Summary of Sonnet XVIII

This sonnet is one of the best known and well-loved sonnets of William Shakespeare. Like all 126 love sonnets of Shakespeare, this sonnet is also addressed to his friend and patron, Earl of Southampton. In this sonnet, the poet pays a tribute to the matchless beauty of his friend but at the same time, he underlines the high merit of his own poetry.

The sonnet opens with a question, “Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?” The summer in England is not like the summer in India. In England, a summer day is very pleasant and beautiful. That is why the poet asks his friend if he will compare his friend to a summer day. In the next line, the poet corrects himself saying that his friend is more sweet and lovely than a summer day. In summer season the winds are rough and these rough winds shake the flower buds. The duration of summer is very short. Sometimes the sun shines too hot.

Like all beautiful things the summer also loses its beauty after some time. This is the law of nature. Every beautiful thing has to die and fade away with the changing course of nature. The poet says that his friend is an exception. His summer is eternal. He shall not lose the beauty and grace that he has. Death is all-powerful. All living things live in the shade of death.  But his friend is above death.

In the last lines, the poet explains how his friend’s beauty and youth is eternal. He says that his poem will remain as men can breathe or eyes can see. In his poems, his friend will live forever. In this way, the poet says that art is immortal while life is mortal.