Question

"For why should others’ false adulterate eyes

Give salutation to my sportive blood?

Or on my frailties why are frailer spies,

Which in their wills count bad what I think good?"

What does the speaker suggest in these lines from Sonnet 121?

• A. Others should focus on their own sins before criticizing him.
• B. The speaker believes his actions are justified and above critique.
• C. The speaker claims that his innocence is being misunderstood by others.
• D. The speaker thinks that only divine judgment matters and not human opinions.

Answer 1

Answer:

A. Others should focus on their own sins before criticizing him.

• He wonders why others, those who are corrupt and now hypocritical, are allowed to criticize him.

• They have their own sins to be concerned with. His lustful attitude, or sportive blood, is his own issue.

• Or, he adds, why should those same people comment on his life and decide what he thinks is “good” or “bad.”