🌹 Stanza 175 - Literary Analysis

Shakespeare's Venus and Adonis

📖 Original Stanza

Whereat each tributary subject quakes;
As when the wind, imprison’d in the ground,
Struggling for passage, earth’s foundation shakes,
Which with cold terror doth men’s minds confound.
This mutiny each part doth so surprise   
That from their dark beds once more leap her eyes;

🔍 Line-by-Line Analysis

Line 1: "Whereat each tributary subject quakes;"

"Whereat": As a result of which; at which point. It connects this physical reaction to the preceding emotional turmoil or internal state (not explicitly stated in this stanza but implied by the context of Venus's struggle).
"each tributary subject": A metaphor where the different parts of Venus's body or perhaps her faculties (will, reason, etc.) are depicted as subordinate "subjects" to a dominant, overwhelming emotion. "Tributary" suggests they are forced to yield or pay homage to this power. Shakespeare chooses this to emphasize the complete and involuntary nature of her body's response to her intense feelings.
"quakes": Trembles violently, shakes uncontrollably, shudders. It suggests a profound and unsettling physical reaction, similar to an earthquake.
Meaning: As a result of this intense internal state, every part of her being trembles and shakes uncontrollably.

Line 2: "As when the wind, imprison’d in the ground,"

"As when": This introduces a vivid simile, comparing Venus's internal turmoil to a natural phenomenon.
"the wind, imprison’d in the ground": This refers to an ancient and widely held belief that earthquakes were caused by strong winds or vapours trapped beneath the earth's surface, struggling to escape. Shakespeare uses this scientific understanding of his time to create a powerful image of internal pressure.
Meaning: Just like when the wind, trapped deep within the earth,

Line 3: "Struggling for passage, earth’s foundation shakes,"

"Struggling for passage": The trapped "wind" (representing the powerful, unrestrained emotion within Venus) is depicted as actively trying to find a way out, exerting immense pressure. This personifies the wind, giving it agency.
"earth’s foundation shakes": The very core structure of the earth trembles violently. This provides a direct parallel to the internal "shaking" or disruption within Venus, suggesting that her emotions are so powerful they shake her very essence.
Meaning: Struggles to find a way out, causing the very foundation of the earth to shake violently,

Line 4: "Which with cold terror doth men’s minds confound."

"Which": Refers to the shaking of the earth's foundation.
"cold terror": A chilling, paralyzing, and deeply unsettling fear. "Cold" emphasizes the visceral, almost physical sensation of dread.
"doth men’s minds confound": Utterly bewilders, confuses, or overwhelms people's minds, stripping them of reason or composure. This highlights the overwhelming and disorienting effect of such a powerful force, linking it back to Venus's own state of emotional disarray.
Meaning: And this shaking fills people's minds with a chilling terror that utterly bewilders and disorients them.

Line 5: "This mutiny each part doth so surprise"

"This mutiny": A rebellion or revolt, a violent uprising against authority or control. Here, it refers to the overwhelming, disruptive surge of emotion within Venus, likened to an internal rebellion that her own will cannot suppress. Shakespeare chooses this word to emphasize the uncontrollable and almost violent nature of her passion.
"each part": Refers to every aspect of Venus's being, both physical and emotional, reinforcing the idea that her entire self is affected.
"doth so surprise": So overwhelms, so intensely affects, or so forcibly takes control of. "Surprise" here implies a sudden and powerful takeover rather than mere astonishment.
Meaning: This internal rebellion of emotion so profoundly overwhelms every part of her being

Line 6: "That from their dark beds once more leap her eyes;"

"That from their dark beds": Refers to her eyes being set in their sockets, which are like "beds." "Dark" could imply they were closed, downcast, or obscured in a moment of despair or reflection, only to open suddenly.
"once more leap her eyes": Her eyes, previously perhaps closed or downcast, suddenly open wide and fix intently, as if jumping or springing forth from their sockets due to the intensity of her emotion. "Leap" suggests a sudden, forceful, and almost desperate movement, mirroring the "quakes" and "mutiny." This is a physical manifestation of her renewed, intense focus and desire.
Meaning: That her eyes, as if jumping from their dark sockets (or opening wide from being closed), suddenly dart out again with renewed intensity.

🎭 Literary Devices

Device	Example	Effect
Simile	"As when the wind, imprison’d in the ground, / Struggling for passage, earth’s foundation shakes, / Which with cold terror doth men’s minds confound." (Lines 2-4)	Compares Venus's internal turmoil to an earthquake, powerfully conveying the overwhelming, uncontrollable, and deeply unsettling nature of her emotions, akin to a natural disaster.
Metaphor	"each tributary subject quakes" (Line 1)	Her body parts are portrayed as subservient entities trembling under the force of her emotion, emphasizing the complete and involuntary nature of her physical reaction.
Metaphor	"This mutiny" (Line 5)	Her overwhelming passion and emotional surge are depicted as an internal rebellion, suggesting a loss of self-control and an almost violent internal struggle.
Personification	"wind, imprison’d in the ground, / Struggling for passage" (Lines 2-3)	Gives human-like agency to the wind, emphasizing the powerful, active force attempting to escape, thereby highlighting the immense pressure and intensity of Venus's internal state.
Hyperbole	"leap her eyes" (Line 6)	An exaggeration to emphasize the sudden, forceful, and intense opening or movement of her eyes, indicating an extreme emotional reaction and renewed focus.
Imagery	"wind, imprison’d in the ground," "earth’s foundation shakes," "cold terror," "dark beds"	Creates vivid sensory pictures that allow the reader to visualize the immense pressure, the violent shaking, the chilling fear, and the physical manifestation of her emotions.
Alliteration	"men's minds confound" (Line 4), "dark beds" (Line 6)	Adds a subtle musicality and emphasis to the phrases, drawing attention to the words and enhancing their impact on the reader.

🎯 Overall Meaning & Significance in the Context of the Poem

This stanza vividly portrays Venus's profound and overwhelming emotional state, primarily her intense and unrequited desire for Adonis. Following moments of despair or resignation, this stanza describes a re-ignition of her passion, so powerful it manifests as a full-body tremor. The extended simile of an earthquake (lines 2-4) is central to its meaning, likening her internal turmoil to a natural catastrophe caused by an "imprison'd wind." This powerfully communicates the uncontrollable, disruptive, and almost violent nature of her feelings, which "confound" reason and "surprise" every part of her being like a "mutiny."

The significance lies in how this physical and emotional upheaval drives Venus's actions. The "leaping" of her eyes in the final line signifies a renewed, almost desperate focus on Adonis. Despite his continued rejection and her moments of despair, her passion is too fundamental to be suppressed. It is an instinctual force, shaking her to her core, similar to how an earthquake shakes the earth's foundations. This highlights a key theme of the poem: the destructive and overpowering nature of uncontrolled passion, particularly when it is unreciprocated. Venus's desire is not merely romantic longing; it is a primal, almost geological force that dictates her very being, compelling her to pursue Adonis despite the futility and humiliation, thus underscoring the tragic imbalance of their relationship. The stanza emphasizes Venus's lack of agency over her own emotions, portraying her as a victim of her own powerful affections.