Explanation for Shakespeares Sonnet 18

Shakespeare Sonnet No. 18

Introduction:

William Shakespeare is regarded as one of the greatest poets in English literature. His sonnets explores themes of love, beauty, and the passage of time. Shakespeare’s Sonnet18, delves into the remarkable qualities of his beloved. He follows the structure of an English Sonnet. It consists of three quatrians (12lines) and a couplet (2 lines). It follows the rhyme scheme abab cdcd efef gg.

Shakespeare’s Sonnet 18 begins with a question, “Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?” The speaker ponders whether his beloved should be compared to a summer’s day. He immediately realizes that his beloved is more lovely and perfect than the Summer season.

The speaker depicts the beauty of a summer’s day which is temporary, while the beauty of the beloved is eternal. The phrase “eternal summer” expresses the idea that the beloved’s beauty is not subject to destruction. The beloved’s beauty, according to the speaker, will not fade or diminish with the passage of time. It will be preserved forever in the lines of the poem, transcending the limitations of time and mortality.

The concluding couplet of the sonnet reinforces the idea that the poem itself will serve as a testament to the beloved’s eternal beauty. The speaker claims that as long as people continue to read this poem, the beloved’s beauty will live on, defying the ravages of time and death.

Through the power of poetry, Shakespeare immortalizes the beloved’s beauty and ensures that it will be remembered and admired by future generations. The sonnet captures the essence of love, beauty, and the enduring power of art.