Themes and message

The power of love

The main theme of William Shakespeare’s “Sonnet 29” is the power of love. The speaker begins the sonnet by lamenting his misfortunes and expressing his feelings of isolation and despair. He compares himself to others who are more fortunate and wishes that he were more like them. 

However, in the second half of the sonnet, the speaker's mood shifts dramatically. He remembers his beloved and feels uplifted and transformed by thoughts of their love. The imagery of th...