Words: 853
A similarly pleasing but slightly most ethereal take on the word would be the definition “of excellent breed or spirit”. Again the words honorable” and “distinguished” come up. If performing to a more low-brow audience the Bard may have chosen to play up the now lesser know definition “shoemaker” in an attempt at satire. Other definitions that can be taken into consideration Include “courteous”, “polite”, “cultivated”, “domesticated”, “tame”, “quiet”, “easily managed”, “soft”, “tender”, “pliant”, “supple”, “kind”, and “mild In disposition or behavior. Some of these seem to Imply that a woman worth adoration is a subservient one. “Grace” generally means by definition “the quality of producing favorable impressions: attractiveness, charm. However it has also been known to refer to the sister-goddess “regarded as the bestowed of beauty and charm, and portrayed as women of exquisite beauty. ” Shakespeare used the term Grace in such a way in The Tragedy of Tortuously and Caressed “Had I a sister were a Grace, or a daughter a Goddess, he should take his choice. Of course, taking the word grace off of its pedestal, it can be known to Just mean “thanks” or “permission. ” The next two lines should be discussed as a unit because they form a single thought. “But now my gracious numbers are decayed And my sick Muse doth give another place. ” “Gracious numbers” what might that refer to? The term “number” hasn’t much room for Interpretation but “gracious” Is very Interesting. “Gracious” Is defined as “Of a character likely to find favor” more specifically “kindly, benevolent, [and] courteous. If for some reason the poet wanted to take a more pompous stance, kind, indulgent and beneficent to inferiors” it could be heightened further to the point of blasphemous pomposity if the poet chooses “Of the Deity, Christ, the Virgin Mary: Disposed to show or dispense grace, merciful, compassionate, benignant” as he definition supplying opportunity for a good laugh for the right audience, but keep the language encrypted enough to keep one’s head. The next bit that paints a bit of imagery is “sick Muse. The initial synonyms that come to mind when given the word “sick” are “ill” or “unhealthy’, and “ill” actually appears in the first definition. However it can also mean “spiritually or morally ailing” or “morbid, enjoying sick humor” giving the phrase a less pathetic and more sinister twist. It could merely describe the Muss’s description as well. Shakespeare was the first to use sick in suck a way in Romeo & Juliet “Be not her Maid since she is ingenious, Her Vestal leery is but sick and Greene” here “sick” means “Of a sickly hue; pale, wan. ” “Muse” also has an interesting variable.
The initial assumption to a reader seeing as Shakespeare chose an uppercase “M” would be the one of the daughters of Zeus from Greek mythology. That goes along with “noble” and “kindly’ and the assumption that this is not a satire. However an interesting ambiguity on the the lowercase “m” “muse,” of which a listener to this sonnet would only be able to distinguish by the portrayal of the performer, is “bagpipe. “Bagpipe” is not only defined as an instrument, but “an inflated and senseless talker;” Now to describe this woman as a “bagpipe” follows more with the satirical take.
So with a matter of mere presentation a humble admirer and his pickled goddess can be construed into a self-righteous braggart and an obscene gossiper. It is easy to assume that the poet is sincere based on the next coupled line “l grant, sweet love, thy lovely argument Deserves the travail of a worthier pen. ” “Sweet-love” appears within sweets definition as “a term of affection for a beloved person. ” All definitions of sweet have very positive connotations until oh reevaluate definition c in the ODD: “gentle” which takes us back to the previously utilized definition: “shoemaker” again possibly portraying a less desirable woman. Travail” refers to “labor”, but worthy can either mean “distinguished by good qualities” or “sufficiently heavy or severe… Merited by default or wrong-doing. ” meet what of the thy poet doth invent He robs of thee and pays it thee again” While invent has the neutral “create” as a definition, it also has a negative connotation when given the alternative “to fabricate, feign, ‘make up’. ” The remainder of the piece is the most ugh worthy because it is so topically nice and yet it may seethe with sarcasm if given the second scenario. He lends thee virtue and he stole that word From thy behavior; beauty doth he give And found it in thy cheek; he can afford No praise to thee but what in thee doth live. Then thank him not for that which he doth say, Since what he owes thee thou thyself dost pay. ” This makes for the imagery of either a very humble, thankful admirer reminiscent of courtly love or a wretched mean shrew, who’s steaming at the ears at what she’s been told, all the while, being assured by her poet that he is merely reporting the facts as he sees them.