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How Deeply Do You Feel Your Emotions?

Nerdy Birdy-5th

FINAL EXAM BLOGPOST

Hi Nerdy Birdies, this is our final blogpost so let’s make it a good one. 

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Introduction: 

During the Renaissance period, William Shakespeare played a very important role. His works were emotional, layered, and quite frankly timeless. Today we are going to be analyzing Sonnet 29, “ When, in disgrace with fortune and men’s eyes”. Sonnet 29 has many postmodernist elements: irony, fragmented identity, and intertextuality. 

LINK: Sonnet 29

Element 1 (Irony) - In William Shakespeare’s Sonnet 29, the postmodern element irony is seen. At the beginning of the sonnet he is feeling pitiful for himself. He wallows in despair and self-pity but then there is a quick switch in emotions. It almost undermines the emotions he was displaying before. In line 2 he says, “I all alone beweep my outcast state” (Shakespeare 2), and this is where we can see that he is feeling pity for himself and is feeling despair. Where we can see the sudden shift is when he says, “Haply I think on thee, and then my state (Shakespeare 10). Shakespeare undermines and escapes his despair through his imagination. The postmodernist element irony helps bring out the emotional complexity he is going through. 

Let’s link it to a postmodernist source:  LINK: Unnecessary Things

This sonnet reminded me of “Unnecessary Things” by Tatyana Tolstaya. In Tolstaya’s short story a primary postmodernist element she uses is irony. The way she uses irony is also to emphasize the emotional complexity.  The author in this short story is talking about a childhood relic and how it has now become neglected. She moves to a new apartment and states, “items that had previously belonged to other people and had not yet acclimated to their new habitat” (Tolstaya). It is ironic because the childhood relic that is connected to memories is now in a new place. The irony in “Unnecessary

Things” makes the readers question how much value and attachment the narrator truthfully has with her childhood toy. 

 My turn: 

The connection to be made here is that in both Shakespeare’s and Tolstaya’s work the irony makes the meaning behind things have a deeper meaning. It helps show that the emotions are complex and aren’t as upfront as they may seem. Their words are like onions, they have layers that need to be peeled. 

Element 2 (Fragmented Identity) - Shakespeare writes in Sonnet 29, the thoughts of man with several struggles. Firstly, he is envious of wealth, maybe not monetary wealth, but emotional wealth. That means being jealous of relationships or even reputations. He feels lonely, as stated by using the term “outcast”. Secondly, he reflects on love by stating “I think on Thee, and then my state” (Shakespeare 10) explaining he finds comfort in the thought of whoever he is referring to. Given his choice of diction used, it can be inferred that this relates to some sort of postmodernism. I say this because during this time (1609), men were the protectors, providers, and soldiers of this era. Weakness was not something you wanted to show publicly, and Shakespeare clearly goes against these norms to express the depression of this man in his sonnet. This man's fragmented identity is clearly shown by his conflict within being essentially a nobody. His psychological state also is not the clearest which is another sign of a fragmented identity. He thinks of someone to clear his mind, but then remembers his state, and goes right back to his depression.

Let’s link it to a postmodernist source:  LINK: Pyramid Song

Pyramid Song by Radiohead is a perfect example of intertextuality. It is also a fantastic source to relate to Sonnet 29. In the song the lyrics seem to have the meaning of feeling despair but then also going through transcendence. The lyrics show dissociation from being an individual and the world as a whole. These lyrics in specific relay what I previously explained, “I jumped into the river Black-eyed angels swam with me” (Radiohead). It shows how his self identity is gone and he has lost himself to this unworldly dissociation. The lyrics are never organized but instead a scatter of memories and thoughts, so this relays that he is not stable and has no stable identity. 

My turn: 

Both Radiohead and Shakespeare use fragmented identity. They both struggle to find a stable ground when it comes to knowing who they are. They are both in despair and their instability is due to their past memories. They reflect complexity and disconnection from reality. Although the era these were made are completely different, it goes to show that struggling with identity is human nature. 

Element 3 (Intertextuality)- Intertextuality is the process of each sentence, or statement building onto one another. In essence each and every statement has a meaning. For example, “Wishing me to one more rich in hope”. He states he wishes to have more hope, or be rich in hope. The very next line, “Featured like him, like him with friends possessed”. I think he is speaking of another man and his friends who are possessed with hope. Another example of building blocks within the sonnet are lines 12 and 13. He states he remembers how much wealth is associated with sweet love, this urges him to change his mental state.

Let’s link it to a postmodernist source:  

Link:Futile Devices (Doveman Remix)

This song is one that personally excites me. This song is not from the Renaissance period, but it carries those same beautiful elements. Most importantly though it has the postmodernist element intertextuality. Futile Devices is written by Sufjan Stevens. Stevens uses language that is almost indirect and it shows that he finds it hard to express his emotions. The lyrics are layered with different emotions and meanings. Stevens feels unable to express his emotions so there is distance in his words. Stevens feels so much emotion but he cannot bring himself to say it all, “I would say I love you but saying it out loud is hard." (Stevens). He has doubts that his words will be able to convey his feelings yet his words are meticulously articulated. 

My turn: 

Stevens and Shakespeare both can be seen to have used intertextuality. They both feel as though they cannot express their excitement and love, so they hide behind chaotic words. They use indirect language/expressions that are to talk about their deep desires. Stevens and Shakespeare use intertextuality to layer and mask their emotions and just how deep they truly are. 

 Conclude: Shakespeare’s Sonnet 29 may be from a long time ago, but his themes of masking emotions are timeless. In all the sources I included we can see the same theme. All of the works and postmodernism help us realize that it is within our human nature to want to mask our true deep inner feelings, and that we all go about our emotions in different ways. 

Works Cited

“Animated GIF of onion.” Giphy, Accessed May 14 2025

“Blank Space Losing My Mind This Is Hell.” Giphy, uploaded by EowxMmbA8N0QM

“Futile Devices (Doveman Remix).” YouTube, uploaded by Sufjan Stevens, 10 Dec. 2014, Accessed May 14 2025.

“Radiohead - Pyramid Song.” YouTube, uploaded by Radiohead, 9 Jan. 2014, Accessed May 14 2025.

Shakespeare, William. “Sonnet 29: When, in disgrace with fortune and men’s eyes.” Poetry Foundation, Accessed 14 May 2025.

Tolstaya, Tatyana. Unnecessary Things. Moodle, Carmel Unified School District, Accessed 14 May 2025.