Sonnet 29 Tone

Life is painful but joyful. Sonnet 29 is an epitome of the word “bittersweet” because the sonnet highlights unfairness and relentlessness of fate but it points out the source of bliss in life. After expressing his negative sentiments, the speaker manifests that love is the ultimate and powerful element that brings confidence, joy, and satisfaction to an otherwise unpleasant journey, life. In order to spotlight the magical chemistry of love, the speaker utilizes strong diction, vivid metaphors and stark contrasts to convey his point.
The first quatrain of the sonnet serves to emphasize the exclusion that the speaker experiences which makes him abhor his fate. Complaining that he “all alone beweep [his] outcast state”, the speaker uses alliteration

to highlight his isolation from ordinary society. The sound “a” presents the sound of a sigh which guides the readers into depressing moods. Further describing the heaven as “trouble deaf”, the speaker alludes to the hopelessness in life because there is no possible remedy to fix one’s fate. Then, in the second quatrain, the speaker presents contrasts which underscore the difference between him and the other men. Using words such as “wishing” and “desiring”, the speaker conveys that he is not satisfied with his own life; instead he is jealous of what other has. The speaker then uses the words “art” and “scope”, with positive connotations, to imply how other men are elite in which they possess skills and knowledge. In contrast, the speaker illustrates himself as an incompetent and mere average member in society as he yearns for skills that he doesn’t possess.
The third quatrain of the sonnet functions as a transition from hatred to joy. Sank into the abyss without hope, the speaker seeks a path to light. The metaphor “like to the lark at break of day arising” reveals a delightfulness because lark signifies an adventurous song-bird, signifying cheerfulness. The speaker takes advantage of enjambment in this line in order to create a smooth pace that emphasizes the unhindered happiness. Continuing with the metaphor, the speaker introduces another contrast of earth and heaven. Although the lark lives on earth that is full of melancholy, the lark still manages to live with optimism following God’s guidance. The “h” sound alliteration used for “hymns” and “heaven’s gate” delineates a weightless atmosphere, obliterating all the burdens in life. Now the question is where did the happiness come from?
The couplet, in the end, proposes that love is the magical source of joy. Love is intangible, but the speaker approves of the wealth that love brings forth. The speaker confidently compares himself with the kings and suggests that the wealth of the kings never surpasses the blessings of love because he is more than contented with his fate.