Shakespeare's 10th Sonnet (Hardcore Analysis) (Patreon)

Shakespeare's tenth sonnet sees our writer continue to implore the Fair Youth to 'make another self'. 

But who is he really talking to? And is Shakespeare's procreation sequence proving to be persuasive?

Video Timestamps:

• 0:00 Shakespeare’s persuasion
• 1:57 who is Shakespeare addressing?
• 4:00 why was the youth hesitant to marry?
• 7:00 the sonnets become dramatic
• 7:56 reading this sonnet together
• 8:10 Shakespeare shames the youth
• 9:30 the Old English of the sonnets
• 13:00 the volta of this sonnet
• 14:00 the drama of change
• 16:00 the difficulty of changing
• 18:00 your thoughts on this sonnet?

Sonnet IX

For shame deny that thou bear'st love to any,

Who for thy self art so unprovident.

Grant, if thou wilt, thou art beloved of many,

But that thou none lov'st is most evident:

For thou art so possessed with murderous hate,

That 'gainst thy self thou stick'st not to conspire,

Seeking that beauteous roof to ruinate

Which to repair should be thy chief desire.

O! change thy thought, that I may change my mind:

Shall hate be fairer lodged than gentle love?

Be, as thy presence is, gracious and kind,

Or to thyself at least kind-hearted prove:

Make thee another self for love of me,

That beauty still may live in thine or thee.

Shakespeare's Sonnets Project

• Sonnet I
• Sonnet II
• Sonnet III
• Sonnet IV
• Sonnet V
• Sonnet VI
• Sonnet VII
• Sonnet VIII
• Sonnet IX 

Questions for you:

1) When was the last time you changed? Did that change come from within, or because someone else wanted you to change? And how difficult was that change?

2) Do you feel as though you know these characters by this point? Do you feel more sympathy for the speaker or the young man? 

Happy sonneteering, folks!