Sonnet notes 19

Sonnet 71, line 4: “From this vile world with vildest worms to dwell”

What has happened to the poet’s world? In Sonnet 29 he only had to think about the Young Man’s love and he found himself better off than kings. Now the world is vile. And when he thinks of death, there is no afterlife, just his body keeping company with the most vile creatures—worms. We find out what the problem is in the final couplet. The poet tells the Young Man that if he mentions the poet’s poor name, if he doesn’t let his love decay, he risks being mocked. The world has become vile because the poet is unrespected, mocked by those around him. The implication of Sonnet 71 is that his beloved Young Man has not seen fit to come to his defense. He is afraid of being mocked by association. Well, if you’re going to abandon me now, please do so when I’m dead as well. Wouldn’t want you to get laughed at on my account. No, really. It’s ok.

How do we read this sonnet? Is it serious? Half-serious? Sarcastic? Angry? How would the Young Man read it?