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Dark Lady Sonnets. The Dark Lady sequence ( sonnets 127–152), distinguishes itself from the Fair Youth sequence by being overtly sexual in its passion .
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TheDarkLadysequence (sonnets 127–152), distinguishesitselffromtheFairYouthsequencebybeingovertlysexualinitspassion. • Thoughthetermisnotusedinanyofthesonnets, thenamehasstucksincethewomenisdescribedashavingbothdarkfeaturesandhaving a darknature. • AswiththeFairYouth, therehavebeenmanyattemptstoidentifyherwith a realhistoricalindividual. MaryFitton, EmiliaLanierandothershavebeensuggested.
TheSonnetSpeakermakesnobonesabouthaving a fulloutsexualaffairwith a marriedwoman. Heisfullyinlove, hatingherdarkerandlessattractivequalitiesanddespisinghimselfforconstantlystayingwithhereventhoughherealizeshowtoxictheirrelationshipis.
The sonnets offer to… • hiswife, AnneHathaway. Thoughtheirrelationshipmayneverhavebeenveryclose, heimpartsthatshemayhavebeenthereasonthathewenttoLondontobeginhisactingandwritingcareerand'savedmylife ' ashewrites, intheprocess. • EmiliaBassanoLanier, afierywoman withseveralconnectionstoShakespeare.A womanwhoisdarkincomplexionandeyes, musicallyinclined, unscrupulousandmarried, themostconvincingwoman possessingthesemyriadqualities.
SonnetsofWilliamShakespeareSonnet 144 Twoloves I haveofcomfortanddespair,Whichliketwospiritsdosuggestmestill:Thebetterangelis a manrightfair,Theworserspirit a womancolour'dill.Towinmesoontohell, myfemaleevilTemptethmybetterangelfrommyside,Andwouldcorruptmysainttobe a devil,Wooinghispuritywithherfoulpride.Andwhetherthatmyangelbeturn'dfiendSuspect I may, butnotdirectlytell;Butbeingbothfromme, bothtoeachfriend,I guessoneangelinanother'shell:Yetthis shall I ne'er know, but live in doubt,Tillmy bad angel fire my good one out.