Analysis of Sonnet 54 by William Shakespeare

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In Sonnet 54, the speaker, an older man, probably in his thirties or forties, addresses the youth, a young man most likely in his late teens or early twenties. In his address to the young man, he contends that the young man’s beauty and truth are similar to the fragrance contained within a rose, and he argues that those two qualities will be forever preserved in the poet’s sonnet, in the same way that the sweet scent of the rose is forever preserved in perfumes. The poet develops two key images throughout the sonnet; that of the rose and that of the canker blooms. Canker blooms are identified as dog roses or wild roses that lack a sweet scent. These two flowers are compared and contrasted in terms of their looks and their fragrances; the rose and the canker bloom are both stated to be extremely beautiful. However, the rose is considered to be additionally beautiful due to its sweet fragrance, while the canker bloom is scentless, and is not mourned when its blossoms die. On the other hand, the scent of the rose is preserved in perfumes, and because of this the rose is, mourned, and even more importantly, never forgotten. In addition to the imagery used in the sonnet, the tone of sonnet LIV as a whole affects how the reader digests the sonnet and sets the mood. The tone of a poem is an important tool for a poet to consider while writing. It can help the reader understand the speaker, can emotionally involve the reader, sets the mood for the sonnet, and tells the reader how to feel when reading the poem. In Sonnet LIV by William Shakespeare, the tone of the speaker, an older man, is sincerity and passion. “But for virtue is their only show, they live unwoo’d and unrespected fade, die to themselves” (Shakespeare, 9) The speaker ex... ... middle of paper ... ...he same goes for you divine and lovely youth. When your beauty starts to fade away, my poem will forever preserve your splendor for others to enjoy. Shakespeare used extended metaphor to develop the theme of preserving the beauty of the youth and power of verse by comparing true beauty of youth and to a rose. Shakespeare will capture truths in his sonnets; he is not satisfied by making superficially pleasant sonnets, but instead will make sonnets with everlasting truths about superior things. True and inwardly beauty leaves a lasting impression. Works Cited Hylton, Jeremy. "Sonnet LIV." Sonnet LIV. TheTech, n.d. Web. 03 Jan. 2014. "Shakespeare's Sonnets By William Shakespeare Summary and Analysis Sonnet 54." Sonnet 54. HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT, n.d. Web. 03 Jan. 2014. "Shakespeare's Sonnets." Shakespeare's Sonnets. Oxquarry Books Ltd, n.d. Web. 03 Jan. 2014.

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