Though fortunes malice overthrow my state, my mind exceeds the compass of her wheel

Though fortunes malice overthrow my state, my mind exceeds the compass of her wheel

In the world of William Shakespeare, the theme of fortune and fate is a recurring motif that is explored in many of his plays and sonnets. One of the most famous lines that encapsulates this theme is from Sonnet 29, where the speaker declares, “Though fortunes malice overthrow my state, my mind exceeds the compass of her wheel.”

This line speaks to the idea that despite the unpredictable and often cruel nature of fortune, the speaker’s mind is able to transcend the limitations imposed by fate. The word “malice” suggests that fortune is not just indifferent or random, but actively seeks to harm or thwart the speaker’s ambitions and desires. However, the speaker asserts that their mind is not bound by the whims of fortune’s wheel, which is often depicted as a symbol of fate or destiny.

This idea of the mind’s ability to rise above external circumstances and shape its own destiny is a powerful and empowering message that resonates with many of Shakespeare’s characters. In plays like Macbeth, Hamlet, and Othello, the protagonists grapple with the forces of fate and fortune that seem to conspire against them. Despite facing seemingly insurmountable obstacles and setbacks, these characters ultimately find strength and agency in their own minds and willpower.