Shakespeare

[bobbinj.livejournal.com]

I know I haven't been here in a while, school craziness, which has died down, it's amazing, I've never had everything but finals done before December before. There's always at least two research papers to begin at this time, but no, I'm done, and I can't believe it I have free time... So I read Shakespeare's sonnets... for fun. And came across this one which made me think of Gen and Irene and therefore happy:



Sonnet 150
O, from what power hast thou this powerful might
With insufficiency my heart to sway,
To make me give the lie to my true sight
And swear that brightness doth not grace the day?
Whence hast thou this becoming of things ill,
That in the very refuse of thy deeds
There is much strength and warrantise of skill
That in my mind thy worst all best exceeds?
Who taught thee how to make me love thee more,
The more I hear and see just cause of hate?
O, though I love what others do abhore,
With others thou shouldst not abhor my state:
If thy unworthiness rais'd love in me,
More worthy I to be beloved of thee.

Comments

[frosted-feather.livejournal.com]

How wonderful! From Gen's point of view, I see how the lines "Who taught thee how to make me love thee more/The more I hear and see just cause of hate?" perfectly describe what Gen must have gone through in loving the Queen despite what she'd done. Even the ending, when he says "With others thou shouldst not abhor my state," is confessing his own disqualifications for her to love him. The ending, "more worthy I to be beloved of thee," is sweet.

But at the same time, I think the sonnet could be seen as from Irene's point of view. Certainly her nobles would hate Gen and all he stood for, but she could see that "There is much strength and warrantise of skill" in Gen. :) And she seems to dislike herself for her own deeds, so "with others thou shouldst not abhor my state" applies to her as well.

I've discovered that having some existing story in my head when I read some of these poems or ancient tales makes them come alive in a new way, when sometimes the text on its own isn't enough to take my interest. Thanks for sharing!

[bobbinj.livejournal.com]

I know what you mean, I read different parts from different points of view for them, sometimes Gen, sometimes Irene

[freenarnian.livejournal.com]

Ooh, that is fitting!

One of my favorites is Sonnet CXXX (130), and it always makes me think of Attolia from Gen's perspective, particularly the end:

My mistress' eyes are nothing like the sun;
Coral is far more red, than her lips red:
If snow be white, why then her breasts are dun;
If hairs be wires, black wires grow on her head.
I have seen roses damasked, red and white,
But no such roses see I in her cheeks;
And in some perfumes is there more delight
Than in the breath that from my mistress reeks.
I love to hear her speak, yet well I know
That music hath a far more pleasing sound:
I grant I never saw a goddess go,
My mistress, when she walks, treads on the ground:
And yet by heaven, I think my love as rare,
As any she belied with false compare.

Because of that description he gives of Attolia in The Thief, recognizing her imitation of the real goddess (and being able to make the comparison, now that he's seen the real thing). And because he sees in her what others can't.

[bluejayfic.livejournal.com]

I love that one. And I thought of it too when I saw this post.

Though if he ever actually read that to her, she would probably threaten to cut off his tongue.

[bobbinj.livejournal.com]

Ohhh I love that one! I never made the connection before but I totally see it now, especially "My mistress, when she walks, treads on the ground"

[freenarnian.livejournal.com]

Also, I love your icon. I think Lewis pretty much summed up the great conundrum that is my life, in that quote! ;)

[bobbinj.livejournal.com]

Thanks, Lewis is full of little tidbits like that :)