Analysis of Poetry Shall I Compare Thee to a Summers Day - Essay Example

Analysis & Discussion Shall I compare thee to a Summer's day? Thou art more lovely and more temperate: The poem starts with Shakespeare comparing the young man to the weather, and immediately we are filled with awe and wonder as it is a bright summer’s day that the poet says that the young man reminds him of. If anything, he states in the second line that the young man is even lovelier and more temperate, giving the impression that this character is somewhat cool and collected compared to the harsh summer sun that we have all witnessed on a hot summer’s day.

Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May, And Summer's lease hath all too short a date: Lines 3 and 4 have the poet reminiscing that the stillness of summer is sometimes interrupted by rough winds in May which could end the pleasantness of the season. On the other hand, these lines have been given another hidden meaning, that though rough times can shake up life’s plans, yet the young man is unperturbed by it all.’ Summer’s lease has all too short a date’ (Line 4) compared to the young man who experiences much lesser qualms and stress in life.

The young man’s complexion and temperament shall remain constant and unchanged as compared to the sun, which is often obscured by clouds or rain. And every fair from fair sometime declines, By chance or nature's changing course untrimm'd: But thy eternal Summer shall not fade The poet goes on to say in Lines 7 and 8 that though all things in Nature eventually lose their beauty and perfection, the young man’s beauty and vigor shall remain eternal and not fade. Nor shall Death brag thou wanderest in his shade Even Death shall not have power over the young man (Line 11).

Shakespeare ends the eulogy to the young man and youth in general by stating that as long as man inhabits the earth, and has the capacity to read this sonnet, the young man will live on in these words of praise that the poet has written for him. Another interpretation possible is that Shakespeare has written these words and this sonnet in praise of Youth. Hence Youth is personified in the young man that Shakespeare is talking about. Shakespeare admires the part of life that is called our youth and therefore he is all in praise of it.

He compares Youth and its characteristics to a summer’s day- for that is the closest comparison in Nature that he can think of. When we are young we think that we are so glorious and so invincible- it really seems that we can go on forever and our strength and our beauty will not fade or diminish. Youth has a disdain for both old age and death. That is why the world is often shocked when it hears that Death has prevented a young man or woman from living a full and complete life. We are not quite able to absorb the reality when life is snuffed out of youth by the old and cruel hand of Death.

Yet this is what happens sometimes and we must be ready to face the fact that life and death are indeed in the hands of God. Where Shakespeare is all in praise of youth and its qualities, even he does not want Death or any other unfortunate circumstance to interfere with the eternity and vigor of Youth. In fact it might be said that by giving so much praise to the young man, or Youth as a personification, the poet elevates Youth to a godlike status. It is the period of life when we feel that we can do anything and everything, and nothing is impossible or too far-fetched.

Such is the