Romeo and Juliet - Sonnet 29

Sonnet 18 can relate to the play of Romeo and Juliet as in the beginning of Act 1 scene 1 Romeo admits to his friend Benvolio that he is depressed because he is in love with a woman who does not love him. He tells of Rosaline, her beauty, and complained that such beauty will die with her and fade away. He confesses that love has made him confused and fills him with many conflicted emotions.

The first eight lines of the sonnet begin with "When," show the speaker's feelings frustrated and hopeless or in despair and his alone, because he feels that he is not as good or as fortunate as others and by this he depresses himself. The speaker is saying in the sonnet the person is very depressed and is crying out for help but however cause he is such an outcast that not even "deaf heaven," meaning God and the angels of heaven are listening to his "bootless" cries. When he looks upon himself, he "curse[s] [his] fate".

In the middle of the sonnet, the speaker unleashes his envious feelings towards other men. He expresses his desire to possess their riches, looks, friends, skills and opportunities. The jealousy consumes him entirely that he finds himself totally dissatisfied with the things that usually bring him the most joy and happiness. This is shown when the speaker says "Desiring this man's art and that man's scope, With what I most enjoy contented least." This shows that he is envious of other men's possessions and riches and how he wants to be more like them.

Moving on to the last four lines before the couplet, he states "Yet in these thoughts myself almost despising", meaning he is thinking these thoughts and almost hating himself. I believe that the speaker is going back into a state of self-pity. Then expresses how he happens to think of his dear friend, and then to his own state or position in life at the current time. It is then that the speaker finds appreciation for his life and his spirits are raised like "the lark at break of day".

Sonnet 29 ends with a couplet that has an uplifting message. When the speaker remembers the love of his friend and what great things he has, makes him happy with his life, especially when he remembers how lucky he is to have his love. The couplet at the end then says "For thy sweet love remember'd such wealth brings, That then I scorn to change my state with kings." This tells me that when he does remember his love, he realizes he wouldn't trade places with kings or anyone. He goes from one point of feeling great sadness and depression to another point realizing how lucky and happy he is but also he is angry with himself for feeling such self-pity.

Sonnet 29 can relate to the play of romeo and Juliet as Romeo is depressed at the beginning of the play because his love for Rosaline is not returned. Rosaline has sworn off all men. Of course, as the play goes