Lust or Love?
Poetry is used to convey an idea that can not be expressed in words, but rather in thought. The contemplative state of the poet, not the actions, is mimicked in the flowing lines of poetry he/she emit. In “Shall I Compare Thee to a Summer’s Day?” the emotional state of Shakespeare is exemplified in the form of his battle between lust and love.
The poem is written in the form of a Shakespearean sonnet which requires three quatrains and one complete in iambic pentameter. This established tradition of the Shakespearean sonnet allowed Shakespeare to woo women and express his inner emotions. “Shall I Compare Thee to a Summer’s Day?” is a lyrical battle of the conscience mind. Shakespeare shows a clear uncertainty between lust and love. Lust can best be described as a crave one individual has for another individual; whereas, love can be described as an emotional appeal. This vendetta between the two is seen in the imagery and shifts presented within the poem. Most notably, this Shakespearean sonnet is the first to acknowledge that beauty can be carried in other forms than procreation, but rather in the lines of poetry.
