Sonnet 20

Song Meaning

Rufus Wainwright's "Sonnet 20" is not just a song; it's a carefully considered act of appropriation. Wainwright, a master of musical theater and operatic drama, daringly inhabits Shakespeare's words, turning the Bard's complex exploration of love, gender, and desire into a poignant, modern lament. The song's power lies in its unflinching honesty about attraction that defies easy categorization. The lyrics, lifted directly from Shakespeare, describe a beloved who possesses traditionally feminine qualities – a "woman's gentle heart" and a face painted by nature – yet is undeniably masculine, captivating both men and women. This ambiguity is not a flaw, but the very essence of the beloved's allure. Wainwright seems to revel in the tension, drawing out the inherent queerness of the text with his signature blend of vulnerability and theatrical flair. The core of the sonnet, and thus the song's meaning, revolves around nature's perceived 'mistake.' The beloved was "first created" for women, but nature, enamored with its own creation, added "one thing" that ultimately thwarts the speaker's desire. This 'addition' is, of course, a phallus, rendering the beloved suitable for women's "pleasure" but denying the speaker full access to that pleasure. The pain of this exclusion is palpable, a sense of being cheated by fate. However, the final couplet offers a bittersweet resolution: "Mine be thy love, and thy love's use their treasure." The speaker accepts the situation, claiming the emotional intimacy while acknowledging the physical realm belongs to others. Ultimately, "Sonnet 20" is a sophisticated meditation on love's multifaceted nature. It acknowledges the limitations imposed by societal norms and biological realities, but it also celebrates the enduring power of emotional connection. Wainwright's interpretation doesn't shy away from the inherent frustrations and compromises that often accompany desire, but it finds a strange sort of beauty in them. The song becomes an anthem for those whose affections fall outside the lines, a reminder that love, in all its messy complexity, is a treasure worth cherishing, even when it's not entirely ours to possess.