Summary
William Shakespeare's Sonnet 29, penned sometime in the 1590s, embarks on an exploration of the profound impact love can have on the human experience. It begins with a speaker who is dejected because he feels out of favor with both fortune and the opinions of others. He describes himself as isolated, friendless, and lacking wealth or hope. He even envies others who seem to be more blessed. This negativity extends to his former pleasures, which now no longer hold joy. Yet, a dramatic shift occurs in the second half of the sonnet. The speaker remembers someone special, and this remembrance completely transforms his outlook. He declares that having this person in his life makes him richer than any king.
