LET ME TO THE MARRIAGE OF LET ME TO THE MARRIAGE OF TRUE MINDSTRUE MINDS (Sonnet 116) (Sonnet 116)

First publication dateFirst publication date: 1609: 1609William Shakespeare (1564-William Shakespeare (1564-

1616)1616)William Shakespeare, the Immortal Poet and Dramatist:- William Shakespeare, the Immortal Poet and Dramatist:- William ShakespeareWilliam Shakespeare is considered to be the greatest English dramatist is considered to be the greatest English dramatist

and poet. His plays, written in blank verse with some prose, can be broadly divided and poet. His plays, written in blank verse with some prose, can be broadly divided into lyric plays , comedies, historical plays, and tragedies,. He also wrote into lyric plays , comedies, historical plays, and tragedies,. He also wrote numerous sonnets. numerous sonnets.

Born in Stratford-on-Avon, the son of a wool dealer, he was educated at Born in Stratford-on-Avon, the son of a wool dealer, he was educated at the grammar school, and in 1582 married Anne Hathaway. By 1592 Shakespeare the grammar school, and in 1582 married Anne Hathaway. By 1592 Shakespeare was established in London as an actor and a dramatist, and from 1594 he was an was established in London as an actor and a dramatist, and from 1594 he was an important member of the Lord Chamberlain's Company of actors. Shakespeare important member of the Lord Chamberlain's Company of actors. Shakespeare was the leading playwright of the company and one of its business directors; he was the leading playwright of the company and one of its business directors; he also continued to act. also continued to act.

About 1593 he came under the patronage of the Earl of Southampton, to About 1593 he came under the patronage of the Earl of Southampton, to whom he dedicated his long poems and seems to have dedicated to him his whom he dedicated his long poems and seems to have dedicated to him his sonnets written around 1593-96. The present sonnet also comes in the same sonnets written around 1593-96. The present sonnet also comes in the same category. The mysterious `Dark Lady´ also appears in these sonnets. He retired to category. The mysterious `Dark Lady´ also appears in these sonnets. He retired to Stratford about 1610, where he died on 23 April 1616. He was buried in the Stratford about 1610, where he died on 23 April 1616. He was buried in the chancel of Holy Trinity, Stratford. chancel of Holy Trinity, Stratford.

Theme of the Sonnet-Theme of the Sonnet-

Shakespeare, here, throws light Shakespeare, here, throws light on the nature of true love. True love on the nature of true love. True love is the union or fusion of true minds. is the union or fusion of true minds. The poet says that no obstacle is The poet says that no obstacle is possible in the meeting of two possible in the meeting of two hearts. The poet thinks that true love hearts. The poet thinks that true love is permanent and changeless. is permanent and changeless.

What is True Love-What is True Love-This sonnet is addressed to his friend and patron The Earl This sonnet is addressed to his friend and patron The Earl

of Southampton. In this sonnet Shakespeare writes about nature of Southampton. In this sonnet Shakespeare writes about nature of true love, which is permanent and unchanging. A true lover of true love, which is permanent and unchanging. A true lover does not change the object of love .the poet compares the true does not change the object of love .the poet compares the true love to a light house. A light house is built on seashore to guide love to a light house. A light house is built on seashore to guide ships. Ships change their course in tempts. They are violently ships. Ships change their course in tempts. They are violently shaken in tempests but the lighthouse remains ever fixed on its shaken in tempests but the lighthouse remains ever fixed on its place . It does not care for storms. Similarly true lovers do not place . It does not care for storms. Similarly true lovers do not change their mind even when they face many difficulties. It is not change their mind even when they face many difficulties. It is not a give and take relationship. He says –a give and take relationship. He says –

Oh, no! it is an ever-fixed mark,Oh, no! it is an ever-fixed mark,That looks on tempests and is never shakenThat looks on tempests and is never shaken;;

The poet compares true love to the pole star also. all other The poet compares true love to the pole star also. all other stars in the sky rise and set , appear and disappear but the pole stars in the sky rise and set , appear and disappear but the pole star constantly shines at the same place. True love is stable and star constantly shines at the same place. True love is stable and permanent like the pole star-permanent like the pole star-It is the star to every wandering bark,It is the star to every wandering bark,Whose worth's unknown, although his height be takenWhose worth's unknown, although his height be taken

Eternity of True Love-Eternity of True Love-

The poet differentiatesThe poet differentiates True love from True love from physical beauty. The physical beauty grows and physical beauty. The physical beauty grows and declines with time . It is always changing from declines with time . It is always changing from birth to death. In our old age we become very birth to death. In our old age we become very ugly. This does happen with true love. True love ugly. This does happen with true love. True love is immortal. Time has no control over love . Time is immortal. Time has no control over love . Time is a great destroyer. It can destroy everything in is a great destroyer. It can destroy everything in nature. It changes beauty and youth into sickness nature. It changes beauty and youth into sickness and ugliness. However time is powerless before and ugliness. However time is powerless before love. It does not grow old and decay. It does not love. It does not grow old and decay. It does not change with hours, weeks, and even with change with hours, weeks, and even with centuries. The true love survives till the Dooms centuries. The true love survives till the Dooms Day or the Judgment Day.Day or the Judgment Day.

Personification-Personification-

The poet has personified ‘time’. The poet has personified ‘time’. ‘Time’ is like a reaper with a sickle in ‘Time’ is like a reaper with a sickle in his hand . ‘Time’ is cutting the his hand . ‘Time’ is cutting the harvest of human beings with his harvest of human beings with his sickle.sickle.

Love's not Time's fool, though rosy Love's not Time's fool, though rosy lips and cheekslips and cheeks

Within his bending sickle's compass Within his bending sickle's compass come;come;

Metaphors and Similes--Metaphors and Similes--

Shakespeare’s sonnets are rich in Shakespeare’s sonnets are rich in metaphors and similes. Marriage of true metaphors and similes. Marriage of true minds is a metaphor.. The poet compares it minds is a metaphor.. The poet compares it to a lighthouse which is ever fixed on a to a lighthouse which is ever fixed on a seashore. The poet calls love ‘an ever-fixed seashore. The poet calls love ‘an ever-fixed mark’. It is not shaken in the tempests. This mark’. It is not shaken in the tempests. This is a symbol of changelessness. Further the is a symbol of changelessness. Further the poet compares true love to the pole star ‘poet compares true love to the pole star ‘It It is the star to every wandering bark’. is the star to every wandering bark’. The The pole star is the symbol of permanence. pole star is the symbol of permanence.

Powerful Phrases-Powerful Phrases-

Shakespeare coins new words Shakespeare coins new words and phrases in his poems .He is a and phrases in his poems .He is a great coiner of words we find many great coiner of words we find many new phrases in this poem. For new phrases in this poem. For example- ‘marriage of true minds’, example- ‘marriage of true minds’, ‘ever-fixed mark’, ‘Time's fool’, and ‘ever-fixed mark’, ‘Time's fool’, and ‘bending sickle's compass’ etc. These ‘bending sickle's compass’ etc. These words are old but their combination words are old but their combination is new. is new.