Poetry Explication of Sonnet 95 - Essay Example

Close Reading/Poetry explication of "Sonnet 95" 

In sonnet 95, the speaker depicts a paternal feeling while speaking to the addressee, where indeed the poet reminds his audience about way appearance can be so deceiving. The young man is relying on his good appearance to veil his sexual immorality. Being that he is handsome and attractive, people are reluctant to disapprove his behavior. In the first quadrant, the poet employs different stylistic devices, which include simile, as the young man is likened to a fragrant rose, and on the other hand, he is compared to a destructive worm, but all his dark side of life is hidden under his good looking and charming nature. What is important about this poem is the manner in which the speaker reminds the young man about his bad behavior and draws examples that makes him feel sorry about what he does behind his good-looking nature. By the use of diction, imagery, diction, images, metaphors and other figures of speech, such as tone of voice, allusions, syntax and structure of the speech, the speaker warns the young man against his sexual immorality, and reminds him that there are detrimental risks associated with his behavior if he does not change.

In the first quadrant, the speaker examines both sides of the young man’s life where he looks at the darker and better sides but most importantly demonstrating the way he misuses his good-looking ability to commit sexual crimes. However, the speaker does not condemn it openly but appreciates his good look “how sweet and lovely” (1), but then he wonders how he can afford to be such a disgrace "shame" (1). In this statement, the speaker shows two opposing characters that are contained in one person, as he relies on his good side to hide the bad characters. His “shame” (1) does not come in an outright way due to his good looking that attracts people and blind them to see his sexual immorality making him a “canker” (2). A canker is an internal growth, creating a flaw of character, but it is not seen ostensibly. People who try to criticize him find themselves weakened by his “fragrant rose” (2) and then fall victims of his acts and instead praise him. The speaker alludes to the fact that his sexual instead of might “spot” (3) may stain his reputation when he becomes an adult since he is still growing “budding” (3). He is very insensitive to realize that his good-looking nature would cost him as he uses his “sweet” (4) to hide his vices “sins enclose” (4).

The poet uses rhyme scheme of abab, cdcd, efef, gg. In this dictum, the readers comprehend the pattern while divulging the hidden traits of the young man. Similarly, the speaker uses imagery, which is contrasted with each other to prove how a bad character is really bad, and the good one is perfectly good, such as, "shame", and "beauty". It becomes ironical to comprehend how two opposing characters survive in one person. He is flawed in character, but good in his looks. Furthermore, sex is not communicated in the poem, but the readers would link this with the stressed beauty of the young man, as the persona reiterates that his good names have remained his strength in making something bad to turn good.

In the second quadrant, the speaker introduces the readers to the views of other people who speak it out. He states, “That tongue” (5) that accuses him, more so due to his wild lust “lascivious comments” (6). This means that people are able to point out his regrettable behaviors, but unfortunately, they just do it behind his back. The “tongues” are only active when he is not around, but one fundamental thing is that people in one way or another are not impressed with the way he behaves at times, but are silenced by his good-looking nature. They find themselves unable to disapprove him “Cannot dispraise” (7), but in its place change their criticism to praise “but a kind of praise” (7). It is clear in this regard that his beauty intimidates people and denies them the freedom to express what they feel about him.

The persona believes that it is imperative for the young man to understand that there are many whispers behind his back, and this would affect him when he grows old. “Naming thy name” (8) shows that the young man has a name that makes him safe for ridicule following his bad characters. The poet considers this “name” a blessing, which “blesses” (8), the young man to veil and masks his “ill report” (8). His “name” makes his look angelic and any calumnies against him do not survive because of the tag of beauty attached to his “name.” However, the readers see contrasting views of a good name, “dispraise” (7) and “praise” (7) shows that the speaker has divergent views about the young man. He implies that he has different traits that make him good at one point and bad in another instance.

In the third quadrant, the speaker makes a greater emphasis on the young man’s reliance on his good look to get away with his bad behaviors. In doing so, he metaphorically likens him to a “mansion” (9), which helps in hiding “those vices” (9). Not anything he does however badly is visible since they are all hidden under his beauty.  According to the speaker, his sins are easily contained in his beauty, and indeed, sins only survive where they are not attacked or punished “habitation chose out thee” (10). The beauty makes people focus only on the good and assume the worse. His good-looking seems to be shouting that it stops people from focusing on the young man’s sins. The sins are comfortably hidden and kept “Where beauty’s veil” (11), which indeed has the ability to “cover every blot” (11). However, he warns him that if he does not take precaution, he would later get disappointed. The beauty in him is a privilege that he should handle with care, lest it fades. He reiterates that all things change “all things turns” (12), and thus he should take care to get anything that his beauty gives him, but remember not to abuse it because there is a limited life to what the “eyes can see” (12).

In the closing marks, the speaker has expressed himself to the young man, and then gives him time to respond. The young seem agitated and the speaker responds by sounding more warning. He reminds him that the “privilege” (13) that he has been given is at his disposal, but the way he abuses it, it would turn against him. He implies that even the greatest strength goes down with time, and he relates the same with "hardest knife” (14), which become blunt at some time. The poet agrees that yes, the beauty is a greater advantage that the addressee has, but using it in a bad way the way he does while young would not ogre well with him when he becomes an adult. People may reject him and denies him the attention that he relies on for his immoral acts. This implies that if he can do something about his reputation presently, he would save himself from what awaits him. However, if he continues the same way, he might not like what would follow him after enjoying his youth.

Importantly, the poet dissects the young man’s abilities and his weaker points that would defame him as an adult. Even though he is good-looking and enjoying his youthful look, abusing this would place cost him later. In many occasions, the speaker seems to be impressed by the young man’s beauty, but is highly disappointed by the way, he abuses it. What is even more captivating is the way his beauty silences people who want to criticize him. They can only do it behind his back in whispers, but are unable to face him. However, the fact that they are able to rumor about it means that they are not happy about what he does. In other words, if the beauty can fade, then the people who were silenced by his beauty would turn against him and disapprove him of his bad traits.

Inferentially, the speaker is creative in applying different stylistic devices to communicate his ideas. For instance, there is a good application of imagery, metaphor, and smile that attracts the readers in exhuming what he communicates about the young man. In fact, every piece of literature fetches wide following and readership due to the humor applied. In this, the poet is very creative in applying humor that makes the poem enticing and interesting. Even though it appears to be a warning, the poet does not depict that conspicuously but reminds the young man about what follows evil deeds. For example, towards the end, the speaker tells the readers that all his abilities might go down at an advanced age, and thus people would turn against him despite the privilege he has. That is why he proposes to him to enjoy this advantage, but should not abuse it.