Loyalty In William Shakespeare's Sonnet 116

“Sonnet 116” by William Shakespeare was published in 1609. He was born in 1564, and died in 1616. He published 39 plays and 144 sonnets. “To His Coy Mistress” by Andrew Marvell was published in 1650. Many of his poems were not released until after his death. They were released by a lady claiming to be his wife; she was his housekeeper. He was born in 1621 in Hull, and died in 1678. “To His Coy Mistress” is a metaphysical poem – this is a poem from the 1600s which is quite witty and philosophical. It’s a form of a dramatic monologue, with rhyming couplets and enjambment used throughout. He is setting up a counter argument. Shakespeare’s “Sonnet 116” is a closed form poem. This means the poem is written to set rules. A sonnet must include one rhyming couplet at the end, fourteen lines in total, and a set rhyming scheme, written to the theme of love. Shakespeare succeeds in this technique and creates a successful sonnet.

Loyalty is a vital aspect of

“Now let us sport while we may.” They should embrace each other, while they have the time, and be together when they are young and beautiful, and not think about the future. “Sport us” implies that the poet wants them to enjoy their relationship; have fun. “Rather at once our time devour, than languish in his slow-chapped power.” “Languish” suggests that the poet feels as if time is killing him and slowly eating him away. This creates an unpleasant picture. “Slow-chapped power” implies that time is slowly eating him up. Marvell believes that making love is the way to get time under his control. “Let us roll all our strength and all, our sweetness up into one ball.” He wants to take everything good in life and experience it all at once. The poet is trying to persuade his Mistress to make love with him. Marvell continues his extended reference to having fun as “sport