Shakespeare Essays (645 words) - Sonnet 18, Sonnet,

The writings of Shakespeare are some of the greatest works of literature ever produced. His style created what we know today as cliches, and increased our thinking style of the world around us. In line with the romantic styles of his era, Shakespeare was a master playwright, holding the audience captive with his shining pieces of artwork, his plays were the form of entertainment to die for in that era. His sonnets spoke beautifully about love and life. His captivating arts were so well written that they have become forever entwined with our society toady. The themes expressed by all forms of romantic artwork and literature are not absent in Shakespeare's works. He definitely stayed in his era, and some would say, he led the era in the creation of romantic pieces that will forever endure the test of time. Romanticism was created during an era in which prosperity came through industrialization. It was an opposing force to the modern world, wanting to return to its original roots. Nature was exemplified in all forms of romantic works, and Shakespeare was no exception. The beauty of nature was masterfully captured and shown in a wide variety of ways. It glorified nature and championed the superiority of men. The man was the symbol of progress, the woman a symbol of possession. The woman was something to be proud of, you would want to show her off. Her beauty was enviable and the height of desire for a man. Romantic texts, glorifying the imagination over the claims of literary form, commonly focus on an isolated individual consciousness, often engaged in transgressions against human and divine law, and often set against great natural landscapes. Much like the traditional themes of romanticism, Shakespeare focused a lot on the beauty of nature and of women. These were too key parts to a good romantic story and were right in line with the romantic era. Shakespeare focused a lot on the beauty of women in is Sonnets, which often times were about love. In Sonnet 20, a beautiful woman represented by nature is exalted. William Shakespeare takes the woman in the sonnet and compares her to all the other women. He says that her eye is more bright than all the others, and that it is less false in rolling. He declares that her face was painted by Nature, and that it was his one true passion. He talks about how all men lust for her, and that their eyes are stolen by her. She glides gracefully when she walks. He then finishes by declaring that her love is like a treasure to him and that he only wishes his love could be the same. The woman was his showpiece, someone that was desired, and one that he was proud of. She was the perfection of nature and captured all of its beauty. The next sonnet of Shakespeare is his famous, ?Shall I compare thee to a summer's day.? This sonnet more directly takes the woman's beauty and associates it with all of his surroundings. He starts off by saying how much nicer she is, and how much more lovely she is than a summers day, which can be viewed as the best time of the year. He compares her to the summers day, and yet exalts her above it. She is better than that day because she will never fade away, as the seasons shift. Sometimes summer is too hot, but she is never too extreme. He makes the point that gold often fades, but she will never. Her beauty will forever shine and she will remain the same to him for all his life, never losing her air of perfection. He ends by describing how her beauty will ultimately stand the test of time, by claiming that as long as men breathe, she will be their to awe them.