sonnet 55 commentary

Shakespeare’s Sonnet 55 Commentary
Jake Wythers
Ms Peifer
10 IB Hour Five
2/21/09

The author’s purpose in Sonnet 55 is to show the immortality and beauty of poetry and this poem’s subject, love. The author achieves the purpose by comparing the subject and the poem to images of grandeur and by describing their resilience. The author finally reveals the subject of the poem in the ending couplet.

The first quartet introduces the subject of the poem and shows the enduring qualities of poetry. “Not marble, nor the gilded monuments/Of princes, shall outlive this powerful rhyme;” By comparing the sonnet to princely monuments and marble, the author shows that poetry is equally elegant and longer lasting than these images. “But you shall shine more bright in these contents/Than unswept stone besmear’d with sluttish time.” Here the author uses “you” to show the subject of the sonnet and the sonnet’s purpose of glorifying the subject.

The second quartet strengthens the subject’s imperishability by showing that war will not destroy it. “Nor Mars his sword nor war’s quick fire shall burn/The living record of your memory.” The author brings in the powerful obliviator, war, to show that the subject is able to outlast it, unlike the aforementioned marble and statues.

The final quartet contributes to the author’s purpose by stating that even death will not slow down the subject. “Your praise shall still find room” this implies that immortal poetry will still be able to glorify the subject. The author uses this subtle allusion to strengthen both poetry and the subject.

The ending couplet of this sonnet is very important, because it finally reveals to the audience the subject of the sonnet, in addition to contributing to its enduring qualities. “So, till the judgement that yourself arise/You live in this, and dwell in lover’s eyes.” “Dwell in lover’s eyes” implies that the subject is love itself. The author also shows that this sonnet will keep love alive.

In conclusion, the author’s purpose in Sonnet 55 is to show the audience the immortality and beauty of poetry and of love. The author achieves his purpose through comparison to recognizable images of endurance and grandeur.