He that commends me to mine own contentCommends me to the thing I cannot get.I to the world am like a drop of waterThat in the ocean seeks another drop,Who, falling there to find his fellow forth,Unseen, inquisitive, confounds himself:So I, to find a mother and a brother,In quest of them, unhappy, lose myself.
In this quote from Shakespeare's "The Comedy of Errors," the speaker expresses a deep sense of longing and loss. They highlight a frustrating paradox of seeking fulfillment while being unable to attain it. The comparison to a drop of water in the vast ocean illustrates the feeling of insignificance and the struggle to find connection amidst overwhelming odds.
The speaker’s quest for familial ties symbolizes a broader search for identity and belonging. This journey, rather than bringing clarity, results in confusion and a sense of being lost. By trying to reconnect with a mother and brother, the speaker envelops themselves in a cycle of unhappiness, further emphasizing the emotional turmoil that accompanies their search.