Line 1
The introductory word “when” sets the tone for the entire poem, framing “Sonnet 29” as an “if-then” scenario. The speaker might not currently be experiencing bad luck or public disfavor. However, the intense emotions in the following lines imply that feelings of loneliness and despair are not new to him. By line 9, he appears to derive a certain satisfaction from indulging in his self-pity.

Line 2
The repetition of “state” in lines 2, 10, and 14 highlights its importance in the poem. Its various meanings make it difficult to pinpoint the exact cause of the speaker’s rejection: “state” could mean a condition, a state of mind, social status, or an estate. Nonetheless, the adjective “outcast” carries a religious undertone (as in “outcast from Eden”), which is evident again in the last three lines of the sonnet.

Lines 3-4
The speaker’s cries to the heavens go unanswered by both nature and God. Feeling angry and abandoned, he turns to bitter sarcasm (when he ironically says he can “trouble” heaven) and curses his fate (“cursed my fate”).

Line 5
The second quatrain lists the speaker’s desires for changing his “state.” Despite these wishes, his condition remains almost as vague as before. For instance, someone “rich in hope” could be a more hopeful individual, or it might refer to someone with prospects of wealth.

Lines 6-7
The speaker continues to describe the types of people he envies, but he uses terms with ambiguous or multiple meanings. “Featured” can mean “handsome” or “formed,” and it refers to three possible groups: those “rich in hope,” those “with friends possessed,” and potentially those indicated by the speaker’s gesture in line 6. The speaker’s admiration for someone’s “art” could refer to their knowledge, skills, or abilities as a lover, while a man’s “scope” might signify his freedom or his range of understanding.

Line 8
This paradox is Shakespeare’s take on the saying “the grass is always greener on the other side”: whatever the speaker once valued or enjoyed is now no longer a source of pride or pleasure.

Lines 9-11
In line 9, the speaker reaches the depths of self-loathing, but then experiences a profound transformation. By a fortunate turn of events, his thoughts shift to his beloved, causing his spirits to lift like a lark, a bird known for ascending straight up while singing its morning song. The speaker’s comparison of his mood to a lark’s upward flight is the sole metaphor in “Sonnet 29,” just as the lone songbird is a distinct figure in the morning sky—and as the speaker has been isolated from the rest of humanity. The bird’s upward motion symbolizes the beginning of a new day, a renewal of spirits, and possibly an elevation in status; its song fills the silent sky, adding joy and life to what was a dark, somber poem. It is fitting that “lark” also functions as a verb, meaning “to play or frolic.”

Line 12
The earth is described as “sullen” for several reasons: its dull-colored soil, its sluggish movement, and the general melancholy of its inhabitants. The mood is vastly different for those who have risen above it—literally for the lark and figuratively for the speaker. The bird singing praises to the heavens mirrors the speaker glorifying his own earthly divinity.

Lines 13-14
The “wealth” brought by memories of the speaker’s beloved can be interpreted in several ways, each supported by earlier lines. While monetary wealth doesn’t align well with the theme of love, it could aid someone out of favor with material “Fortune” (line 1). A wealth of friends, talents, or opportunities, as wished for in lines 5 through 8, are all valid interpretations. However, a strong possibility lies in the connection between wealth and religion. The speaker feels saved through his devotion to a very different “King” (line 14) than Christ; perhaps his final state is so blissful that he prefers memories of his beloved over any heavenly kingdom.

The speaker’s “state” has dramatically shifted from utter hopelessness to sheer elation. Though he remains separate from humanity, he now does so by choice.