Williams Shakespeare and the Elizabethan Era

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Recommended: Critical appreciation on Shakespeare's sonnet 29

Shakespeare is unquestionably one of the most, if not the most, influential and renowned playwrights of the Elizabethan era. He was and still is recognized today for his boundless talent in the literary and theatrical worlds. Readers speculate whether he is writing about himself specifically and his own personal experiences or from other inspirations. Regardless, there is raw emotion and profound depth found in his words. In this particular piece, Shakespeare is in a troubled state and he is attempting to convey his feelings of distress and self pity; this is evident in his language, poetic devices, and content.
Most of Shakespeare's work contain multiple themes about various universal truths. In this sonnet, one of the most prevalent messages is to basically realize blessings and be aware that no matter how arduous life may become love can always be relied upon. All of his sonnets share basic characteristics, one of which being the undoubted form or expression of love (Leishman). In other words, this sort of extended theme that is carried into almost all his works involving the endowment that is love and its potential is clearly something significant to Shakespeare and something that he felt his audience should acknowledge. The indisputable bliss he feels when he finally thinks of his beloved suggest that complacency can spring solely from love alone despite any adversity; such as in this case as he is quite apparently lacking in the rest of his life (Davis). In layman's terms, there is power and dependability in love.
The use of imagery and other literary elements creates a specific tone and connects back to the motif. Two devices used continually throughout are alliteration and repetition. For example, paying particular a...

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...t resulting in an extended, yet temporary cessation of the theaters in London (Mabillard). At this same time, Robert Greene, an envious playwright lashed out with attacks denouncing Shakespeare (Mabillard). This could attribute to his feelings of an “outcast state”. Additionally, with such insults slewn at him from Greene, he likely felt shame as it was a sort of public condemning. This relates to the quote unquote disgrace in men’s eyes.

Works Cited
Davis. Sonnet# 29. Project Gutenberg, 2004.
Leishman, J. B. Themes and Variations in Shakespeare's Sonnets. London: Hutchinson, 1961. Print.
Mabillard, Amanda. "Sonnet 29." Shakespeare Online. N.p., 8 Dec. 2008. Web. 14 Apr. 2014.
Peake, Robert. "Shakespeare: “Sonnet 29″." Robert Peake RSS. N.p., 17 July 2006. Web. 14 Apr. 2014.
"Sonnet XXIX." Shakespeare's Sonnets. Oxquarry Books Ltd, n.d. Web. 14 Apr. 2014

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