Introduction to Sonnet 116 “True Love”:
Shakespeare’s Sonnet 116, often titled “True Love”, is one of his most celebrated poems on the nature of love. Addressed to Mr. W.H., the sonnet “True Love” explores the enduring and unchanging essence of genuine love. Shakespeare emphasizes that no external force can hinder the union of true minds, for true love possesses a divine quality that transcends change. It is steadfast, unaffected by time or circumstance, and cannot be shaken by obstacles. Shakespeare compares it to a guiding star or a lighthouse—constant, reliable, and offering direction even in life’s tempests. Unlike physical beauty, which fades, true love remains eternal, lasting until the end of time itself.
Summary of the Sonnet 116 “True Love”:
The Power of True Love:
According to Shakespeare, True love is the greatest power in the world. Therefore, there may not be any obstacle in the union of two true minds. It is true the path of love never runs smooth. But the divine power of love encourages lovers to overcome difficulties. Shakespeare points out the difference between true love and false love. True love never changes while false love changes when it finds change in the other person. True love is fearless while false love bends with the remover. Thus Shakespeare points out matchless qualities of true love.
Love as an Ever Fixed Mark:
Love is never changing. It is firm and fearless. It is like an ever fixed mark present on a scale at the bridge of the river. When the water level rises because of tempests and touches the mark of danger all people are full of fear. For it is a warning of flood, yet the mark remains unshaken. True love being firm and unshaken faces problems like this ever fixed mark fearlessly. Like a light house or the Pole Star it guides the wandering ships. It is possible to measure the height of the star or the light house. But it is impossible to measure its limitless importance. True love brings back the misled and confused people to the path of their duty.
True Love and Time:
True love is not affected by time for it is immortal. Physical charms may be destroyed by the destructive power of time. But true love does not decay if physical beauty declines. True love is immortal. It cannot be measured in brief hours and months. It remains alive upto the doom’s day.
Shakespeare’s Declaration:
According to Shakespeare, if this view of true love is proved wrong he would never claim to have written a single line of poetry or else, no man has ever loved truly in the world. Thus he makes a strong declaration of true love’s matchless qualities.
Critical Appreciation of the Sonnet 116 “True Love”:
Introduction:
“True Love” is a famous sonnet composed by Shakespeare. It is sonnet No. 116. The sonnet is addressed to Mr. W.H. who is supposed to be William Herbert, Earl of Pembroke. Shakespeare throws light on the great qualities of true love in the poem.
Development of Thought:
“True Love” is an English sonnet. It has three quatrains of four lines each and a rhyming couplet. In the first quatrain, the poet points out the difference between true love and false love:
“Love is not love
Which alters when it alteration finds”
In the second quatrain he brings to light the great importance of true love:
“It is the star to every wandering bark,
Whose worth is unknown, although his height be taken.”
In the third quatrain love’s immortality is stressed:
“Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks
But bears it out even to the edge of doom”.
In the concluding couplet the poet confirms his point of view regarding true love.
High Imagination:
The poem is full of high imagination. Shakespeare imagines that love is like an over fixed mark. He imagines that time destroys everything with his bending sickle.
Sensuous Pictures:
The sonnet displays Shakespeare’s great pictorial art. He presents beautiful work picture of an ever – fixed mark.
“O, no! it is an ever – fixed mark,
That looks on tempests and is never shaken.”
Figurative Language:
The sonnet represents Shakespeare’s use of figurative language. He personifies Love, Time and ever fixed mark. He uses metaphor in. ‘It is an ever fixed – mark’ and ‘it is the star’. Shakespeare uses symbolism. For example wandering bark is a symbol of misled, confused people. Rosy lips and cheek represents physical beauty.
A Perfect English Sonnet:
It is a perfect English sonnet. It has three quatrains of four lines each and a rhyming couplet. Its rhyme scheme is ab ab , cd cd , ef ef , gg.