Themes: The Power of Love
Written in awe and admiration, “Sonnet 18” discusses the power of beauty—and the love it inspires in others—to evoke artistic works and creative efforts. The sonnet is largely focused on the speaker’s narration of his beloved’s beauty. The object of his affection surpasses even the finest summer day, a comparison that elevates the young man in question above the natural world and grants him an almost divine visage. Yet, as the speaker rightly acknowledges, this fine form will invariably wither, prey to the taunts of time and age. However, the speaker cares so deeply for this youth that he acts as his savior, writing of his beauty to preserve it. What might be seen as boastful is instead romantic, as the speaker uses his craft to ensure his beloved lives on, immortalized in his lurid, loving verse. As much as the poem mourns the dying light of youth and praises the preserving ability of poetry, “Sonnet 18” mainly orbits around the question of love and its unique ability to evoke the strong feelings necessary to write and create art.
Expert Q&A
Why is the speaker's loved one lovelier than a summer's day in Sonnet 18?
The speaker's loved one is lovelier than a summer's day because summer is fleeting and harsh, while her beauty is enduring and gentle. Shakespeare notes that summer's duration is brief and its sun can be too hot, causing nature to fade. In contrast, his beloved's beauty does not fade and lasts longer than the transient beauty of summer.
Why is comparing the poet's love to a summer's day inappropriate in Sonnet 18?
Comparing the poet's love to a summer's day in Sonnet 18 is inappropriate because the beloved is "more lovely and more temperate." Unlike summer, which can be too hot, dim, and fleeting, the beloved's beauty is eternal and does not fade. The poem immortalizes her beauty, making it superior to the transient nature of a summer's day.
Is "Shall I Compare Thee to a Summer’s Day" by Shakespeare a love poem or about something else?
"Shall I Compare Thee to a Summer's Day" is a love poem that also explores the enduring power of poetry. While the speaker praises the beloved's beauty, comparing them to a summer's day, the poem ultimately celebrates how poetry immortalizes this beauty. Shakespeare asserts that his verse will preserve the beloved's essence forever, highlighting poetry's ability to transcend time and grant immortality to both subject and creator.
How do tone, speaker, and diction develop the theme of love and beauty in Sonnet 18?
In Sonnet 18, tone, speaker, and diction develop the theme of love and beauty by comparing the beloved to a "summer's day," yet surpassing it. The speaker's tone is hopeful and affectionate, emphasizing the eternal nature of the beloved's beauty through poetry, even as physical beauty fades. Diction like "temperate" contrasts typical passion, while the speaker's playful approach engages readers until revealing poetry's power to immortalize beauty.
Shakespeare's Expression of Love in Sonnet 18
In "Sonnet 18," Shakespeare expresses profound love and admiration for his beloved, comparing them to a summer's day but asserting their superiority in beauty and temperament. The speaker's feelings are deep, passionate, and committed, as he seeks to immortalize his lover's beauty through poetry. Unlike the ephemeral nature of summer, his beloved's "eternal summer" is preserved in verse, ensuring her beauty endures beyond time and even death, reflecting a love that is both enduring and confident.
Expression of admiration and love in "Sonnet 18" by Shakespeare
In "Sonnet 18," Shakespeare expresses admiration and love by comparing the beloved to a summer's day, suggesting they are more lovely and temperate. He praises their eternal beauty, which will be immortalized through the poem, thus defying the ravages of time.
Get Ahead with eNotes
Start your 48-hour free trial to access everything you need to rise to the top of the class. Enjoy expert answers and study guides ad-free and take your learning to the next level.
Already a member? Log in here.
