Shall I compare thee to a summer's day by William Shakespeare

 

William Shakespeare (1564-1616) was an English playwright, poet, and actor, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's greatest dramatist. His plays have been translated into every major living language and are performed more often than those of any other playwright. He is often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon".

Sonnet 18, also known as "Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?", is one of William Shakespeare's most famous and beloved sonnets. The poem is a tribute to the beauty of the speaker's beloved and explores the theme of immortalizing beauty through poetry.

In the opening lines, the speaker contemplates whether they should compare the beloved to a summer's day, a common poetic device for praising beauty. However, the speaker immediately rejects this idea, stating that the beloved is "more lovely and more temperate" than a summer's day, highlighting the beloved's superior beauty and character.

The sonnet then delves into the shortcomings of a summer's day. The speaker describes how rough winds can shake the delicate buds of May, and how summer's lease, or its time, is too short-lived. These natural imperfections are used to contrast the beloved's beauty, which is depicted as timeless and constant.

Continuing with this comparison, the speaker notes that sometimes the sun shines too hot, and its "gold complexion" is dimmed by clouds. Similarly, all things beautiful in nature eventually decline due to chance or the changing course of nature. In contrast, the beloved's beauty remains untouched and unblemished by time and its inevitable changes.

The poem takes a significant turn in the latter part, where the speaker reassures the beloved that their beauty will not fade. The beloved's "eternal summer" will not lose its beauty nor will it be claimed by Death's shadow. The speaker emphasizes that the beloved's beauty will live on forever.

The reason for this immortality lies in the power of poetry itself. The speaker declares that as long as this sonnet exists and is read by others, the beloved's beauty will live on through its lines. Through the art of poetry, the beloved achieves a form of everlasting existence, defying the passage of time and the clutches of mortality.

In the closing couplet, the poem underscores this idea. It states that as long as there are people to read and appreciate this sonnet, the beloved's beauty will be preserved and will continue to live on.

Overall, Sonnet 18 is a profound expression of admiration for the beloved's beauty and a celebration of the immortality that poetry can confer upon that beauty. It captivates readers with its vivid imagery, powerful language, and timeless themes, making it one of the most cherished and iconic sonnets ever written by William Shakespeare.

Let's break down the sonnet and analyze its various components:

Sonnet 18: Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?

Shall I compare thee to a summer's day? (Line 1)

Thou art more lovely and more temperate: (Line 2)

Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May, (Line 3)

And summer's lease hath all too short a date: (Line 4)

Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines, (Line 5)

And often is his gold complexion dimmed; (Line 6)

And every fair from fair sometime declines, (Line 7)

By chance or nature's changing course untrimmed; (Line 8)

But thy eternal summer shall not fade (Line 9)

Nor lose possession of that fair thou owest; (Line 10)

Nor shall Death brag thou wanderest in his shade, (Line 11)

When in eternal lines to time thou growest: (Line 12)

    So long as men can breathe or eyes can see, (Line 13)

    So long lives this, and this gives life to thee. (Line 14)

Analysis:

Comparison and Compliment: The poem opens with the speaker contemplating whether to compare the beloved to a summer's day. He immediately dismisses the idea, stating that the beloved is "more lovely and more temperate." Here, the speaker establishes that the beloved is far superior to a mere seasonal comparison.

Nature's Imperfections: The following lines (3-8) draw a contrast between the beloved's beauty and the imperfections of nature. The rough winds and the transient nature of summer are used as metaphors to illustrate the fleeting and changeable aspects of beauty found in the natural world.

Eternal Beauty: In lines 9-12, the speaker declares that the beloved's beauty will never fade or be lost to time. By using the phrase "eternal summer," the speaker suggests that the beloved's beauty will remain forever young and vibrant, unlike the passing seasons.

Immortality through Poetry: The sonnet takes a turn in lines 11-12, where the speaker addresses the idea of mortality and the fear of death. The speaker assures the beloved that even death cannot claim them because their beauty will live on in the lines of this poem. This is a powerful notion of achieving immortality through art and poetry.

Timelessness of the Sonnet: The closing couplet (lines 13-14) emphasizes the everlasting nature of the sonnet itself. The poem declares that as long as there are people to read and appreciate it, the beloved's beauty will live on through the words of this sonnet.

Themes: Some of the prominent themes explored in Sonnet 18 include the immortality of poetry, the transient nature of beauty, the power of art to preserve beauty, and the speaker's profound admiration for the beloved.

Imagery and Language: Shakespeare's use of vivid imagery, metaphors, and personification enriches the sonnet. The contrasting elements of summer and the beloved's beauty, the "eye of heaven" representing the sun, and "eternal lines" symbolizing the poem itself contribute to the sonnet's depth and beauty.

Overall, Sonnet 18 is a timeless tribute to the eternal beauty of the beloved and the power of poetry to immortalize that beauty. Its eloquent expression of admiration and its exploration of life's impermanence continue to resonate with readers across centuries, making it one of Shakespeare's most celebrated and enduring works.

Line-by-line analysis of Sonnet 18:

Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?

The speaker begins by asking a rhetorical question. He is not really asking if he should compare his beloved to a summer's day, but is instead stating that he will indeed make the comparison.

Thou art more lovely and more temperate:

The speaker compares his beloved's beauty to a summer's day, but he notes that his beloved is more lovely and more temperate. A summer's day can be hot and stormy, but his beloved is always mild and gentle.

Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May,

The speaker continues to compare his beloved to a summer's day, but he notes that a summer's day is not always perfect. The wind can shake the delicate buds of May, but his beloved's beauty is never shaken.

And summer's lease hath all too short a date:

The speaker reminds us that summer is a fleeting season. It comes and goes quickly, and it is always followed by winter. However, the speaker's love for his beloved will never fade.

Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines,

The speaker continues to remind us that summer is not always perfect. Sometimes the sun shines too hot, and the heat can be oppressive. However, his beloved's beauty is always refreshing and cool.

And often is his gold complexion dimmed;

The speaker also notes that the sun's beauty can be dimmed by clouds. However, his beloved's beauty is always clear and bright.

And every pelting storm shakes him from his sphere:

The speaker reminds us that the sun is not always in control of its own destiny. It can be shaken from its sphere by storms. However, his beloved is always in control of his own destiny.

But thy eternal summer shall not fade,

The speaker now turns to the central theme of the sonnet, which is the power of poetry to preserve beauty. He says that his beloved's beauty will never fade, because he has captured it in his poem.

Nor lose possession of that fair thou owest;

The speaker's poem will keep his beloved's beauty alive for all time. No matter what happens, the beauty of his beloved will never be lost.

Nor shall death brag thou wand'rest in his shade,

Death cannot claim the beloved, because the beloved's beauty is immortal. It will live on forever in the speaker's poem.

When in eternal lines to time thou grow'st:

The speaker's poem will ensure that the beloved's beauty will be remembered for all time. It will grow into an eternal line that will be read by future generations.

So long as men can breathe or eyes can see,

The speaker's poem will live on as long as there are people to read it. It will be a testament to the beloved's beauty, and it will keep the beloved's memory alive for all time.

So long lives this, and this gives life to thee.

The speaker's poem is a gift to the beloved. It is a way for him to immortalize the beloved's beauty and keep the beloved's memory alive.