Levi Ma
Period 4
09/21/17
Sonnet CXXIV Essay
In Sonnet CXXIV, Shakespeare characterizes his love primarily through the use of symbolism
and juxtaposition; he reveals its unconditional nature, one unhindered by materialism,
unaltered by time, and unshaken by public opinion. He essentially affirms his affection in a
resolute manner, inferring that it exists beyond ordinary fault.
Shakespeare opens the piece by virtually challenging the notion that love has its roots in the
constrictions of condition and circumstance, that it behaves as a “child of state”. The word
“child” has a connotation with immaturity and a lack of insightfulness, an undertone that will
serve him as he seeks to prove that his love expels itself from such constriction throughout the
poem. He continues by relating love to the concept of time, personifying it using improper
capitalization. In doing so he gives “Time” the ability to display “love” and “hate”, leading to the
implication that his love does not lie within mere timely convenience, that time does not
impose a restriction upon the level of affection he wishes to convey. He continues to juxtapose
two things of symbolic meaning: “weeds” and “flowers”, items of vastly differing perceptual
value. In other words, Shakespeare reveals the materialistic aspect of love, which encompasses
the influence of monetary worth or societal status on affection. He implies that his love exceeds
such ordinary and lowly motives. This further supports his own sentiment, that his love does
not come from an immature, child-like state of sporadic emotions dictated by meaningless
surface values, but rather it has grown through the lessons of “time”, much like a child does,
and originates from a place of purity and honesty.
He progresses to address the idea of public opinion in its two basic forms: approval and
“discontent”. The significance of this lies in the cruciality of one’s reputation during this time
period, as the wrong sway in public opinion can result in serious punishment, which he
acknowledges in the “blow of thralled discontent”. Despite this, his love does not wilt in “fear”.