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Barakat Arogundade

Prof. Cassandra Johnson

English 254-OL1

Feb 11, 2024

Literary Analysis of Love Is Not All and Sonnet 18

"Love Is Not All" by Edna St. Vincent Millay is a beautiful sonnet that explores the

complex possibilities of love. The poem begins with a bold assertion that “love is not all”,

challenging the conventional notion that love is the ultimate solution to life's problems

(StevenFMcGraw). This about-turn in her philosophy sets the sombre and subversive tone

and mood that washes down across the stanzas. Though the speaker recognises the power of

love to bring comfort and joy, she also confronts the harsh reality that love cannot remedy all

of life's challenges, arguing that it can't insulate men from the poverty of “meat nor drink” or

produce “a floating spar” against the rise and sink of life (StevenFMcGraw). The speaker

frowns at the excessive regard granted to love in the third stanza. The lines, “Yet many a man

is making friends with death / Even as I speak, for lack of love alone" highlight the idea that

love, while important, cannot save someone from the inevitability of mortality

(StevenFMcGraw). In total, the speaker beyond trying to equate love with the daily and basic

business of living, contends that love is less important.

"Sonnet 18" by Shakespeare begins with a rhetorical question, "Shall I compare thee

to a summer's day?" (Larry Bridges) This immediately sets up the central conceit of the

poem, where the speaker contemplates whether the beloved's beauty can be equated with the

fleeting beauty of a summer's day. Shakespeare's use of iambic pentameter and the traditional

English sonnet form lends a sense of musicality and rhythm to the poem. The rhyme scheme
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follows the pattern ABABCDCDEFEFGG, with alternating rhymes that create a sense of

balance and harmony. The lines "So long as men can breathe or eyes can see, / So long lives

this, and this gives life to thee" suggest that as long as people continue to read the poem, the

beloved will live on in the words of the poet (Larry Bridges). This goes to suggest the

resignation of Shakespeare in describing what looks like an indescribable beauty of the object

of the poem. This follows from a countenance of deficiencies in using the summer as a potent

metaphor, which is faulted for sometimes being “too hot” or dimmed in complexion (Larry

Bridges).

In the end, Shakespeare resolves that the “eternal summer” (beauty) of the object can

only be compared to the beauty of the poem itself which he believes is more perfect than

nature.

These two poems, "Love Is Not All" by Edna St. Vincent Millay and "Sonnet 18" by

William Shakespeare, exemplify the multiple role that poetry plays in our lives and the world.

Firstly, poetry serves as a medium for exploring and expressing complex emotions and ideas.

"Love Is Not All" examines the delicate and exaggerated nature of love, while "Sonnet 18"

celebrates the timeless beauty of love and the power of poetry to immortalize it. It challenges

the idealized notions of love, highlighting that while love is powerful and desirable, it may

not be sufficient to overcome all of life's challenges. Millay's poem encourages readers to

contemplate the true nature of love and its place in our lives, adding depth to our

understanding of human relationships. The poem, “Love Is Not All" proposes a revised view

of love that acknowledges its importance but also recognizes its limitations. While traditional

notions of love often portray it as totalising and capable of conquering any obstacle, Millay's

poem suggests that love, while essential, cannot solve all of life's problems. It presents love

as one aspect of human experience, alongside other necessities such as food, shelter, and
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safety. This revised view of love encourages a more balanced perspective that appreciates its

significance while acknowledging its boundaries.

On the romantic hand, Sonnet 18 by Shakespeare presents a view of love that

emphasizes its enduring nature and immortalizing power through poetry. The speaker

compares their beloved to a summer's day, highlighting the beloved's beauty and perfection.

Unlike the transient nature of summer, which fades and diminishes over time, the beauty of

the beloved is said to be eternal, preserved forever in the lines of the poem. This sonnet

proposes that true love transcends the limitations of time and mortality, immortalizing the

beloved through the enduring power of poetry. Poetry allows us to articulate thoughts and

feelings that are often difficult to convey through everyday language, providing a means of

connection and understanding between individuals.

Secondly, poetry offers a unique perspective on the human experience. Through vivid

imagery, symbolism, and metaphor, poets like Millay and Shakespeare capture the essence of

what it means to be human by confronting the totality of our joys, sorrows, hopes, and fears.

By engaging with poetry, we gain insight into different cultures, perspectives, and ways of

seeing the world, fostering empathy and appreciation for the diversity of human experiences.

In sum, both poems teach us about the expansive possibilities of poetry towards the

human moral imagination and also personal identity. It reassures us that experiences are

universal and things are not what they seem no matter how convincing the status quo might

be.
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Works Cited

Larry Bridges. “Michael York Shakespeare Sonnet 18.” YouTube, 2 Oct. 2011,

www.youtube.com/watch?v=1AfeHREVp4I.

StevenFMcGraw. “‘Love Is Not All’ by Edna St. Vincent Millay.” YouTube, 5 June 2013,

www.youtube.com/watch?v=1k1ibHlKefg.
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