"Let me not to the marriage of true minds" By William Shakespeare , Short summary and analysis
Let me not to the marriage of true minds
By William Shakespeare
Let me not to the marriage of
true minds
Admit impediments; love is
not love
Which alters when it
alteration finds,
Or bends with the remover to
remove.
O no, it is an ever-fixèd
mark
That looks on tempests and is
never shaken;
It is the star to every
wand'ring bark
Whose worth's unknown,
although his height be taken.
Love's not time's fool,
though rosy lips and cheeks
Within his bending sickle's
compass come.
Love alters not with his
brief hours and weeks,
But bears it out even to the
edge of doom:
About Poet ,
William Shakespeare
•
William
Shakespeare (26 April 1564 – 23 April 1616) was an English playwright, poet and
actor.
•
He
is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the
world's pre-eminent dramatist He is often called England's national poet and
the "Bard of Avon“.
•
His
extant works, including collaborations, consist of some 39 plays, 154 sonnets,
three long narrative poems.
•
His
plays have been translated into every major living language and are performed
more often than those of any other playwright.
•
FIRST
PUBLICATION OF SHAKESPEARE'S SONNETS. On 20 May 1609, a bookseller named Thomas
Thorpe entered for his copy 'a
booke called Shakespeares sonnetts'.
"Sonnet 116“ is one of the famous sonnets written by William Shakespeare which explores the nature
of true love, defining it as constant and unchanging.
The poem opens with a bold statement that a true love experiences no obstacles or changes. When two hearts are genuinely connected, nothing can break that bond. Shakespeare explains that love isn't genuine if it changes when circumstances change, or if it fades when the other person pulls away or changes their behavior. True love is steadfast and unwavering; it does not alter based on external conditions.
To explain this stability, Shakespeare compares true love to a lighthouse (an "ever-fixed mark") that stands firm through fierce storms without ever shaking. He also compares it to the North Star, which guides lost ships navigating dark oceans. While people might measure the star’s height in the sky, its true value and guiding power are priceless and infinite. In the same way, while we can measure human life, the value of true love is immeasurable and acts as a constant anchor through life's turbulence.
As the sonnet progresses, the poet addresses the passage of time. Physical beauty—symbolized by "rosy lips and cheeks"—fades over time as aging ("Time's bending sickle") takes its toll. However, love is not a victim of time. True love does not fade over days, weeks, or years; instead, it endures all the way to the "edge of doom" (the end of time or death).
Finally, Shakespeare ends the poem with an absolute challenge. He states that if anyone can prove his definition of love wrong, then he never wrote a word, and no human has ever truly loved. By staking his entire reputation as a writer on this belief, he firmly reinforces that genuine love is eternal and unchanging.
Overall, Sonnet 116 presents true love as permanent, faithful, unchanging, courageous and spiritually powerful. Shakespeare does not describe love as a temporary romantic emotion. Instead, he presents it as a stable force that survives change, separation, ageing, difficulties, and even the passage of time. The poem ultimately suggests that genuine love is not dependent upon physical beauty or favourable circumstances. Its true nature is revealed precisely when circumstances become difficult.
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Themes
1. True and Permanent Love
The central theme of the poem is the permanence of genuine love. Shakespeare argues that true love does not disappear when circumstances change. It remains faithful through difficulties, separation, ageing, and emotional challenges. The phrase “ever-fixed mark” captures this idea of permanence.
2. Constancy and Faithfulness
Constancy is another major theme. True lovers remain committed to each other despite difficulties. Shakespeare rejects the idea that love should change whenever the beloved changes. Genuine love possesses emotional stability and faithfulness.
3. Love versus Time
The poem creates a strong contrast between love and Time. Time destroys physical beauty, youth, and eventually human life. However, Shakespeare claims that true love can withstand Time. The line “Love’s not Time’s fool” summarizes this idea.
4. Love versus Physical Beauty
Shakespeare distinguishes genuine love from physical attraction. “Rosy lips and cheeks” symbolize youthful beauty, which eventually disappears. True love, however, does not depend upon physical appearance. The poem therefore presents emotional and spiritual love as superior to temporary physical beauty.
5. Love as a Guiding Force
Through the image of the star guiding a “wandering bark,” Shakespeare presents love as something that provides direction and stability. Just as a star helps sailors navigate through the sea, true love can guide human beings through the uncertainties of life.
6. Love and Difficulties
The “tempests” symbolize the difficulties that relationships may face. Shakespeare does not claim that true love exists without problems. Instead, he suggests that genuine love is demonstrated by its ability to survive those problems.
7. Eternity
The poem presents love as something that can continue “even to the edge of doom.” This gives love an almost eternal quality. Human beings and physical beauty are temporary, but genuine love is presented as capable of transcending mortality.
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