Innocence

A detailed Summary of Innocence

Love's Lustful Loss of Innocence

Chris Isaac once wrote in his song, "Wicked Game," "The world was on fire, nobody could save me but you. Strange what desire makes foolish people do." Like the potent authority desire establishes in Isaac's lyrics, two loves of equal attraction, one pure and angelic, and one corrupt, carnal and demonic, dominate and complicate the speaker's every lustful, love-filled and worrisome thought in Sonnet 144. Unlike many sonnets of Shakespeare's day, it is a beautiful young man who is the cardinal figure of love, desire and innocence rather than the gorgeous young lady. In contrast as well, a sexually promiscuous and destructive temptress rather than the beautiful heroine of honor and integrity becomes the culprit who attempts to steal the speaker's boyhood angel from his side. However, like Isaac's song, Shakespeare's Sonnet 144 is an example of love's powerful control over the human mind and body where the corrupting influences of every man's deep-seated lustful desires rest.

In the first quatrain, Shakespeare establishes one of the primary themes in this sonnet, which is that of control. More specifically, it is the control that stems from love and lust's natural power to e

Suspect I may, yet not directly tell;

I guess one angel in another's hell.

Like Isaac's lyrics, Shakepeare's Sonnet 144 illustrates love and desire's natural effect on the human psyche, which may make us all act strange or foolish at some point and time in our lives. More specifically, this work demonstrates the deep inner conflict which results from love's unique control. More importantly, Sonnet 144 is an attempt by Shakespeare to try to illuminate the idea that with all of love's comfort, much despair may also result. Though love can bring out the best in all of us, it can easily be tainted and expose the worst in all human beings. However, it is in his use of language that he adds both deeper meaning and complexity to this sonnet. Thus Shakespeare allows it to be interpreted and experienced differently by all who analyze it. In this process, he has created a unique intellectual and emotional experience for each individual reader.

but being both from me, both to each friend,

Next, the third quatrain expresses primarily the themes of despair, uncertainty, anxiety and suspicion that love and passion create within the speaker's mind due to the dark lady's treacherous actions. In these four lines the speaker displays his uncertainty about the young man's interaction with the temptress. Though he suspects his young man's inevitable transformation into a "fiend" just like the dark woman, he is not totally certain. However, because the two have a connection through the speaker, his suspicion leads him to believe that they are most likely together.

xploit all human beings' inherent ability to love and desire. In these first four lines, the speaker discusses his internal battle between lust's strong irrational influence and his own logical reasoning. It is clear here that though the speaker is fonder of his assumed schoolboy lover, or the "better angel" as he refers, than his dark mistress, or the "worser spirit," both impose their strong lustful control over him by arousing his desire-soaked heart. However, in lines one and two he notes that though one of his loves may be of "comfort," and the other of "despair," they are both like "spirits" to him, who "do suggest me still." By using "still" at the end of the line, Shakespeare implies the idea of not being in control of oneself, of being helpless under desire's wicked spell. Moreover, from these two lines it is obvious the speaker is one of steadfast love for both his young man and the evil temptress who both constantly arouse his lustful heart. However, by utilizing such strong words as "comfort" and "despair" to describe the effects both lovers have upon the speaker's psyche, he still cannot help but refer to them both as his "spirits." In using a positive word like this to refer to his two loves, Shakespeare implies a sense of equality in the obsession this man has for both individuals. Though the speaker is able to see the dark woman's true inner evil, he still maintains a strong obsession and desire for her as well. Thus, no matter how demonic she is, she still possesses a high degree of control over him. Consequently, his rational judgment is blurred to the point that he blindly sees past the hurt which the dark lady's triangle of love is having upon him. By doing this, Shakespeare creates this theme of logical versus irrational thought where love and lust are powerful and potent vehicles through which desire inhibits human reason; thus, desire continues to wrap its ropes of control tighter and tighter around the speaker's fragile heart.

In the final couplet Shakespeare reinforces this idea of doubt and uncertainty mentioned throughout the sonnet. Like line 13, it is now obvious his suspicion has turned to complete uncertainty. Though he may "live in doubt" at the moment, he is convinc

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Approximate Word count = 2569
Approximate Pages = 10 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English