Skyeler's Emma Blog Project

For my blog project, I found a Shakespeare Sonnet that I thought related to the book Emma. Granted, I had to explain just how I thought it related, so I am going to do that here as well.

Sonnet VIII.

Music to hear, why hear'st thou music sadly?

(This would be Emma listening to Jane Fairfax play the pianoforte)

Sweets with sweets war not, joy delights in joy:

(Two girls war with each other even unspoken, but when joy is giving, frequently joy is returned)

Why lov'st thou that which thou receiv'st not gladly,

(Emma must kindly listen to another play though she does not wish too; she must listen to Knightly criticize though when talking to him she is not glad of his rebuke)

Or else receiv'st with pleasure thine annoy?

(and listen with pretended pleasure to what annoys her)

If the true concord of well-tuned sounds,

(unoffensive talent; another person that may receive attention alongside Emma. The town is created of more than one person.)

By unions married, do offend thine ear,

(Can you help but think of Mr. Woodhouse here *smiles* )

They do but sweetly chide thee, who confounds

(sweetly chide: Mr. Knightly indeed. He tell her what she does wrong)

In singleness the parts that thou shouldst bear.

(and tells her what she needs to bear)

Mark how one string, sweet husband to another,

(the couples and friends in Highbury)

Strikes each in each by mutual ordering;

(their love and acceptance of one another)

Resembling sire and child and happy mother,

(this makes me think of Isabella Knightly. She resembles her father, is a happy mother, and we also hear of her as a child. Yet we see her family as the bigger picture that she would not be who she is without her family)

Who, all in one, one pleasing note do sing:

(Highbury and its occupants)

Whose speechless song being many, seeming one,

(speechless song: their actions. The actions of one town, as if each person is a string that creates the melody of a song)

Sings this to thee: 'Thou single wilt prove none.'

(Emma alone will not succeed. She must accept others and love them. I think Mr. Knightly is the one who "sings" this to her.)

Skyeler