Sonnet 34

Sonnet 34 is one of 154 sonnets written by English playwright and poet William Shakespeare. It is part of the "Fair Youth" sequence, sonnets 1-126, which are addressed to an unnamed young man of great beauty and promise.

In Sonnet 34, the speaker expresses disappointment and pain caused by the young man's actions, actions described as 'faults' which have left the speaker feeling wounded. The sonnet employs imagery of the sun and rain to illustrate the initial hope and subsequent disillusionment. The young man's presence was meant to be like the sun, bringing light and comfort, but instead, his behavior has been like a rainstorm, causing distress and dampening the speaker's spirit.

The octave (the first eight lines) describes the initial offense and the speaker's disappointment. The sestet (the last six lines) reflects on the young man's remorse and offers forgiveness, but suggests that words of apology, even if adorned with jewels of repentance ("pearls of sweat"), cannot fully compensate for the original hurt. The concluding couplet hints at a deeper wound that requires more than just superficial amends. The poem explores themes of betrayal, forgiveness, and the complex nature of love and friendship.