Sonnet 116

Sonnet 116

‘Sonnet 116’ is a poem about ‘William Shakespeare’. The poem is about what true love is and what it isn’t about. The poet uses imagery to make clear his views of love. The poem is very unique in its own way, which makes it very difficult to say how far I agree with his views.

Shakespeare uses imagery to show that love is always in your life. True love is permanent, “an ever fixed mark”. True love is something that never goes away. It is like a stain, something that lasts. It reminds me of a love heart carved in a tree or even a birthmark, because like love it is always there. True love is constant and it never leaves us. The image shows me how Shakespeare feels about love.

In the poem, Shakespeare makes the imagery very effective. True love cannot be broken or taken. The imagery shows that true love can withstand all, “that looks on tempests and is never shaken”. This image helps me imagine a hurricane. Love being a house, the hurricane can’t move or take away this house from that spot. The house stays there as true love does. Love can handle anything, be it a storm or an earthquake. True love brings a sense of safety and strength. It is so strong that it can overcome anything in its path. Shakespeare uses the image or a storm to show me his views on love.

The imagery is quite intriguing. Love is your map to life, “a star to every wandering bark”. This is the idea of a boat being lost out at sea and then being guided by this lighthouse. Love is something that keeps you right and is always there when you need it. It is like a guide. By using imagery, the poet makes clear what his notion of love is.

Personification is apiece of imagery that is very powerful and striking. In love time is not an issue, “Love’s not time’s fool, though rosy lips and cheeks within his bending sickle’s compass come”. Time does not affect love in any way. Love being a person, love never changes- time cannot command love or change it. Love is not all about health and youth. It is timeless and it does take time for love to grow stronger. Time is nothing