William Shakespeare’s Dark Lady sonnets address infatuation, lust, obsession, and remorse felt by an anonymous speaker towards a mysterious dark lady. The highs and lows of their seemingly one-sided relationship are revealed throughout the progression of the sonnets. Shakespeare implements these emotions effortlessly, suggesting the relationship was experienced first-hand. This lust-driven passion is portrayed in Shakespeare’s style, which contains diverse diction, extensive depth, and figurative language that is complemented by the numerous themes of the sonnets. For example, the way Shakespeare describes the lovers’ relationship is left to the interpretation of the reader. Shakespeare’s style and poetic structure achieve an overall tone,
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Love is hinted to as “strange maladies” in this sonnet by the Speaker because he now views it as a sickness (153, 8). As a result of this shift, the Speaker’s attitude towards this love has changed from desperate desire to desperate remorse. In the previous sonnets, the Speaker’s love seems unconditional and almost irrational, however now the reader sees that the Speaker is actively trying to rid himself of this disease by saying, “[I’m] sick withal the help of bath desired” (153, 10). A bath being where he would find this cure, has been proved to work on other men in the lines, “And grew a seeting bath which yet men prove, against strange maladies a sovereign cure” (153, 7-8). Furthermore, Shakespeare begins the sonnet with simple words for clarity; as the lines progress he utilizes words like, “sovereign,” “withal”, “thither”, and “hied” to indicate the tone (153, 8, 11-12). This sonnet assumes a pessimistic tone, similar to the Speaker’s change in perspective on the love he had sought after. Many men had been cured of the love that plagued them, but in spite of this the Speaker’s attempt at cleansing failed. The Speaker’s shift in perspective on love, active attempt at cleansing, and negative diction indicate a different form of desperation in reaction to the
Love is hinted to as “strange maladies” in this sonnet by the Speaker because he now views it as a sickness (153, 8). As a result of this shift, the Speaker’s attitude towards this love has changed from desperate desire to desperate remorse. In the previous sonnets, the Speaker’s love seems unconditional and almost irrational, however now the reader sees that the Speaker is actively trying to rid himself of this disease by saying, “[I’m] sick withal the help of bath desired” (153, 10). A bath being where he would find this cure, has been proved to work on other men in the lines, “And grew a seeting bath which yet men prove, against strange maladies a sovereign cure” (153, 7-8). Furthermore, Shakespeare begins the sonnet with simple words for clarity; as the lines progress he utilizes words like, “sovereign,” “withal”, “thither”, and “hied” to indicate the tone (153, 8, 11-12). This sonnet assumes a pessimistic tone, similar to the Speaker’s change in perspective on the love he had sought after. Many men had been cured of the love that plagued them, but in spite of this the Speaker’s attempt at cleansing failed. The Speaker’s shift in perspective on love, active attempt at cleansing, and negative diction indicate a different form of desperation in reaction to the