Sonnet 147

William Shakespeare

My love is as a fever longing still,

For that which longer nurseth the disease;

Feeding on that which doth preserve the ill,

The uncertain sickly appetite to please.

My reason, the physician to my love,

Angry that his prescriptions are not kept,

Hath left me, and I desperate now approve

Desire is death, which physic did except.

Past cure I am, now Reason is past care,

And frantic-mad with evermore unrest;

My thoughts and my discourse as madmen’s are,

At random from the truth vainly expressed;

For I have sworn thee fair, and thought thee bright,

Who art as black as hell, as dark as night.

William Shakespeare’s Sonnet 147, titled “My Love Is As a Fever, Longing Still,” is a profound exploration of love, desire, reason, and the inner turmoil experienced by the speaker. This 14-line poem is part of Shakespeare’s collection of 154 sonnets, which are known for their rich language, emotional depth, and exploration of complex themes. In this analysis, we will delve into the poem’s structure, language, imagery, and themes to gain a deeper understanding of its meaning.

Sonnet Structure: Sonnet 147 follows the traditional Shakespearean or English sonnet form, consisting of three quatrains (four-line stanzas) followed by a final rhymed couplet (two-line stanza). The rhyme scheme of this sonnet is ABABCDCDEFEFGG.

Overall Meaning: The poem begins with the speaker comparing his love to a fever that continues to torment him. He describes how this love feeds on the very things that sustain it, creating an insatiable appetite. The speaker acknowledges that his reason, symbolized as a physician trying to cure his love, has given up because the patient (his love) is not following the prescribed treatment. Consequently, the speaker finds himself in a state of desperation, realizing that desire itself can be deadly. He concludes by contrasting his initial idealized perception of the beloved with the current, harsh reality – the beloved is now seen as dark and black as hell.

Detailed Analysis:

Quatrain 1 (Lines 1-4): “My love is as a fever, longing still For that which longer nurseth the disease; Feeding on that which doth preserve the sill, The uncertain sickly appetite to please.”

In the opening quatrain, the speaker introduces the central metaphor of the poem: love as a fever. This feverish love is described as “longing still,” indicating a persistent and unrelenting desire. The paradox here is that the more the speaker longs for his beloved, the more the feverish love grows. It “nurseth the disease” by sustaining and exacerbating the speaker’s suffering. The love “feeds on that which doth preserve the sill,” suggesting that it thrives on the very things that should soothe or cure it. This paradoxical nature of love is further highlighted as it tries to please an “uncertain sickly appetite,” emphasizing the fickle and unpredictable nature of desire.

Quatrain 2 (Lines 5-8): “My reason, the physician to my love, Angry that his prescriptions are not kept, Hath left me, and I desperate now approve Desire is death, which physic did except.”

In the second quatrain, the speaker introduces the idea of reason as a physician who has been trying to cure his love. However, reason is now “angry” because its prescriptions, or advice, have not been followed by the speaker’s heart. The consequence is that reason has abandoned the speaker, leaving him “desperate.” In this state of desperation, the speaker comes to a grim realization that desire itself can be lethal. He states that “Desire is death,” suggesting that excessive longing and desire can lead to one’s downfall, even though it was supposed to be the cure for the initial affliction.

Quatrain 3 (Lines 9-12): “Past cure I am, now reason is past care, And frantic-mad with evermore unrest; My thoughts and my discourse as madmen’s are, At random from the truth vainly express’d;”

In the third quatrain, the speaker acknowledges the hopelessness of his situation. He is “past cure,” and reason is no longer concerned about him. The speaker’s emotional state is characterized by being “frantic-mad” and constantly restless. His thoughts and speech are described as resembling those of madmen, lacking coherence and rationality. The speaker’s desperate longing for his beloved has driven him to a point of mental and emotional chaos.

Couplet (Lines 13-14): “For I have sworn thee fair and thought thee bright, Who art as black as hell, as dark as night.”

In the final couplet, the speaker contrasts his initial perception of the beloved with the current reality. He had previously idealized the beloved, swearing that they were fair and bright. However, now he sees the beloved as “black as hell, as dark as night.” This shift in perception reflects the disillusionment and bitterness that the speaker feels. The use of contrasting imagery – light and dark – emphasizes the stark difference between his idealized vision of love and the harsh truth.

Themes:

1. Love and Desire: The central theme of the poem is love and desire. The speaker’s love is portrayed as a feverish, insatiable longing that consumes him. He grapples with the destructive power of desire and how it can lead to disillusionment and despair.
2. Reason vs. Emotion: The poem explores the conflict between reason and emotion. The speaker’s reason, personified as a physician, tries to cure his love but ultimately abandons him when the irrationality of desire prevails.
3. Disillusionment: The poem highlights the theme of disillusionment as the speaker’s idealized perception of his beloved gives way to a harsher, more realistic view. This disillusionment is symbolized by the contrast between light and dark in the final couplet.
4. Mental Turmoil: The poem conveys a sense of mental and emotional turmoil as the speaker’s love drives him to madness and desperation. His thoughts and speech become disjointed and irrational.
5. Paradox of Desire: The poem underscores the paradoxical nature of desire – how it both sustains and destroys the lover. Desire keeps the speaker longing for his beloved but also leads to his downfall.

Language and Imagery:

Shakespeare employs rich language and imagery to convey the depth of the speaker’s emotions and the complexity of love. The use of metaphor, personification, and contrasting imagery helps to create a vivid and emotionally charged portrayal of the speaker’s inner turmoil.

• Metaphor of Love as a Fever: The central metaphor of love as a fever runs throughout the poem, emphasizing the consuming and feverish nature of the speaker’s emotions.
• Personification of Reason: Reason is personified as a physician who attempts to cure the speaker’s love but ultimately abandons him in frustration.
• Contrasting Imagery: The contrast between the speaker’s initial perception of the beloved as “fair and bright” and the current view of the beloved as “black as hell, as dark as night” serves to highlight the theme of disillusionment.
• Medical Imagery: The poem uses medical terminology and imagery, such as “prescriptions,” “physic,” and “past cure,” to convey the idea of love as an ailment or affliction.
• Madness Imagery: The poem employs imagery associated with madness, describing the speaker’s thoughts and speech as “frantic-mad” and “at random,” reinforcing the idea of emotional turmoil.

In conclusion, Shakespeare’s Sonnet 147, “My Love Is As a Fever, Longing Still,” offers a profound exploration of the complexities of love, desire, and reason. The poem takes the reader on a journey through the speaker’s emotional turmoil, from the feverish longing of love to the disillusionment and bitterness that follow. Through vivid language, metaphor, and contrasting imagery, Shakespeare masterfully conveys the inner conflict and mental turmoil experienced by the speaker, ultimately leaving the reader with a poignant reflection on the unpredictable and often destructive nature of desire.

FAQs

1. What is the central metaphor in Sonnet 147, and how does it shape the poem’s emotional landscape? In the tender tapestry of words, Shakespeare weaves a feverish metaphor of love, casting it as a relentless affliction that courses through the veins of the soul, inflaming desire with each passing moment. This metaphor serves as the heartbeat of the poem, infusing it with a passionate and feverish tone.
2. How does Shakespeare depict the paradoxical nature of love in this sonnet? Within the verses, the Bard deftly portrays love as a paradox, a fever that both sustains and devours the lover. It is a fire that feeds on the very sustenance meant to quench its flames, creating an insatiable hunger for the unattainable.
3. What role does reason play in the poem, and how does it contribute to the speaker’s emotional turmoil? Reason, personified as a caring physician, endeavors to mend the broken heart. However, its prescriptions, like fragile promises, go unheeded, leaving the speaker in a desperate state of emotional disarray.
4. How does Shakespeare convey the sense of desperation in the poem? The verses echo with the cries of desperation as the speaker’s reason abandons him, leaving him in a void of despair. This emotional landscape is painted with strokes of longing and torment, plunging the reader into the depths of the speaker’s anguish.
5. What is the significance of the line “Desire is death, which physic did except” in the context of the poem? In this line, Shakespeare reveals the stark truth that desire, once seen as a remedy, can become the very poison that leads to one’s downfall. It’s a poignant reflection on the irony of love, where what was meant to heal becomes the instrument of destruction.
6. How does the poem illustrate the conflict between reason and emotion? The poem vividly illustrates the eternal struggle between reason and emotion, where the heart’s wild desires often defy the rational mind’s attempts to impose order. It’s a timeless battle that resonates deeply with anyone who has grappled with the turbulence of love.
7. What is the significance of the final couplet in Sonnet 147? The final couplet serves as a dramatic culmination of the speaker’s emotional journey. It starkly contrasts the idealized perception of the beloved with the stark reality, underscoring the theme of disillusionment and the transformative power of love’s harsh truths.
8. How does Shakespeare employ contrasting imagery in the poem, specifically the contrast between light and dark? Through the juxtaposition of light and dark imagery in the final couplet, Shakespeare paints a vivid picture of the speaker’s shifting perceptions. It illuminates the stark difference between the initial idealization of love and the subsequent revelation of its darker, more painful facets.
9. How does Shakespeare use medical terminology and imagery in Sonnet 147? The Bard employs a rich tapestry of medical imagery, with phrases like “prescriptions,” “physic,” and “past cure.” These medical metaphors transform the poem into an emotional operating theater, where love is both the ailment and the elusive cure.
10. What emotions are evoked by the description of the speaker’s thoughts and speech as “frantic-mad” and “at random”? These descriptors evoke a sense of emotional chaos and turmoil. The speaker’s thoughts and words are no longer guided by reason but are untethered, reflecting the tumultuous state of his heart.
11. How does the poem resonate with the theme of disillusionment? Sonnet 147 resonates deeply with the theme of disillusionment, as it portrays the painful transformation of the speaker’s perception of the beloved from an idealized vision to a harsh reality. It’s a journey from the intoxication of love to the sobering truth.
12. What does the metaphor of the physician in the poem symbolize? The metaphor of the physician symbolizes reason’s attempt to heal the wounds of love. However, it also represents the limitations of reason in the face of overwhelming emotional forces.
13. Why does the speaker describe his love as “frantic-mad with evermore unrest”? This description encapsulates the speaker’s profound emotional turmoil. His love has driven him to a state of frenzied madness, marked by perpetual restlessness and longing.
14. How does Shakespeare’s use of language and imagery contribute to the emotional depth of the poem? Shakespeare’s masterful use of language and imagery immerses the reader in the rich emotional landscape of the poem. His words are like brushstrokes on a canvas, painting a vivid portrait of the speaker’s inner world.
15. What is the significance of the word “desire” in the poem? The word “desire” serves as a powerful focal point in the poem, embodying both the source of the speaker’s torment and the ultimate realization that it can lead to his downfall.
16. How does the poem capture the timeless and universal struggle of love and desire? Shakespeare’s Sonnet 147 captures the timeless and universal struggle of love and desire by delving into the depths of human emotions and portraying the eternal conflict between the heart and the mind.
17. What emotions are evoked by the contrast between the speaker’s initial perception of the beloved and the reality described in the final couplet? The contrast evokes a profound sense of disappointment, disillusionment, and bitterness. It’s a stark shift from the speaker’s idealized vision of love to a harsh, unvarnished truth.
18. What does the final couplet reveal about the transformative power of love? The final couplet reveals that love has the power to transform perceptions. It demonstrates how love can change something once seen as beautiful and radiant into something dark and forbidding.
19. How does the poem convey the idea that love’s intensity can border on madness? The poem conveys this idea through its depiction of the speaker’s emotional state as “frantic-mad.” It suggests that the depths of love can push a person to the brink of irrationality.
20. In what ways does Sonnet 147 exemplify the timeless and enduring nature of Shakespeare’s exploration of human emotions? Sonnet 147 stands as a testament to Shakespeare’s ability to plumb the depths of human emotions in a way that continues to resonate with readers across the ages. Its themes of love, desire, disillusionment, and emotional turmoil are as relevant today as they were in Shakespeare’s time, making it a timeless masterpiece of poetic expression.