SHALL I COMPARE THEE
William
Shakespeare
1.
How does the poet immortalize his
friend’s beauty? Or, how has Shakespeare celebrated masculine beauty in his
sonnet?
The sonnet is a sincere tribute by the
poet to the eternal beauty of his friend. He feels the destructive touch of
time on all worldly elements. The loveliness of summer, the beautiful buds of
May, and the sun- all fair forms of nature are subjected to decay. This very
thought is certainly painful, but the poet has no feelings of dismay. He
clearly declares that his friend’s beauty has an eternal summer which will never
fade, though ‘every fair from fair sometimes decline’. He is rather inspired by
his firm faith in the eternal appeal of his friend’s beauty. His friend will
ever live and thrive, despite the cruel blow of time, though the lines of his
verse written in his praise. [124]
2.
“…and this gives life to thee.” –
What does ‘this’ refer to? Who is referred to by ‘thee’? how does this give
life?
‘This’ refers to the sonnet, ‘Shall I
Compare Thee’.
The
poet’s friend is referred to here as ‘thee’.
The poet expresses his firm hope for
perpetuating his friend’s beauty in this mortal world through the power of his
verse. He finds in his friend’s beauty greater loveliness and serenity than
that of the summer day. He also feels this beauty imperishable. It is subjected
to no decay or destruction, although every fair element of nature loses its
beauty in course of time. The poet’s mind will, in fact, ever live and thrive
through his verse. As long as the human race lives and loves to read, this very
sonnet will remain to celebrate his beauty. It will give him eternal life which
no ravage of time can ever take away. In this transient human world, he will
live ever. [140]
3.
Why does the poet say that it is
inappropriate to compare his friend to a summer’s day? Or, identify at least
three qualities that make the person superior to simile.
William Shakespeare proposes to compare
his friend to the sweet day of summer season. A summer day, rich in plenty as
well as beauty of nature is truly charming. But the poet considers his friend
to possess greater charm and grace- “Thou art more lovely and more temperate”.
Firstly, pot’s friend is moderate and tempered in character. But summer’s day
has some shortcomings. The little buds of May are often tossed by the high wind
of summer. The sun is bright and sparkling in summer. Secondly, in summer’s
day, the sun is often overcast. But the poet’s friend has a beauty that is sure
to withstand the ravages of time. Lastly, the summer lasts for a short period
of time. But poet’s verse will give him an eternal lease of life. [134]
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