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Shakespearean works are one of the most interesting examples of imagery as a literary tool. Shakespeare often employs a duality of mean to express multiple thoughts and ideas to the reader to convey his ideas. Essentially within every line of every poem there is a secondary meaning that creates a complexity that complements the work, like a pairing of a fine wine and cheese, that leaves the reader richer for the experience. Shakespearean sonnet 116 Is an expression of what love Is and what love should be.
It Is Idealistic love. This Is the overall story to be told; the first layer. The complexity Is found hidden beneath the language In the Imagery, where Shakespeare undercuts the Idealistic notions of love, with Ideas of the ephemeral nature of humanity. Shakespeare begins the sonnet by planting the Image of true love. He begins by saying “Let me not to the marriage of true minds admit impediments. ” Marriage of true minds is the image of true love. Shakespeare uses the word “marriage” as a verb to signify union or joining, but his choice is purposeful.
By choosing the word marriage, Shakespeare draws on the reader’s understanding of a marriage; the ongoing of two people, the purity, and the greatest outward and public manifestation of love between two people. He goes on to Juxtapose this with a negative statement saying that no one should stand in the way of true love; the word choice of “admit impediments” adds depth to the idea. While impediment means something that is a barrier to completion, it also touches the subtitle undertone of a speech impediment or a stutter. In other words, love can make you tongue-tied.
To be so intoxicated by love and to be so deeply in love that you lose your ability to speak, or it affects the mind is the true notion of love. Shakespearean sentence artfully ties notions of love together to demonstrate to the reader that such the idealistic notions of love are pure and overwhelming. Shakespeare then uses imagery to demonstrate enduring nature of love. Love is an “ever-fixed mark”. The image of a permanent mark tells the reader that true love is something that leaves it’s mark on you, or leaves an Indelible mark In your heart.
True love affects a person to such a degree that they are changed forever because the affect Is so deep. Shakespeare goes on to utilize Imagery to demonstrate the Infallible nature of love In that It can endure “tempest”, or great storms that would otherwise lay waste The reader understands that true love Is something that can be beat over and over again, Just Like the winds and rains of a storm, but can remain unscathed and steadfast. Shakespeare says that true love Is a “star to every wandering bark. This reference builds upon the tempest reference by conjuring Images of a ship that utilizes the North Star as its navigation tool. These images are so deep and multifaceted. The nautical theme tells the reader that love guides them and utilizes the images of a aileron relying on that one thing to guide them home, the North Star. So to, love is that one thing that guides one through life and gives one meaning. The use of the word “Dare connotes Images AT trees, Ana strong AAA length ten reader tongue Imagery and the duality of meaning that love is strong Just as the majestic oaks.
Shakespeare then tells the reader that love “worth’s unknown, although his height be taken. ” Shakespeare paints an interesting image for the reader. He tells the reader that true love is priceless, but goes on to say that it has been measured. We al know what it looks like, Just as a person sizes up someone in a fight. To use this taps images of fighting or battles, which tells the reader that love is not without its struggles and must be something for which one fights to experience.
Shakespeare concludes his sonnet with images that at first appears to be one of portraying love as something that can stand the test of time, but is sharply undercut by imagery that recognizes the ephemeral nature of humanity. Shakespeare says that love is “not Time’s fool, though rosy lips and cheeks. ” This tells the reader that true eve is not some crush or fling; rather love is something that stands the test of time and endures. Shakespeare tells the reader that love is something that last more than mere weeks or months, but lasts until the “edge of doom. Thus, the overall image is that love is something that endures and is eternal. In crafting this image, Shakespearean choice to personify “Time” is a telling image. Shakespeare uses the personification of Time to tell the reader that “Love” is unaffected by Time; rather Love endures. Shakespeare, however, uses imagery by to convey meaning by using the word sickle with the personified Time, which is an mage that is connected to the grim reaper or death. This purposeful choice inserts an interesting image for the reader.
To personify time in conjunction with images of death is Shakespearean way of telling the reader that “Time” is the enemy of Love. While love can be eternal in it purest form, it is the harsh reality that we are mortal and that love is fleeting. Time is constantly gnawing at love, ticking away the precious seconds that we have with the one thing in life that makes us whole, that gives us purpose. Shakespeare says that despite the brevity of time, love does not alter, love goes not falter.
It is truly a bitter sweet moment where Love is the greatest thing that humanity can experience but sharply Juxtaposed with the idea that humanity is mortal and life is fleeting. Thus, true love should be cherished and pursued at all costs. The imagery that Shakespeare employs adds a complexity to the poem to draw upon the reader’s experiences and ideas to create a complete picture of what Shakespeare is trying to communicate to the reader. It is this imagery that allows Shakespeare to effectively communicate a multitude of ideas effectively in a very limited amount of words.