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Shakespeare’s Sonnet 23 and the Imagery of Parts and Wholes

Illustration by Mirko Ilic, New York Times Book Review (1996)

By NAMEENXXXDateDr. Howe

Poet describes himself as “unperfect” (1) in his ability to express the forms and “ceremon[ies]” (6) of love

Poet pleads with his beloved to read his love in his “looks” (9), which more perfectly express what he cannot in poetry

Shakespeare, Sonnet 23*

As an unperfect actor on the stageWho with his fear is put besides his part,Or some fierce thing replete with too much rage,Whose strength's abundance weakens his own heart.So I, for fear of trust, forget to say

[5The perfect ceremony of love's rite,And in mine own love's strength seem to decay,O'ercharged with burden of mine own love's might.O, let my looks be then the eloquenceAnd dumb presagers of my speaking breast,

[10Who plead for love and look for recompenseMore than that tongue that more hath more express'd. O, learn to read what silent love hath writ: To hear with eyes belongs to love's fine wit.

* Reading by Cori Samuels, available at Librivox.org

Note the

play of

part and

whole?

Image via Hit Pause by Lisa Lenoir

Shakespeare, Sonnet 23

As an unperfect actor on the stageWho with his fear is put besides his part,Or some fierce thing replete with too much rage,Whose strength's abundance weakens his own heart.So I, for fear of trust, forget to say

[5The perfect ceremony of love's rite,And in mine own love's strength seem to decay,O'ercharged with burden of mine own love's might.O, let my looks be then the eloquenceAnd dumb presagers of my speaking breast,

[10Who plead for love and look for recompenseMore than that tongue that more hath more express'd. O, learn to read what silent love hath writ: To hear with eyes belongs to love's fine wit.

Shakespeare, Sonnet 23

As an unperfect actor on the stageWho with his fear is put besides his part,Or some fierce thing replete with too much rage,Whose strength's abundance weakens his own heart.So I, for fear of trust, forget to say

[5The perfect ceremony of love's rite,And in mine own love's strength seem to decay,O'ercharged with burden of mine own love's might.O, let my looks be then the eloquenceAnd dumb presagers of my speaking breast,

[10Who plead for love and look for recompenseMore than that tongue that more hath more express'd. O, learn to read what silent love hath writ: To hear with eyes belongs to love's fine wit.

Shakespeare, Sonnet 23

As an unperfect actor on the stageWho with his fear is put besides his part,Or some fierce thing replete with too much rage,Whose strength's abundance weakens his own heart.So I, for fear of trust, forget to say

[5The perfect ceremony of love's rite,And in mine own love's strength seem to decay,O'ercharged with burden of mine own love's might.O, let my looks be then the eloquenceAnd dumb presagers of my speaking breast,

[10Who plead for love and look for recompenseMore than that tongue that more hath more express'd. O, learn to read what silent love hath writ: To hear with eyes belongs to love's fine wit.

Shakespeare, Sonnet 23

As an unperfect actor on the stageWho with his fear is put besides his part,Or some fierce thing replete with too much rage,Whose strength's abundance weakens his own heart.So I, for fear of trust, forget to say

[5The perfect ceremony of love's rite,And in mine own love's strength seem to decay,O'ercharged with burden of mine own love's might.O, let my looks be then the eloquenceAnd dumb presagers of my speaking breast,

[10Who plead for love and look for recompenseMore than that tongue that more hath more express'd. O, learn to read what silent love hath writ: To hear with eyes belongs to love's fine wit.

Shakespeare, Sonnet 23

As an unperfect actor on the stageWho with his fear is put besides his part,Or some fierce thing replete with too much rage,Whose strength's abundance weakens his own heart.So I, for fear of trust, forget to say

[5The perfect ceremony of love's rite,And in mine own love's strength seem to decay,O'ercharged with burden of mine own love's might.O, let my looks be then the eloquenceAnd dumb presagers of my speaking breast,

[10Who plead for love and look for recompenseMore than that tongue that more hath more express'd. O, learn to read what silent love hath writ: To hear with eyes belongs to love's fine wit.

Is the whole more than thesum of its parts?Drawing Hands (1948), by M. C. Escher

What is the effect of this play of part and whole?

Illustrating “perfection” of emotion is impossible without a willing reader.

Only in poetry—or creative expression—can love be perfected.

—Jacques Derrida, Of Grammatology (281)image via Planomenology by Reid Kane

Notably, it requires a reader—and a reader’s imagination….

the supplementary nature of writing—and reading—to feeling?

—Jacques Derrida, Of Grammatology (281)

writing is the supplement par excellence…

—Jacques Derrida, Of Grammatology (281)

propos[ing] itself as the…sign of a sign…

—Jacques Derrida, Of Grammatology (281)

taking the place of a speech already significant

Works Cited

Adams, Eddie. Saigon Execution. Photograph. 1968. Newseum, Washington, DC.

Grundberg, Andy. "Eddie Adams, Journalist, 71; Showed Violence of Vietnam. " New York Times (1857-Current file) [New York, N.Y.] 20 Sep. 2004, B10. ProQuest Historical Newspapers The New York Times (1851 - 2005). ProQuest. Web. 24 Nov. 2008.

Newseum. “1969 Spot News: Edward Adams, The Associated Press.” Newseum Online Exhibit. Web. 24 Nov. 2008.

Sherer, Michael D. "Vietnam War Photos and Public Opinion :[1]. " Journalism Quarterly 66.2 (1989): 391-395,530. Humanities Module. ProQuest. Web. 24 Nov. 2008.

Willbanks, James. “Winning the Battle, Losing the War.” The New York Times 5 March 2008, sec. A23. Lexis/Nexis Academic. Web. 24 Nov. 2008.

THIS IS A SAMPLE WORKS CITED PAGE… NOT SPECIFIC TO THIS ESSAY!