Shakespeare’s “Sonnet 116” describes the true meaning of love and how it is the highest level of human activity. This sonnet shows how Shakespeare perceives the concept of love and marriage. The poem is not a normal declaration of love, but a definition and demonstration of love. It portrays the meaning of true love through the description of a series of elaborate images. Shakespeare is trying to embody the idea that love is essential. He claims that the central factor of love is truth and fidelity, which is rooted in the mind. The love that Shakespeare describes is a love that is beyond the highest level of human activity. This love is an abstract idea of the mind and soul and is immune to the physical, behavioral, or emotional weaknesses
…show more content…
Shakespeare uses the aspects of nature to describe the person he is addressing by explaining different factors that make the season of summer either enjoyable or dreadful. He depicts summer with rough winds, but still not long enough. Shakespeare describes that everything summer produces will become less beautiful over time (Lord 3548). The image of love within this piece of work has a more melancholy tone compared to Shakespeare’s other more romantic poems. A lot of the sad theme has to do with Shakespeare’s renaissance thoughts and his reasoning for why must come to and end. These ideas include the thought that every aspect of life was corrupt because of the fall of Adam. With this ideal comes the idea of the degeneration of beauty, either by chance or by the influence of time on nature. It describes the imperfections and impermanence of the world. This theme of Renaissance also gives way to the underlying theme of religion (Lord 3550). Shakespeare’s idea of degeneration of beauty and love is portrayed with metaphors of nature throughout “Sonnet 18.” Shakespeare writes about his differing thoughts on summer, which gives the poem a certain sense of irony. He states that summer brings rough winds, but then goes on to say that summer is too short. These differing opinions show how Shakespeare expresses that love, even though it is hard sometimes, is worth keeping (Lord 3549). Although Shakespeare focuses on the degeneration of beauty, he branches of on a positive note to state the beauty of the person he is addressing. This concept is explained by the following: “In “Sonnet 18” one finds both the moral and erotic suggested in the words “lovely,” “darling,” and “fair.” Emphasis on the physical beauty of the person addressed is tempered by the hints that this beauty outshines that of the natural universe itself (Lord 3550).” The
Shakespeare uses the aspects of nature to describe the person he is addressing by explaining different factors that make the season of summer either enjoyable or dreadful. He depicts summer with rough winds, but still not long enough. Shakespeare describes that everything summer produces will become less beautiful over time (Lord 3548). The image of love within this piece of work has a more melancholy tone compared to Shakespeare’s other more romantic poems. A lot of the sad theme has to do with Shakespeare’s renaissance thoughts and his reasoning for why must come to and end. These ideas include the thought that every aspect of life was corrupt because of the fall of Adam. With this ideal comes the idea of the degeneration of beauty, either by chance or by the influence of time on nature. It describes the imperfections and impermanence of the world. This theme of Renaissance also gives way to the underlying theme of religion (Lord 3550). Shakespeare’s idea of degeneration of beauty and love is portrayed with metaphors of nature throughout “Sonnet 18.” Shakespeare writes about his differing thoughts on summer, which gives the poem a certain sense of irony. He states that summer brings rough winds, but then goes on to say that summer is too short. These differing opinions show how Shakespeare expresses that love, even though it is hard sometimes, is worth keeping (Lord 3549). Although Shakespeare focuses on the degeneration of beauty, he branches of on a positive note to state the beauty of the person he is addressing. This concept is explained by the following: “In “Sonnet 18” one finds both the moral and erotic suggested in the words “lovely,” “darling,” and “fair.” Emphasis on the physical beauty of the person addressed is tempered by the hints that this beauty outshines that of the natural universe itself (Lord 3550).” The