Peter Andres
Professor Stewart
Com 1102
29 March 2021
Shakespeare’s Sonnets
Shakespeare’s twenty first sonnet talks about the issue of professing his love to a fair
youth in a truthful way that is different than the ways of other poets. In the beginning of the
poem, Shakespeare separates himself from the Muse, meaning rival poets, working on their own
professions of love. He states that this Muse is overdoing their work, saying “Who heaven itself
for ornament doth use”, calling out their blasphemous comparison of their love to heaven. He
then goes on to use vivid imagery to describe his love as rare and expensive things such as the
sun and moon and rich gems, using heavenly items that are within the boundaries of the Earth.
Shakespeare remains stubborn on writing truly, so that his beloved will be convinced of
his love. This sonnet contains themes of honesty and true love, which appear in many of his
works. The point is to differentiate himself from other poets, while remaining truthful in his
description of his love. It is likely Shakespeare received inspiration from the other poets of his
day, who is work he thought was over exaggerated and meaningless. He obviously was in love or
had been in love with someone and was looking for a way to express this. He finishes his poem
by cleverly calling out the Muse who overexaggerates his profession of love, pointing out that
there is no point in exaggerating someone’s beauty in a poem if you want them for yourself. He
does not want to use his profession of love as something to gain money or fame, simply to gain
love back.
Professor Stewart
Com 1102
29 March 2021
Shakespeare’s Sonnets
Shakespeare’s twenty first sonnet talks about the issue of professing his love to a fair
youth in a truthful way that is different than the ways of other poets. In the beginning of the
poem, Shakespeare separates himself from the Muse, meaning rival poets, working on their own
professions of love. He states that this Muse is overdoing their work, saying “Who heaven itself
for ornament doth use”, calling out their blasphemous comparison of their love to heaven. He
then goes on to use vivid imagery to describe his love as rare and expensive things such as the
sun and moon and rich gems, using heavenly items that are within the boundaries of the Earth.
Shakespeare remains stubborn on writing truly, so that his beloved will be convinced of
his love. This sonnet contains themes of honesty and true love, which appear in many of his
works. The point is to differentiate himself from other poets, while remaining truthful in his
description of his love. It is likely Shakespeare received inspiration from the other poets of his
day, who is work he thought was over exaggerated and meaningless. He obviously was in love or
had been in love with someone and was looking for a way to express this. He finishes his poem
by cleverly calling out the Muse who overexaggerates his profession of love, pointing out that
there is no point in exaggerating someone’s beauty in a poem if you want them for yourself. He
does not want to use his profession of love as something to gain money or fame, simply to gain
love back.
