Sonnet 29 By George Santayana

- Analysis
What does the opening line of the poem Sonnet 29 mean?

The opening line of the poem “Sonnet 29” by George Santayana means
that the narrator of the poem is questioning the reasons of why this
person believes the narrator is “poor” and “sad.” The narrator does not
believe at all that he is poor or sad and is defending himself regarding
this.

First off, he is asking the person to define the true meaning of riches and
explain why he or she believes they are rich while he is deemed poor. In
reality, being considered rich is a subjective state. One person’s richness
is another person’s poverty. For example, an individual who has had a
harsh, deprived life, and who suddenly acquires a modest influx of funds
to be able to purchase a very used car may consider themselves now
rich and blessed. To an affluent observer however, this person is poor
and in a somewhat wretched state and this person would never want to
be in this situation.

Likewise, the narrator does not consider himself sad and again demands
of the questioner why he or she feels he or she is happy while believing
the narrator is sad. Again, sadness is a subjective state. A person can
be very sad and even become depressed if he or she has received a lay-
off notice at their place of employment. Another person may roll with
punches and look at the lay-off as an impetus to explore a new and more
rewarding career path. It’s all about peoples’ respective personality
inclinations and how people view situations.

The narrator of this poem challenges the questioner to reveal why he or

she is “exceeding glad.” He asks “Is your earth happy or your heaven
sure?” In other words, what guarantee does the questioner have that he
or she will remain in this happy state, and what guarantee does the
questioner have that he or she will attain the afterlife they believe in.
The narrator is at peace with himself, and therefore rich and happy (as
he defines richness and happiness) because he hopes for heaven. He
does not subscribe to other peoples’ definitions of what constitutes
wealth/security (riches) and contentment/joy (happiness). He is secure
and confident in his own views concerning these two states. As a result,
he is not afraid to defend his positions regarding these two things and
demand of others to explain why they believe he is lacking in these two
areas.

In addition, the narrator finds riches and happiness in the traditions and
former instruction of his ancestors. This is revealed in this line:

“To me the faiths of old are daily bread;

I bless their hope, I bless their will to save,”

The narrator says that he will go content to his grave at death. He is

happy with his choices in life and it is obvious he has no regrets that
haunt him. Therefore, he is rich and he is comfortable with his station in
life. He does not compare himself to others and does not measure what
he believes is success against what others believe. The narrator is an
independent thinker who believes in himself and how he has handled his
life and he does not let others convince him otherwise.

QUESTIONS:

Sonnet 29
Answer:
The poem “Sonnet 29” by George Santayana pertains to two ideas which are
wealth and contentment in one’s life. People who gained countless riches and
sees their wealth as a basis of happiness a person will have to attain in his
lifetime, and a person who lives through his life not being bound by the idea of
riches and believes that what he has is enough and will be enough.

 What does the opening line of the poem mean?

1. The opening line of the poem focuses on the persona questioning the
person being pertained to as to why he must compare his stature to his
position. With wealth that person sets a certain level of attaining
happiness, yet the question the echoes to his being is “Is he content
with his life?”
2. A human being wouldn’t be able to keep both ends of the stick whether
he is poor or he is rich, a visible line between those two is what makes
people blinded with true happiness and freedom. Why must a person be
only rich or only poor?

 Who is being addressed by the poet?

1. The poet may address it to people who are either wealthy or those who
are proud of their being that they refuse to look at their true contentment
in life. They can make other people question themselves, because they
themselves don’t know of it.

 Why does the poet consider the faiths of old his daily bread?

1. The daily bread can mean two things, something that is provided
everyday it can either be money or any material thing or it can mean as
an experience that supplies his daily life. “Faiths of old his daily bread”,
he uses the learning of people from the past or even his past as a
learning to supply his daily life.

 What makes the persona happy?

1. The persona is happy because he knows what makes him completely

happy; he is content with what he can achieve and what he has. His
happiness isn’t bound by someone else’s, and with this feeling of
sureness in life he wishes for others to also do so.

 How do you view the persona’s circumstance?

1. He is happily living every bit of his life, while wishing for others’ too.