The tone of Sonnet 29 by William Shakespeare can be described as one of despair transforming into hope. At the beginning of the sonnet, the speaker expresses feelings of isolation and jealousy, lamenting his fortune and comparing himself unfavorably to others. This sense of sorrow and inadequacy sets a melancholic tone.
However, as the poem progresses, the tone shifts dramatically. The speaker reflects on the love he has in his life, which brings him comfort and joy. The realization that the thought of his beloved can uplift him, despite his previous despair, creates a sense of warmth and optimism. This transformation in tone from sorrow to elation is what makes the sonnet deeply moving, as it captures the fluctuations of human emotion.