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Comparing Shakespeare's Sonnet 116 'And The Flea'

Decent Essays

William Shakespeare is one of the most influential writers known to man. He is known for various pieces of written work such as plays as well as sonnets. What makes him a well-established writer is that he is able to effectively connect his own emotions to those of the reader. Shakespeare also writes with a distinct structure and word choice. Another writer that is comparable to Shakespeare is John Donne. What Shakespeare and Donne have in common is that numerous of their sonnets have a universal theme of love as well as their desire for a loved one. The most distinct theme in Shakespeare and Donne’s sonnets and plays is true and eternal love. In Shakespeare’s Sonnet 116 and Donne’s “The Flea,” marriage is illustrated similarity even though both of the poets have different views on marriage. In this analysis, both Shakespeare’s Sonnet 116 and Donne’s “The Flea” will be observed for the reoccurring theme of love as well as how both writers define marriage. …show more content…

Donne uses the flea as a means of comparing it to marriage. Donne serves to show a side of marriage that is different than what Shakespeare serves to describe. It may seem insignificant to bring in the idea of a flea biting both the man and woman. However, Donne makes a connection to the flea because this is what Donne believes to be true love in his eyes. Donne uses symbolism, just like Shakespeare did in Sonnet 116, when he illustrates the flea mixing up the blood of both the man and the woman. The flea symbolizes the holy trinity, the marriage bed, the marriage temple, and the marriage itself. Donne uses symbolism in hopes of trying to connect with his readers and to make them see love the way that he sees it. Both of the lovers in the poem already know that they love each other, but the flea serves as a reminder that is physical. This physical reminder makes the couple feel as if their love is truly

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