SHAKSPEARE’S SONNETS REMAIN IN TIME (resume of page 135)

PERIOD

Shakespeare wrote his sonnets between 1592 and 1598. They were published only in 1609.

FORM

Shakespeare’s sonnets are arranged into three quatrains and a rhyming couplet. The rhyme scheme is ABAB CDCD EFEF GG. the quatrain’s function is to introduce the problem instead of the solution that is explained in the rhyming couplet. Shakespeare wrote 154 sonnets and they are addressed to the fair youth or to the dark lady.

THEMES

The reader can find three different themes reading this sonnets.                                                                

In the first 18 poems (procreation sonnets) the speaking voice induces the fair youth to get married and have children so that his beauty will last in time.

The second group of poems are dedicated to the dark lady. This lady is the opposite of the angelical woman because she has dark hair, dun skin instead of the angelic figure has blonde hair and blue eyes with pale skin. The speaker’s feeling fluctuate between love, hate, jealousy. (unpleasant sensations caused by love).

Time is the most important themes and it is introduced as the enemy of love. Time destroys people’s beauty because they will die eventually. The lyrical I wants the fair youth to get married and have children so he can transmit his beauty. But the speaking voice has the power to make the fair youth eternal thanks to his written poems.

Shakespeare also speaks about sexual desire.

IMAGES AND SYMBOLS

Shakespeare uses symbols and many figures of speech as metaphor and simile. Flower, plants and trees illustrate the beauty but also the passage of time. Stars influence people’s life.