Sonnet XVIII

-William Shakespeare

Shakespeare, the world-famous Elizabethan dramatist, has also written many poems. A sonnet series, consisting of more than a hundred sonnets on various subjects, are a puzzle to readers. The first few sonnets are addressed to the poet's handsome, young patron, the Earl of Southampton. Shakespeare asks his patron to get married and beget children and thus pass on his charms to them.

            

'Sonnet XVIII' deals with the theme of immortalization of his friend. Shakespeare uses many images to emphasize the everlasting beauty of his friend.

Introduction :

It was the Italian poet Petrarch who fashioned the form of the sonnet. The Petrarchan sonnet consisted of an eight-line octave and a six-line sestet. Shakespeare changed this pattern. The Shakespeare sonnet has three four-line quatrains and a final rhyming couplet. Petrarch praises his ladylove. But Shakespeare praises his male friend. Shakespeare attacks his mistress. She is ugly to look at. She is extremely immoral.

The contrast of the friend with summer :

England is a very cold country. People welcome the warm summer. In the same way the friend is welcome to Shakespeare. Summer is marred by many defects. But his friend is a perfect man. Summer's heat sometimes becomes unbearable.

His friend is always calm and equable. Summer winds shake down buds. But the friend never disowns budding poets. The sun is sometimes enveloped by dark clouds. It's brightness is dimmed. The friend never allows wicked people to tarnish his image. Summer's beauty is short-lived. But the friend's handsomeness lasts long.

Eternal summer, eternal lines :

Shakespeare is very proud of his poetry. He claims that it has an eternal appeal. He asserts that as long as people have the right taste, his poetry will be read. The friend pictured in his poetry will be remembered by future generations. In this sense he is deathless.