Shakespeare's Sonnet VII.

Shakespeare’s Sonnet VII. 1564-1616

BEING your slave, what should I do but tend
Upon the hours and times of your desire?
I have no precious time at all to spend,
Nor services to do, till you require.

Nor dare I chide the world-without-end hour
Whilst I, my sovereign, watch the clock for you,
Nor think the bitterness of absence sour
When you have bid your servant once adieu;

Nor dare I question with my jealous thought
Where you may be, or your affairs suppose,
But, like a sad slave, stay and think of nought
Save, where you are how happy you make those!

So true a fool is love, that in your Will,
Though you do any thing, he thinks no ill.


response type #1:
In Shakespeare’s Sonnet VII the speaker feels enraged about how his love is not returned. The first words in the sonnet, stating “BEING your slave,” sets the tone and the type of relationship the speaker has with his love one. By comparing himself to a “slave,” the speaker reveals the relationship is not equal, but rather a master-servant bond in which he is the only one giving. Also by describing himself as a “slave,” he reveals his will is not his own, but is controlled by his lover. The repetition of “Nor dare” further evinces how his will is not his own as he cannot take any action without thought of his love one’s approval and seems to be exasperated that he is always waiting for her. His frustration of the perpetual waiting is shown through how he stresses time. The diction, “hours” and “times”, are repeated throughout the sonnet and also other related words, such as “watch” and “clock,” are stated as well, all dealing with the sense of waiting. Also it is evident that the speaker is infuriated through the usage of an exclamation mark when he agonies how his lover makes others “happy,” yet she never is concerned with his happiness.
However, instead of being a poem that only consists of a speaker's rants about not being loved, Shakespeare is able to cleverly instill guilt and shame to the addressed lover through the language utilized. Evoking the sense of guilt is most effectively done with the juxtaposition of the described unfair relationship to the speaker’s description of his yet unwavering love for her. The speaker describes his thoughts to be absent of “bitterness,” despite her negligence. Also even though she does nothing for him, “he thinks no ill.” Through setting this pretense of being at peace, it heightens the speaker’s selflessness acts, thus creating greater empathy for the pain he has experienced.
In Sonnet VII Shakespeare yet again proves his genius in conveying human feelings as well as evoking emotions from the reader.