Shakespeare’s sonnets are marvels of poetic art. There are 154 sonnets of which
125 are addressed to a young man, the remaining to a dark lady; probably the poet's mistress.
The sonnets in general explore the complex relationship between a dark lady, a handsome
young nobleman and a rival poet. They also deal with the action of Time on living and
non living things. Shakespeare's poetic genius is revealed through these sonnets.
The sonnets in general explore the complex relationship between a dark lady, a handsome
young nobleman and a rival poet. They also deal with the action of Time on living and
non living things. Shakespeare's poetic genius is revealed through these sonnets.
Sonnet 116 is a meditative attempt to define perfect live. The poet glorified the quality
of true love. Shakespeare uses a modified form of the Italian sonnet pattern.
Here the sonnet is divided into three quatrains with a concluding couplet.
of true love. Shakespeare uses a modified form of the Italian sonnet pattern.
Here the sonnet is divided into three quatrains with a concluding couplet.
In the first quatrain of the sonnet Shakespeare defines love negatively.
He states what love is not. Love is not true if it succumbs to temptations or other
changes in circumstances. Love is not true if it agrees with the one who wants
to dissolve the lover's union.
He states what love is not. Love is not true if it succumbs to temptations or other
changes in circumstances. Love is not true if it agrees with the one who wants
to dissolve the lover's union.
Next Shakespeare tells us what love is. True love is always stable and constant.
To stress this point the poet uses two metaphors. Love is an ever fixed mark, a beacon,
a light house which looks on tempests but is unshaken. True love is again compared to
the polestar. It is fixed and it guides the wandering ships.
To stress this point the poet uses two metaphors. Love is an ever fixed mark, a beacon,
a light house which looks on tempests but is unshaken. True love is again compared to
the polestar. It is fixed and it guides the wandering ships.
In this sonnet also the poet shows his concern about the action of Time
on human beings. Rosy lips and cheeks fade with the passage of Time. Physical beauty
is obviously transient. Time destroys it. But true love resists the passage of Time.
True love is permanent and lasts till the end of the world.
on human beings. Rosy lips and cheeks fade with the passage of Time. Physical beauty
is obviously transient. Time destroys it. But true love resists the passage of Time.
True love is permanent and lasts till the end of the world.
The sonnet has a concluding couplet in which the poet reaffirms the belief
that his love is stable and permanent. He declares that if his belief is proved wrong,
he never wrote poetry or no man ever loved.
that his love is stable and permanent. He declares that if his belief is proved wrong,
he never wrote poetry or no man ever loved.
The sonnet has a rhyme scheme ab, ab, cd, cd, ef ef and gg.
Thus the poem is a perfect illustration of Shakespeare's poetic art of
blending matter and manner.
blending matter and manner.
