Sonnet 116 Essay

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Sonnet 116 Two true people that come together freely with love will have a connection that endures forever. When effectively analyzing Sonnet 116, the reader can identify this theme by looking for poetic devices. Through the use of symbols, imagery, and form, Shakespeare successfully conveys his message about the consistency of love. Symbols play a substantial role in Sonnet 116. The first symbol gets its start in line five when Shakespeare says, “Oh no! it is an ever-fixed mark." Speaking about the love between two people, he starts to balance the persevering concept of love to a star, most likely the North Star, whose position is “ever-fixed” in the sky. Love is used for navigation. Shakespeare uses the star as a symbol for how love is constant and strong. The North Star has been used for navigation for centuries, and comparing it to love is effective; it gets the point across of love being guiding. The North Star is a guiding light which has enabled explorers to sail to new lands. Love can be used to discover more of yourself and of your lover. Continuing in line seven, he says, “It is the star to every wand’ring bark." Interpreting the symbol of the star a bit further, Shakespeare personifies the ship (called a bark) as something that is “wand’ring," or searching for something valuable or concrete. The “wand’ring bark” is the man or woman searching for that consistent love Shakespeare writes about. He continues to personify when he says in line six that the star “looks on tempests and is never shaken." True love can weather all storms, and Shakespeare believed this to be true. The symbol and image of the North Star is a conventional one, yet simple and effective when comparing it to love. Time is another important symbol in the sonnet, which is also a traditional symbol for growing old and gliding through life. "Love's not Time's fool, though rosy lips and
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