Student Question

How does the poet's beloved affect him in Sonnet 29?

Quick answer:

In "Sonnet 29," the poet's beloved profoundly uplifts him from his despair. Initially, the speaker is consumed by self-pity, frustration, and envy of others' successes, feeling cursed by bad luck. However, when he thinks of his beloved, his mood transforms, and he finds joy and contentment. The beloved's love enriches him spiritually, making him feel wealthier than any king, thus dramatically altering his perspective.

Expert Answers

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In short, the thoughts of the speaker's beloved lift him out of his despondency.

For most of the poem, the speaker's feeling pretty sorry for himself. Everything seems to be going wrong in his life. He's profoundly frustrated at all the many setbacks he's experienced. The wheel of fortune, it would appear, has turned decisively against him, and he cannot help but curse his extraordinary bad luck. What's more, the speaker's incredibly bitter at the good fortune of others, spending an inordinate amount of time enviously "Desiring this man's art and that man's scope."

All that changes, however, when the speaker's thoughts turn to his beloved. At this point, his state "sings hymns at heaven's gate." Like a lark awaking with the dawn, the speaker realizes that the sweet love of his beloved brings him such wealth that he wouldn't change place with any king.

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