Sonnet 55

Sonnet 55 clearly demonstrates Shakespeare’s belief that poetry can immortalize an individual. During this phase of his literary career, Shakespeare began to play with the concept that having children is not the only way to live on after death. By writing about an individual, they will always be commemorated. In this sonnet, the speaker demonstrates how physical monuments (such as statues) can easily be destroyed. However, a written tribute will continue to live on. This may be because it can easily be reproduced and shared. Not only does this increase the audience of the work, but if a war did occur, a copy is likely to survive.