Widely perceived to be a bit of a cliché work of art, Sonnet 24 is a
haven for the largely common place Renaissance conceit connecting heart and eye. One Henry
Charles Beeching even speculates that it might be a half-serious spoof of a clichéd
type of poem. However, we will strive to take it as seriously as possible
because there is really no way Shakespeare could have been goofing off on any
Sonnets... Or is there?
As has already been noted, this Sonnet hinges on a metaphorical bond
between the eye and the heart. An irrevocably essential combination as one can
quite literally fall in love with what or whom they have seen. Whilst of course
other senses: smell, hearing and touch are quite important; they fall well
short of the influence sight has.
Personifying the eyes from the very first
line, serves to ensure clarity in what is to be expressed and gives the rest of
the Sonnet a bit of a categorical tone. On the other hand, there seems to be a
notable implication that this love is a bit of a superficial one. Obviously,
this is no problem for most of us because we prefer that love, it's definitely
the looks that really matter but Shakespeare's love should be made of sterner
stuff.
Just as the eyes are the painter, the heart the canvas, the body is the
frame, one would think seeing as the persona is naught but a frame, he plays a
very minimal role in this whole arrangement and yet no, it is only by him, by
his eyes even the subject of the canvas, the Fair Youth can know his true
beauty, his true worth. Wow...really???
Perfectly understandable if only the
rest of us had to be shown by the painter what lies within the canvas,
"For .... must you see his skill...To find where your true mage pictured
lies," but for the Fair Youth hmmm. This seems a lot like an unhealthily
dependant relationship, possibly without meaning to imply it, Shakespeare is
simply saying the Youth's worth hinges on his ability to express it. In sterner
terms, the Youth is worthless without the persona. The modern day equivalent of
an abusive relationship. Admittedly, we've clearly taken a bit of a negative
swing at Shakespeare here where lines 5 and 6 could simply be pointing to a
beauty glittered with flattery; the sort of flattery only the 'painter' could
properly deliver and thus vindicating the persona's words.
Like true soul mates (if we can go that far), the Youth's eyes also have
a part to play in this quite remarkable relationship,
they see into the persona's heart. It is either these are pretty penetrative
eyes or Shakespeare is helplessly susceptible. The latter does seem to be the
more plausible scenario seeing as he appears to lament the fact that his own
eyes are not capable of the same in the final couplet. Based merely on this and
calls to preserve the 'love' in the previous Sonnet, it does seem as if some
sort of infidelity exists and the poet is the victim. Read into it what you
will considering that everyone thinks it is pretty convenient to play the
victim.
Sonnet 24 may not be the most dramatic Sonnet, definitely not the most emotive and the
analysis had us clutching at straws for quite a bit and yet embroidered in its
lethargic nature are some interesting insights into the relationship the Fair
Youth and Shakespeare shared.