Introduction
The best way to understand William Shakespeare’s perspective on love is to read his sonnets carefully. The speaker of sonnet 106 reflects on beauty and time, while sonnet 116 focuses on true love and sonnet 130 subverts conventional love poetry. Shakespeare uses the sonnet to depict true love as a constant force unaffected by time or circumstance. He employs the three sonnets to present a complex, subtle, and multidimensional view of love, the relationship between love and beauty, time, and the power of language.
Sonnet 106 Summary
Shakespeare claims sonnet 106’s addressee is more beautiful than any other beauty described in any literature. Shakespeare claims that not even the greatest poets of antiquity could fully capture the beauty of the person to whom the sonnet is addressed (7). It conveys the idea that the sonnet’s recipient is stunningly beautiful. Shakespeare further notes that people lack the knowledge to appreciate the beauty and only get a taste of it in (14). It is because they needed more sophistication than we now have. The main issue of the sonnet is that all previous attempts to describe beauty have needed more adequate metaphors.
Sonnet 116 Summary
Shakespeare suggests in Sonnet 116 that love is timeless and unchangeable, despite the passage of time and the inevitable decay of physical form. Shakespeare asserts that love does not change over time (11). It portrays the idea that love is eternal and unchanging, unaffected by the passage of time. Shakespeare uses the metaphor of an “ever-fixed mark” to emphasize the constancy and permanence of love (5). Furthermore, he implies that love can survive even the worst of times and death (Shakespeare 12). In the sonnet, he paints a picture of love that withstands the passage of time and physical decay.
The theme of the sonnet is love, which is portrayed as a unifying and transformative force that endures adversity. Shakespeare further asserts that genuine love “admit impediments,”(2), implying that love is a unifying and reconciling force. Furthermore, Shakespeare compares love to the star to every wandering bark, implying that it can help people find their way out of loneliness (8). He implies that love is powerfully capable of withstanding adversity, portraying it as unifying and transforming partners despite adversity.
Sonnet 130 Summary
Shakespeare’s sonnet 130 features a character who questions the idealized notion of beauty typically found in love poetry. He says that her eyes are not as bright as the sun, and her lips are not as red as coral (Shakespeare 1-2), even though he adores her. The persona confesses his feelings for the heroine due to her inner beauty. He brazenly contrasts his love with the false comparisons of other love poems, claiming his love is just as genuine and rare (Shakespeare 14). The sonnet is refreshing in its lack of flowery language, which is more common in love poetry.
Shakespeare’s Attitude Toward Love
These three sonnets demonstrate Shakespeare’s strong beliefs about the value and power of love. Shakespeare considers previous characterizations of beauty in sonnet 106 and how they compare to the beauty of the person addressed. Love, he concludes, is timeless and limitless, just like the subject of all these laudatory declarations. Similarly, Shakespeare argues in sonnet 116 that true love is an unwavering and consistent power that guides and directs the lover’s actions (12). It is always present and dependable, regardless of what obstacles exist. In Sonnet 130, Shakespeare expresses an honest and realistic view of love. He does not venerate her physical beauty but rather his love and devotion for his mistress. Shakespeare’s delivery of these three sonnets demonstrates his firm belief that love is a powerful and consequential force in human life.
These three sonnets take different approaches to what it means to love another person. Despite the passage of time and the decay of physical form, love is immortal, lending Sonnet 106 a more idealistic and romantic tone than its companion poem, Sonnet 116. The speaker is idealistic and romantic, believing past glory was merely a foreshadowing of what is to come in the present, which will ultimately triumph. Sonnet 130’s satire is particularly amusing and lighthearted. It also calls the veracity of literature’s typically rosy depictions of romantic love into question. In contrast, the solemn tone of sonnet 116 conveys that love is unwavering and unflinching in the face of adversity. Shakespeare takes a logical approach, concluding that genuine affection is a constant force that can alter a person’s behavior.
Analyzing Ideas in Each Sonnet
Some themes run through all three sonnets, and some notable differences. Shakespeare expresses the importance and power of love from the heart. In sonnet 106, Shakespeare uses historical descriptions of beauty to describe the beauty of the person addressed. Shakespeare’s realization that previous acclaim for beauty was only a foreshadowing of the beauty now possessed demonstrates that love endures forever. As in the previous sonnet, Shakespeare argues in sonnet 116 that true love is an unyielding and consistent force that guides and directs the lover’s actions and is always present and dependable despite any obstacles. Sonnet 130 delves into the nature of true love and the fallacy of the romantic ideal of beauty in love poetry by presenting a vivid portrait of the speaker’s mistress. Shakespeare’s emphasis on inner beauty demonstrates that physical attractiveness is more than meets the eye.
The three sonnets show two very different points of view on what it means to love. Since Shakespeare portrays love as unchanging and enduring through time and the inevitable decay of physical form, sonnet 106 has a more idealistic and romantic tone than sonnet 116. Shakespeare believes that the past’s sensation was merely a preview of the present’s magnificence and that the latter will ultimately prevail. In contrast, sonnet 116’s more grounded tone conveys that love is a steadfast friend that keeps going no matter the obstacles. The speaker takes a logical approach to the topic and concludes that true love is an ever-present force that can influence the behavior of the person for whom it is felt.
An excellent illustration of Shakespeare’s perspective on love is found in the two sonnets, which present an idealization of love that is poetic and romantic. Nevertheless, a perception that is more grounded in reality and practicality is required. The sonnets contain aspects that are both positive and negative. Sonnet 116 and 130 are a beautiful way to illustrate how steadfast love can be by using a realistic and practical outlook on love expressed in the poem. On the other hand, this viewpoint is overly simplistic and does not consider the nuances of other perspectives. When taken as a whole, these sonnets contribute to Shakespeare’s more comprehensive view of love as something timeless and unchanging, as well as reliable and practical.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Shakespeare’s treatment of love in sonnets 106, 116, and 130 demonstrates his firm belief in love’s ability to elevate and improve the human condition. Sonnet 106 is more idealistic and romantic than sonnets 116 and 130, while sonnet 116 is practical. In the sonnets, he depicts love as a stable and consistent entity, influencing and directing the lover’s actions and serving as a constant and trustworthy companion. The message of these three sonnets is that love is a powerful force that can unite and transform us regardless of the obstacles we face, the passage of time, and the inevitable breakdown of physical objects.
Work Cited
Shakespeare, William. “Sonnet 106: When in The Chronicle of Wasted Time.” No Sweat Shakespeare, Web.
Shakespeare, William. “Sonnet 116: Let Me Not to the Marriage of True Minds.” No Sweat Shakespeare, Web.
Shakespeare, William. “Sonnet 130: My Mistress’ Eyes Are Nothing Like the Sun.” No Sweat Shakespeare, Web.