Sonnets 78, 80, 81, and 88: the Universal Muse
Sonnets 78, 80, 81 and 88 point to the conclusion that the OOP is being written about by multiple poets. Looking at each sonnet in chronological order helps show what Shakespeare's thoughts are on this at different times.
Sonnet 78 acknowleges the OOPS "unfaithfulness", if you will, in being the subject of multiple artists. The ending couplet I think, however, shows Shakespeare's devotion to the OOP, "But thou art all my art, and dost advance/ As high as learning my rude ignorance."
Sonnet 80 is also about Shakespeare's love of the OOP, but he seems more bitter and wounded in this one, as though he is jealous of the other poets, and he even feels inferior to them, "Or, being wrecked, I am a worthless boat,/ He o tall building and of goodly pride."
Shakespeare soon seems to stop dwelling in self-pity and returns to immortalizing the OOP in sonnet 81 with no mention of other poets; "You shall still live-such virtue hath my pen-/Where breath most breathes, even in the mouths of men."
Sonnt 88 seems to point to some possible conflict between Shakespeare and the OOP, "When thou shalt be disposed to set me light/ And place my merit in the eye of scorn," but Shakespeare seems to be self-sacrificing "upon thy side against myself I'll fight".
All in all, I think that the relationship between Shakespeare and the OOP is evolving, from devotion, to jealousy, back to glorifiying him, and finally giving up himself for the OOP.
Other Poets
Unless we're saying that Shakespeare felt any poem about love had to be based on his OOP, I find it pretty bizarre that all these poets felt they needed to express their feelings to the OOP, although that's what I got from the poems. It's just strange. So, this really good looking guy is paying a bunch of poets to write about him? Or leading them on emotionally/relationally? What is going on here? Does he have no better use of his time than to serve as a muse for poets and play them off of each other?
I think you did a good job of outlining Shakespeare's feelings about the relationship.
Erin Kay Schulz
yeah...
Yeah, that is really weird that all these people like the OOP so much. I wonder if any of the poets works are recorded. I think it was kinda weird that Shakespeare said that they were better them him, yet he is the biggest poet remembered throughout all of history. I also wonder if he was using any sarcasm about how good the poets were in these poems...
not quite paying, maybe
If you have a look at some of my other comments this morning, you'll see I've raised the patronage issue. This is where poets seek out financial support. Some of the scholarship looks at how Shakespeare and this rival poet may have been competing for support from the OOP. Maybe the rival poet got wind of what Shakespeare was doing, or knew Shakespeare was receiving some support from OOP or his family (which ties into the idea that a family hired him to write poems to persuade their son to marry and make babies). Bradley
Bradley
Money Money Money
The idea of money or getting paid being involved in Shakespeare's motive for writing would bring up some great thoughts. If these poems are spurred on by money and not love, then all of a sudden you have to start questioning how much of these are Shakespeare's actual thoughts. They would no longer give as much insight into what Shakes was thinking as they are painting a portrait of society at the time.
Ryan K Bishop
yes and no
I think there is some true affection between Shakespeare and the OOP, and I don't know if the financial aspect would undermine that. Maybe it's just a bonus that you get to do the work you love (writing poems to/for someone you admire greatly). All poets and painters at the time were beholden to some patron or another. Some patrons wanted works commissioned for specific reasons and audiences, some just provide the artist the financial support they needed to create their art. While it is possible, I don't read the poems, and most scholars don't read the poems, as mere flattery with the goal of money in mind. Bradley
Bradley