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Sonnet 129
Sonnet 129 by William Shakespeare, which begins with the line "The expense of spirit in a waste of shame"
1 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 14, 2012
14 people want to read
About the author
William Shakespeare
28.6k books47.7k followersWilliam Shakespeare was an English playwright, poet, and actor. He is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon" (or simply "the Bard"). His extant works, including collaborations, consist of some 39 plays, 154 sonnets, three long narrative poems, and a few other verses, some of uncertain authorship. His plays have been translated into every major living language and are performed more often than those of any other playwright. Shakespeare remains arguably the most influential writer in the English language, and his works continue to be studied and reinterpreted.
Shakespeare was born and raised in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire. At the age of 18, he married Anne Hathaway, with whom he had three children: Susanna, and twins Hamnet and Judith. Sometime between 1585 and 1592, he began a successful career in London as an actor, writer, and part-owner ("sharer") of a playing company called the Lord Chamberlain's Men, later known as the King's Men after the ascension of King James VI and I of Scotland to the English throne. At age 49 (around 1613), he appears to have retired to Stratford, where he died three years later. Few records of Shakespeare's private life survive; this has stimulated considerable speculation about such matters as his physical appearance, his sexuality, his religious beliefs, and even certain fringe theories as to whether the works attributed to him were written by others.
Shakespeare produced most of his known works between 1589 and 1613. His early plays were primarily comedies and histories and are regarded as some of the best works produced in these genres. He then wrote mainly tragedies until 1608, among them Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet, Othello, King Lear, and Macbeth, all considered to be among the finest works in the English language. In the last phase of his life, he wrote tragicomedies (also known as romances) and collaborated with other playwrights.
Many of Shakespeare's plays were published in editions of varying quality and accuracy during his lifetime. However, in 1623, John Heminge and Henry Condell, two fellow actors and friends of Shakespeare's, published a more definitive text known as the First Folio, a posthumous collected edition of Shakespeare's dramatic works that includes 36 of his plays. Its Preface was a prescient poem by Ben Jonson, a former rival of Shakespeare, that hailed Shakespeare with the now famous epithet: "not of an age, but for all time".
Shakespeare was born and raised in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire. At the age of 18, he married Anne Hathaway, with whom he had three children: Susanna, and twins Hamnet and Judith. Sometime between 1585 and 1592, he began a successful career in London as an actor, writer, and part-owner ("sharer") of a playing company called the Lord Chamberlain's Men, later known as the King's Men after the ascension of King James VI and I of Scotland to the English throne. At age 49 (around 1613), he appears to have retired to Stratford, where he died three years later. Few records of Shakespeare's private life survive; this has stimulated considerable speculation about such matters as his physical appearance, his sexuality, his religious beliefs, and even certain fringe theories as to whether the works attributed to him were written by others.
Shakespeare produced most of his known works between 1589 and 1613. His early plays were primarily comedies and histories and are regarded as some of the best works produced in these genres. He then wrote mainly tragedies until 1608, among them Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet, Othello, King Lear, and Macbeth, all considered to be among the finest works in the English language. In the last phase of his life, he wrote tragicomedies (also known as romances) and collaborated with other playwrights.
Many of Shakespeare's plays were published in editions of varying quality and accuracy during his lifetime. However, in 1623, John Heminge and Henry Condell, two fellow actors and friends of Shakespeare's, published a more definitive text known as the First Folio, a posthumous collected edition of Shakespeare's dramatic works that includes 36 of his plays. Its Preface was a prescient poem by Ben Jonson, a former rival of Shakespeare, that hailed Shakespeare with the now famous epithet: "not of an age, but for all time".
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
July 2, 2017
It's a great poem, but unfortunately, as someone from the twenty-first century, all I can hear when I read this is Yoda's anger leads to hate speech.
August 14, 2021
I have arranged my takeaway thoughts in response to this sonnet into a haiku:
"The excuse persists.
Chewing rotten fruit, men say
‘No one could say no!’"
"The excuse persists.
Chewing rotten fruit, men say
‘No one could say no!’"
June 26, 2024
FULL REVIEW ON MY WEBSITE
https://thebookcornerchronicles.com/2...
This sonnet is anther average sonnet written by no other than William Shakespeare.
I gotta say that this wasn’t the greatest sonnet ever because the plot here felt like the most generic poem plot ever.
The writing style here was probably the best part of this poem because it was really on the level with William Shakespeare
https://thebookcornerchronicles.com/2...
This sonnet is anther average sonnet written by no other than William Shakespeare.
I gotta say that this wasn’t the greatest sonnet ever because the plot here felt like the most generic poem plot ever.
The writing style here was probably the best part of this poem because it was really on the level with William Shakespeare
November 30, 2024
I liked this one a little more. It was a little darker than the others. It talked about how lust isn't love and leads us down a dark path - murderous, bloody, savage, extreme. It's interesting how he leaves us a note of thought; that even though the whole world is aware of this, we still can't seem to stop the obsession. I enjoyed this one.
December 7, 2017
See also poetrysoup.com for a copy of this sonnet.
January 23, 2023
The Expense of Spirit in a Waste of Shame. Sonnet 129. Stoic sentiments indeed. **
November 2, 2016
Personal Response: I'm still not a fan of poetry but I read it anyways. I don't understand most of Shakespeare's sonnets either.
Plot: Does poetry have a plot? Anyways, Shakespeare says that "The expense of spirit is a waste of shame." and continues on to speak in riddles. But from what I have hypothesized Shakespeare could be talking about the lust of man. How dangerous it can be and how it is severely punishable.
Characterization: There really is no main character in this poem, so it is kind of difficult to explain.
Recommendation: I would recommend this to people about 20 or older. I´m sure only people old enough and smart enough would be able to understand what Shakespeare is talking about.
Plot: Does poetry have a plot? Anyways, Shakespeare says that "The expense of spirit is a waste of shame." and continues on to speak in riddles. But from what I have hypothesized Shakespeare could be talking about the lust of man. How dangerous it can be and how it is severely punishable.
Characterization: There really is no main character in this poem, so it is kind of difficult to explain.
Recommendation: I would recommend this to people about 20 or older. I´m sure only people old enough and smart enough would be able to understand what Shakespeare is talking about.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews