Free College Essays - Sleep in Shakespeares Sonnet XXVII :: free essay writer

Motif of Sleep in Shakespe bes Sonnet XXVII In William Shakespeares Sonnet 27, a motif that can be followed throughout the poem is that of sleep and weariness. This motif is used to reinforce the theme of the entire sonnet that the speaker cannot sleep due to notions of his lover. The speakers wording supports the theme of work and toil. Words like zealous, drooping, repose, haste, and expired illustrate the weariness that the speaker is tactility, and help to give import to the fact that he can not sleep. Although the speaker is so very tired, ... my thoughts, from far where I abide, intend a zealous pilgrimage to thee ..., when the speaker describes the thought of his lover as one that Makes black night beauteous and her old face new, the reader knows that the weariness of the speaker is not aggravated by these thoughts, they are positive. .. . By sidereal day my limbs, by night my mind, for thee and for myself no quiet find. This line is a summation of the problems faced by the speaker. From working hard all day long to only be faced with thoughts of his lover at night is torturous, and the reader cant help but get a feeling that the speaker is obsessed. This sonnet is so unique due to the fact that it is a simple love poem made so subtle due to a lack of mention of the actual lover. The words thee and thy appear only three times in the poem. Shakespeare has once again captured a feeling so overused in poems and stories in a fresh and original way that wins over audiences to this day. Sonnet XXVII 1.....Weary with toil, I haste me to my bed, 2.....The dear repose for limbs with travel tired 3.....But wherefore begins a journey in my head, 4.....To work my mind, when bodys works expired