"WHEN THE SESSIONS OF SWEET SILENT THOUGHT" BY WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE

 

"WHEN THE SESSIONS OF SWEET SILENT THOUGHT"

BY,

WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE

 

When to the sessions of sweet silent thought

I summon up remembrance of things past,

I sigh the lack of many a thing I sought,

And with old woes new wail my dear time's waste:

Then can I drown an eye, unus'd to flow,

For precious friends hid in death's dateless night,

And weep afresh love's long since cancell'd woe,

And moan th' expense of many a vanish'd sight;

Then can I grieve at grievances foregone,

And heavily from woe to woe tell o'er

The sad account of fore-bemoaned moan,

Which I new pay as if not paid before.

But if the while I think on thee, dear friend,

All losses are restor'd, and sorrows end.

About the poet

William Shakespeare

•        William Shakespeare (26 April 1564 – 23 April 1616) 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“.

•        His extant works, including collaborations, consist of some 39 plays, 154 sonnets, three long narrative poems.

•        His plays have been translated into every major living language and are performed more often than those of any other playwright.

•        FIRST PUBLICATION OF SHAKESPEARE'S SONNETS. On 20 May 1609, a bookseller named Thomas Thorpe entered for his copy  'a booke called Shakespeares sonnetts'.

 

What is a SONNET ?

A 14-line poem with a variable rhyme scheme originating in Italy and brought to England by Sir Thomas Wyatt and Henry Howard, earl of Surrey in the 16th century.

There are 4 primary types of sonnets :

* Petrarchan.

* Shakespearean.

* Spenserian.

* Miltonic.

  

 Short summary of the sonnet,

Shakespeare’s Sonnet 30, often referred to by its opening line "When to the sessions of sweet silent thought," is a reflective poem in which the speaker contemplates past sorrows and losses.

This sonnet is part of the Fair Youth sequence, where Shakespeare addresses a young man of great beauty and promise.

In Sonnet 30, Shakespeare reflects on the power of memory and the sorrow that comes with recollection. The sonnet opens with the speaker engaging in a "session of sweet silent thought," where he recalls past experiences and laments over losses and wasted opportunities.

In the sonnet the poet says that, each remembered grievance brings a fresh wave of sadness, as he mourns friends who have died, the passage of time, and unachieved ambitions.

The tone of the sonnet is melancholic (sad) but ultimately hopeful. The speaker's reflections on past sorrows are poignant and filled with regret, but the concluding couplet introduces a positive note, transforming the overall mood to one of solace and reconciliation.

In this sonnet, Shakespeare employs legal and financial imagery ("sessions," "account," "cancelled woe") to convey the idea of reckoning with one's past.

In the sonnet the metaphor of “summoning up memories” and “the repeated” reference to "moan" and "grieve" underscore the emotional weight of the speaker's reflections.

Despite this profound melancholy, the sonnet concludes on a hopeful note. The speaker finds solace in the thought of a dear friend, which restores his spirits and compensates for all past sorrows. But the mere memory of this friend is enough to bring joy and make up for all the losses and pains he has recounted.

The sonnet explores themes of memory and its impact on the present, the enduring nature of grief, and the redemptive power of love and friendship. It highlights the idea that, while the past cannot be changed but the affection and support of a loved one can offer profound comfort.

In essence, Sonnet 30 is a poignant meditation on the interplay between past sorrow and present consolation, revealing how the memories of loss can be alleviated by the enduring bonds of friendship.

Themes

Memory and Time : The sonnet explores how memories of past experiences—both good and bad—continue to affect the present. The act of recalling past sorrows can bring renewed pain, but it can also lead to healing when balanced by the joy of cherished memories.

Loss and Grief : Shakespeare delves into the universal experience of loss and grief. The speaker mourns the loss of time, opportunities, and friends, capturing the enduring nature of sorrow and its ability to resurface.

Friendship and Love : The sonnet ultimately celebrates the power of friendship and love to provide comfort and joy. The memory of the speaker's friend is so powerful that it alleviates all past sorrows, highlighting the theme of emotional resilience through meaningful relationships.

Healing and Reconciliation : The final couplet suggests that healing and reconciliation are possible even after significant sorrow. The speaker's ability to find joy in the memory of his friend demonstrates the redemptive power of love & the potential for emotional recovery.