Sir Philip Sidney, His Poetry and His Politics

In Sir Philip Sidney's sonnet, "Not at first sight, nor with a dribbed shot," Sidney investigates the delicate nature of being a courtier during the 16th century. Once Sidney began to court Penelope Devereux, he began to pen his affections, which ranged from smitten love to agonizing rejection. It was a random encounter which propagated one of literature's greatest love stories. "His sister, Mary Sidney, was now at court, and he had an influential patron in his uncle, the earl of Leicester. He accompanied the queen on one of her royal progresses to Kenilworth, and afterwards to Chartley Castle, the seat of Walter Devereux, earl of Essex. There he met Penelope Devereux, the "Stella" of the sonnets, then a child of twelve. Essex went to Ireland in 1576 to fill his office as earl marshal, and in September occurred his mysterious death. Philip Sidney was in Ireland with his father at the time. Essex on his deathbed had desired a match between Sidney and his daughter Penelope" (Classic Encyclopedia par 3). Though the match was not meant to be. Penelope eventually married Lord Rich, and Sidney married Frances Walsingham, but his love for Penelope continued on in his writing.

It is this undying love, and Sidney's political position which make him the consummate courtier. His poem shows great restrainant in his affection, daring not to go beyond his admiration, since Penelope is bethrothed to another. "Love gave the wound, which, while I breathe I bleed;/But known worth did in mine of time proceed," (Sidney ln 2-3). Sidney is obviously struck down by the beauty of Penelope, but understands that his time has past. A true courtier respects the wishes of the court, as well as love. Sidney accepts his fate with a brave face, all while dying inside: "To make myself believe that all is well,/While with a feeling skill I paint my hell." (Sidney ln 13-14). He is bound by his courtly duties to remain distant and agreeable to the love that he cannot have.

Sidney was a strong political member of Elizabeth's court, so much so that his death besmirched the Elizabethan court for days. One of Sidney's greatest accomplishments though was his essay, "The Defense of Poesy." "Sidney concludes with a profession of faith in the future of English language, and analyzing its advantages (mixed vocabulary, simple grammar, sweet sound) which will make it capable of producing great literature in the future. The Apology itself, because of its intrinsic merits and its historical significance, lives up to this expectation. One of its merits is to have made literary criticism readable and entertaining for the English audience of the Renaissance; many of its ideas were influential on writers like Shakespeare and Ben Johnson" (Landa pg 3). Sidney denies the Puritan thought that poetry and art are the downfall of man. "But with your rhubarb words ye must contend,/To grieve me worse in saying, that Desire/Doth plunge my well-formed soul even in the mire/Of sinful thoughts, which do in ruin end?" (Sidney ln 5-8). Sidney asks the question directly: does poetry commit the soul to hell?

Puritans believed that the arts induced sinfulness within a man, and attempted to thwart any attempts in art production. "Sidney returned to England in 1575, living the life of a popular and eminent courtier. In 1577, he was sent as ambassador to the German Emperor and the Prince of Orange. Officially, he had been sent to condole the princes on the deaths of their fathers. His real mission was to feel out the chances for the creation of a Protestant league. Yet, the budding diplomatic career was cut short because Queen Elizabeth I found Sidney to be perhaps too ardent in his Protestantism, the Queen preferring a more cautious approach" (Jokinen par 3). While Sidney's approaches may have been to stern for Elizabeth, he nevertheless used his pen to debate the Puritans. Though "The Defense of Poesy" was written for the courts, it was nonetheless a battle cry for unity under the Protestant religion. Sidney defends the arts by stating that while Puritan's may view poetry as a means of wantonness, poetry also expresses love. Approaching from a logical stand point, if poetry is love written, and poetry is a sin, therefore love becomes a sin as well. There is no religious sect that cannot determine that love is sinful, and by this admission, Sidney destroys any creditability the Puritans have within their thoughts.

WORKS CITED

Classic Encyclopedia. "Sir Philip Sidney". Encyclopedia Britannica, 11th ed. 1911. [March 29, 2008].

Jokinen, Anniina. "Life of Sir Philip Sidney (1554-1586)." Luminarium.

7 Apr 2007. [March 29, 2008]

Landa, Jose Angel Garcia. "Sir Philip Sidney." Hypercritica: A Hypertextual History of Literary Theory and Criticism. Universidad de Zaragoza, 2004. [March 29, 2008]

Sidney, Sir Philip. "Alas, have I not pain enough, my friend" HUM514, Spring 2008 Week Eleven Course Module, Tiffin University.

--"Not at first sight, nor with a dribbed shot" HUM514, Spring 2008 Week Eleven Course Module, Tiffin University.