William Shakespeare’s Sonnet 71 Essay Example

style="text-align: justify">Shakespeare values the other person’s happiness more than himself. Instead of being grieved over and become a treasured memory, he would rather he be forgotten than inflict pain upon those he loved. It is a humbling concept and makes me ponder the thought of how many people truly love like that. Lines 5-8 are my favorite. The next lines, lines 9-12, speak of the future. The poet describes a time when he will be compounded with clay, in other words, turned to dust. When this time comes, he does not want his name even repeated by his love, rather he states, “But let your love even with my life decay” (Shakespeare 71. -12).

It is about moving on and forgetting the dead. He is requesting the young man to let his love die, just as the writer has. The couplet at the end of “Sonnet 71” offers a whole new insight, or meaning, to the stanza. Shakespeare changes his tone and describes the previous vile world as wise. He states, “Lest the wise world should look into your moan, and mock you with me after I am gone” (71. 13-14). He thinks the people of the world will only make fun of the young man for mourning him or will mock their relationship. It is interesting that Shakespeare would think the man may be mocked, but not comforted.

This could mean that Shakespeare did not think highly of himself and figured no one would mourn him, or maybe he lived a secluded life and had only a few close friends. His reference to the wise world is the opposite of his previous

description of vile. Wise could be sarcastic for all-knowing and may indicate that they would not understand the young man’s grief or it could mean that his death would be known to all, allowing the world to look in and see the young man’s “moaning” (Shakespeare 71. 13-14). Shakespeare’s sexuality has been in question since historians started researching him.

He was married and did have three children, one of whom was conceived out of wedlock. His wife was also eight years older than him. Many people believe that Shakespeare was homosexual and that these sonnets describe that love for a certain young man. Others think the sonnets speak of a devoted friend whom he loved dearly. Either way, the relationship may have been misconstrued during Shakespeare’s lifetime as well. Lines 13 and 14 may refer to this relationship, whether of intimate love or friendship, and how without understanding that relationship, society may mock the man’s pain over the death of the poet.

Regardless of his sexuality, “Sonnet 71” speaks of death and how when one man puts another before himself, true love is portrayed. The poet loved the person enough to forget his own ambitions or legacy to secure future happiness for that same person. It shows how the world can be a cruel place and mock pain instead of helping to rid it. William Shakespeare was a gifted writer, clearly evident in his numerous plays and sonnets. With both blessing my bookshelves, the sonnets continue to be my favorite. “Sonnet 71” is a love letter from beyond an eventual grave and offers a few details of Shakespeare’s loyalty to those he loved.