SELF SACRIFICE

Self-sacrifice by Stanislav Bogdanov

Sonnet 36 is one of my personal favourites because it portrays the power of love through self-sacrifice. This sonnet is perhaps the most revealing of Shakespeare’s intense love for his mysterious Fair Youth.

Shakespeare is here advocating a separation; a breakup for the lover's sake. He wants to protect his young friend from the gossipy claws of the Elizabethan society, a society that would frown upon their relationship. The poet does not want to tarnish the youth’s good name if his feelings for him become public. There must have been a triggering specific incident that put the two men in the limelight, risking a damaging scandal. Shakespeare does not seem worried about his own reputation. His only concern is to protect the reputation of his beloved friend, who is still young and untarnished. Although the two evidently love each other, Shakespeare decides that the best thing to do is to separate and not see each other any more.  Separation, he feels is the only way to protect his friend’s honour:

I may not ever-more acknowledge thee,

Lest my bewailed guilt should do thee shame… 

Shakespeare seems to blame himself for the unfortunate situation and reluctantly decides that the two must not be seen together in public.

He starts the poem with a very powerful line that focuses on two essential core aspects, the breakup and the oneness of their love. It is a paradox, in that separation (“twain”) is juxtaposed with the inseparable (“undivided” and “one”).

Let me confess that we two must be twain,

Although our undivided loves are one:

Shakespeare continues this narrative by accepting to bear the brunt of their disgrace in order to save his friend from being stained by scandal (“blot”). He says that despite the wicked forces that compel them to separate, their love will always endure. Sadly, their separation will deprive them of sharing those magical moments together.

So shall those blots that do with me remain,

Without thy help, by me be borne alone.

In our two loves there is but one respect,

Though in our lives a separable spite,

Which though it alter not love's sole effect,

Yet doth it steal sweet hours from love's delight.

In the final sestet of this sonnet Shakespeare takes the blame and reiterates that he cannot publicly greet his lover, as he doesn’t want to undermine the youth’s reputation by bringing shame on him. He halfheartedly asks the young man to ignore him, should they meet in public. The poet cannot let his friend risk losing his good name. However, Shakespeare ends the sonnet with a powerful final couplet emphasising that his love is so deep that he is one with his lover, as is the young man’s own good name is one with his. 

The desperate measure that Shakespeare has taken to defend the good name and reputation of his lover is the epitome of self-sacrifice in the name of true love. It is overwhelming.

Listen to Sir John Gielgud  read this sonnet here. 

Let me confess that we two must be twain,

Although our undivided loves are one:

So shall those blots that do with me remain,

Without thy help, by me be borne alone.

In our two loves there is but one respect,

Though in our lives a separable spite,

Which though it alter not love's sole effect,

Yet doth it steal sweet hours from love's delight.

I may not evermore acknowledge thee,

Lest my bewailed guilt should do thee shame,

Nor thou with public kindness honour me,

Unless thou take that honour from thy name:

But do not so, I love thee in such sort,

As thou being mine, mine is thy good report.