional arc of the speaker, who moves from pain to comfort.
Analysis of Sonnet 145
Lines 1–4
“Those lips that Love’s own hand did make
Breathed forth the sound that said “I hate”
To me that languished for her sake;
But when she saw my woeful state”
In these opening lines, Shakespeare immediately introduces the central conflict of the poem: the paradoxical use of “I hate” coming from the lips of the speaker’s lover. The first line is striking because it uses “Love’s own hand” to suggest that the speaker’s lover is divinely created or destined for love. Yet, these lips—typically associated with affection and tenderness—are paradoxically used to speak words of hatred: “I hate.”
The speaker’s response to these words is immediate and painful—he “languishes” for her sake. The use of the word “languish” connotes emotional suffering, as the speaker is in a state of distress due to the cruel words from someone he cares deeply for. However, the introduction of the lover’s awareness of the speaker’s suffering in line 4 (“But when she saw my woeful state”) sets the stage for the shift in the poem’s emotional tone. The lover’s realization of the speaker’s pain suggests that the hate was not truly meant, but rather uttered without thought or due to some misunderstanding.
Lines 5–8
“Straight in her heart did mercy come,
Chiding that tongue that ever sweet
Was used in giving gentle doom,
And taught it thus anew to greet:”
The next quatrain reveals the lover’s change of heart. “Mercy” enters her heart, and she “chides” her tongue for speaking harshly. The “tongue” that had been used for “giving gentle doom” (i.e., speaking in loving terms) now needs to be reprimanded. The word “doom” here refers to the harsh fate or judgment typically rendered through speech, but in the context of love, it could refer to the sweet, gentle judgments (such as “I love you”) that are typically shared between lovers. The lover’s change in attitude demonstrates her emotional growth, as she recognizes the hurt caused by her words and seeks to correct them.
Shakespeare uses “chiding” in the sense of a loving correction, which parallels the idea of disciplining oneself in love to ensure that such hurtful words are not repeated. The speaker’s lover is depicted as taking responsibility for her words, which reveals the complex emotional dynamic in the poem: a loving but imperfect relationship where communication must evolve.
Lines 9–12
“I hate” she altered with an end
That followed it as gentle day
Doth follow night, who, like a fiend,
From heaven to hell is flown away.”
The lover’s change of heart culminates in a dramatic transformation of her words. “I hate” is altered into something softer, more merciful, with the new phrase providing the emotional resolution to the conflict. Shakespeare compares the change to the way “gentle day” follows the dark night. The contrast between day and night here is symbolic: the night (representing hate and despair) is overcome by the arrival of day (representing mercy and healing). This comparison heightens the emotional depth of the transformation, with the lover’s words now offering not despair, but comfort.
The simile of the fiend being cast from heaven to hell adds another layer of meaning, suggesting that the hateful words were evil or demonic in nature. Just as a fiend is cast away, the destructive power of hate is rejected in favor of mercy and compassion. This transformation is a moment of redemption for both the speaker and his lover.
Lines 13–14
“I hate” from hate away she threw,
And saved my life, saying “not you.”
The final couplet confirms the full resolution of the poem’s conflict. The lover has not only altered her words but has cast aside the notion of hate entirely, throwing it “away.” This action saves the speaker’s emotional life. The final words, “not you,” confirm that the speaker’s worst fears—being the object of hatred—are unfounded. Instead, the lover affirms her affection, showing that her feelings are not of hatred, but of love.
This final line is a reaffirmation of the power of love to overcome emotional turmoil. The poem ends with a sense of relief and gratitude, as the speaker is saved from the pain of unreciprocated love and rejected words.
Conclusion
Shakespeare’s Sonnet 145 is a beautiful exploration of the emotional turmoil caused by words and the possibility of redemption through love. Through the transformation of a single word—”I hate”—the poem illustrates the power of language to heal and to hurt. The speaker’s emotional journey, from despair to relief, mirrors the power of love to correct and redeem. While the sonnet is short, its emotional depth and philosophical richness invite readers to reflect on the complexity of human relationships, communication, and the transformative nature of mercy. By focusing on a seemingly small but crucial shift in the speaker’s lover’s words, Shakespeare reminds us of the delicate balance between love and hate, and the power of words to either destroy or save.
