Margaret Demorest Sonnet Annotations: Sonnets 127 and 128
Item Metadata
Title
Margaret Demorest Sonnet Annotations: Sonnets 127 and 128
Date Created
1968
Subject
Shakespeare, William, -- 1564-1616 -- Sonnets; Sonnets, English -- History and criticism
Description
The following transcription of Demorest's annotations was selected and transcribed by Casper College student and Archives staff member Grace MacPherson in January of 2024.
SONNET 127
What if 18 next sonnets–127 thru 144 corresp. to 1st unit (+10 more?) Each a variation on theme?
Lifestory of Essex as judg[?] agst Eliz?
Black = symbol of lost souls
My mistress = theatre (where trials do take place judging magistrates)
Betrayal of D. by artist may corresp. to betr. of Essex by E.
Could each sonnet here be an accusation (or judgment [illegible]) against E. – 1 crime or testimony per sonnet?
[illegible date] = Bastard claim to throne puts her there
’98 Geo Blackwell appt. by Pope as arch-priest of Cath. in Engl.
Art that praises falsehood does damage to beauty of truth–so he tells truth: she is black
SONNET 128
Southampton would in vain to kiss E’s hand
Play = virginals = pretended virginity
Their = Jacks = people like Raleigh (can have their fingers for kissing
Hand-Kissing = sign of good graces
Fickle–’64 ceremony scandal as Dudl. made Earl Leic.
SONNET 127
What if 18 next sonnets–127 thru 144 corresp. to 1st unit (+10 more?) Each a variation on theme?
Lifestory of Essex as judg[?] agst Eliz?
Black = symbol of lost souls
My mistress = theatre (where trials do take place judging magistrates)
Betrayal of D. by artist may corresp. to betr. of Essex by E.
Could each sonnet here be an accusation (or judgment [illegible]) against E. – 1 crime or testimony per sonnet?
[illegible date] = Bastard claim to throne puts her there
’98 Geo Blackwell appt. by Pope as arch-priest of Cath. in Engl.
Art that praises falsehood does damage to beauty of truth–so he tells truth: she is black
SONNET 128
Southampton would in vain to kiss E’s hand
Play = virginals = pretended virginity
Their = Jacks = people like Raleigh (can have their fingers for kissing
Hand-Kissing = sign of good graces
Fickle–’64 ceremony scandal as Dudl. made Earl Leic.
Type
Text
Creator
Demorest, Margaret; Shakespeare, William
Language
ENG, LAT
Is Part Of
Margaret Demorest Papers, CCA 10.2011.01 WyCaC US. Casper College Archives and Special Collections.
Identifier
CCA 10.2011.01_Demorest_Sonnets_127_128
Format
PDF
Original Format
Written Annotations
Citation
Demorest, Margaret; Shakespeare, William, “Margaret Demorest Sonnet Annotations: Sonnets 127 and 128,” Goodstein Foundation Library Western History Center Digital Collections, accessed August 19, 2025, https://caspercollege.cvlcollections.org/items/show/9642.