Five Similarities of Shakespeare Sonnets

Of the many Shakespearean sonnets few of them incorporate five of the same similarities. With these, time stealing beauty, whether true or clichéd; a person defeating death by procreating; bring self absorbent; the importance of beauty; and an aspect of nature representing a time in some one’s life, Shakespeare shows all the aspects of being human.

In the few sonnets that exemplify the same five similarities, time stealing beauty is potent. “Pity the world, or else this glutton be, to eat the world’s due, by the grave and thee” (Sonnet 1.13-4). The speaker is notifying the young man that time is the enemy and if he doesn’t preserve his youth before he dies, then he’ll take it to the grave. “When forty winters shall besiege thy brow and dig deep trenches in thy beauty’s field…” (Sonnet 2.1-2). The speaker is telling the young man that when forty years have pasted, and wrinkles have dug their way in his face he will not be beautiful anymore. “But if thou live remembered not to be, die single and then image dies with thee” (Sonnet 3.13-4). Another realization made by the speaker is that death is time and they are one in the same. Hurry before time runs out. “Thy unused beauty must be tombed with thee, which uses lives th’ executor to be” (Sonnet 4.13-4). If the young man doesn’t spread his beauty while he still has time, he’ll die without leaving his legacy behind.

Being an accessory to the other similarities these sonnets obtain would be defeating death by procreating. “Form fairest creatures we desire increase, that thereby beauty’s rose might never die…” (Sonnet 1.1-2). Beautiful people should have children because their beauty will never die because it lives through them. “This fair child of mine/ this were to be new ...

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...l like the springtime flowers and must open its petals to spread the pollen. “When forty winters shall besiege thy brow and dig deep trenches…” (Sonnet 2.1). In this particular line the winter represents the man’s sonority. “Thou art thy mother’s glass, and she in thee calls back to the lovely April of her prime” (Sonnet 3. 9-10). The young man, as his mother does, will look back at his child and remember his youthful spring. “Then how when nature calls thee to be gone…” (Sonnet 4.12). Nature will decide when it’s his time to go.

The same five similarities are that the sonnets share are time stealing beauty, defeating death by procreating, being self absorbent, the importance of beauty, and an aspect of nature regarding a time in a person’s life. All of these aspects of being human have been shown in the few Shakespearean sonnet. They will continue to do so.