Sonnet 138

In this sonnet, the speaker describes his poor relationship with his mistress. They do not appear to be in love, as they have both have “settled” with each other. The speaker knows that his mistress is dishonest, and suspects that she may be cheating on him. Likewise, his mistress is involved with someone much older than herself, whom she probably does not find attractive. Although these are serious issues in a relationship, the pair simply chooses not to deal with them. The speaker’s mistress lies, calling the speaker a young man, and the speaker simply listens to her falsehoods. It is just easier to ignore life’s complications than to deal with them.

Sonnet 130

At first glance, it appears that the speaker is mocking his mistress. However, a closer reflection reveals that the speaker is actually mocking the other poets of his time. Poetry was frequently used as a cliché attempt to gain a woman’s attention, and (more times than not) a poet would compose verses that would falsely idolize their beloveds. The speaker in this sonnet clearly disagrees with their inaccurate descriptions. He honestly admits that his mistress is nothing spectacular. However, he feels that she is just as special as any of the other poet’s subjects. He simply chooses not to lie about her appearance and describe her as some type of goddess.

Sonnet 116

This is one of my favorite sonnets by Shakespeare. In this poem, the speaker conveys the true, unfailing nature of love. He states that love can withstand any circumstance, whether it is time or a natural disaster. I especially like the comparison of love to a star, as it is the guide to every boat, and its worth can never be measured. The speaker clearly has recognized the true, constant force of love compared to the short-lived sensation of infatuation. Love simply never changes, no matter what happens in life. The couplet which concludes the sonnet simply states that if the speaker is wrong about his beautiful description of love, no one has ever loved then.

Sonnet 94

I think this is an excellent reflection on human character. The speaker states that the best people are the ones who have the power to hurt others, but choose not to. They simply do not wish to exploit others and cause them pain, even if it would benefit them. The people the speaker describes are clearly unselfish and they will receive their reward eternally. However, in order to preserve their character, people must be careful of their actions. Everyone’s morals can be tempted, and if they succumb, they are no better than the worst criminals. The speaker clearly despises those who give a caring appearance, but are simply looking out for their own interests.

Sonnet 87

This sonnet is an attempt by the speaker to praise his beloved. He states that the subject of the sonnet is far too good for him, and that he would understand if she left him. He simply feels as though he does not deserve her. In Shakespeare’s time, this may have been a matter of money. Individuals were expected to marry within their own social class. Perhaps the woman the speaker had fallen for was wealthier than him, and he felt as though he did not have a chance with her. However, I do not believe that the speaker is being completely selfless in the sonnet. I think that he is only saying these things in order to flatter her, so she will not leave him.

Sonnet 73

This sonnet describes how nothing in life can ever remain the same. After some time, the end is inevitable. The speaker paints a picture in the mind of the reader by describing the turning leaves of autumn, a fading sunset and the smoldering embers of a fire. However, the speaker is not bitter by the ending of these things. He is instead enchanted by them. I think it is simply human nature to feel this way, as we are clearly drawn to the things we cannot hold onto. Drawing on the speaker’s example of summer, isn’t it the shortness of the season that draws us to it? Living in such a snowy area, we especially crave the short months of sun. However, if we had the warm weather all the time, we would not look forward to it as much.

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.