Sonnet 116

William Shakespeare’s “Sonnet 116” is a timeless expression of the nature of true love. The sonnet
begins with a declaration that love is unalterable and eternal, and it transcends any challenges that
might come its way. The poet argues that true love is not subject to time, which ravages all things.
The poem holds that true love is a constant, a North Star that guides one through the trials and
tribulations of life. The sonnet is beautifully crafted, with an elegant structure that enhances the
power of its message. This essay analyzes the poem, explores the structure, imagery, and themes to
understand its meaning of eternal love.

The sonnet’s imagery is simple yet beautiful. The poet describes love as a fixed star that remains
constant, despite the changing tides of life. The first line of the poem declares, “Let me not to the
marriage of true minds / Admit impediments.” This line introduces the idea that love is permanent
and endures all obstacles. The second line emphasizes the solidity of true love, saying, “Love is not
love / Which alters when it alteration finds.” Here, the poet argues that love cannot change with
time or circumstances. He declares that true love is fixed and unchanging, just like a star in the sky.
The final line of the poem drives this point home, asserting that true love “is an ever-fixed mark /
That looks on tempests and is never shaken.”

The themes in the sonnet center on the idea that true love is stable and unchanging. The first
quatrain introduces the idea that true love is not a passing fancy or a physical attraction. Instead, the
poet argues that love is a union of two minds that are devoted to each other. The second quatrain
reiterates this idea, arguing that true love is not swayed by time. The final quatrain emphasizes the
idea that true love endures all hardships. The couplet at the end of the poem, “If this be error and
upon me proved, / I never writ, nor no man ever loved,” boldly declares that the poet’s argument is
true, and we should have faith in the constancy of love.

“Love’s not Time’s fool, though rosy lips and cheeks within his bending sickle’s compass
come:” tell us that although physical beauty, “rosy lips and cheeks”, may fade and die,
love is not affected by time. The poem’s rhythm, imagery, and rhetorical devices all combine to
create a work of art that leaves a lasting impression on the reader.

In conclusion, William Shakespeare’s “Sonnet 116” is an eloquent expression of the nature of true
love. The sonnet’s structure, imagery, language, and themes all work together to create a powerful
work of art that captures the essence of true love. The poem declares that true love is a constant,
unchanging force that endures all obstacles, and that it is a union of two minds, each devoted to the
other. The poem’s elegant structure enhances the flow of its language, while its beautiful imagery
underscores its central message. Shakespeare’s masterful use of rhetorical devices adds to the
poem’s depth and complexity, making “Sonnet 116” a masterpiece of English literature.