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The Theme Of Love In Sonnet 116

Decent Essays

The theme of love is presented in different ways by various poets through the use of diverse linguistic techniques, such as metaphorical and emotive language, and personification to express their strong viewpoints on love. Many poets, including Shakespeare, believe that love is spontaneous and immeasurable. However, other poets such as Carol Ann Duffy bring out the negative consequences of love. She believes love starts and stops, one minute you are together and the other you are isolated. She emphasises the intimidating and overpowering aspect of love. Overall, the poets present three focal aspects of love which are; love, separation, and betrayal.

In the poem ‘Sonnet 116’, Shakespeare highlights love as being everlasting and the key part …show more content…

Carol Ann Duffy challenges the traditional perception of love and highlights the negatives of love. In the first stanza, the negative adverb “not” indicates rejection of the general concept of love. In the second stanza, Carol Ann Duffy introduces the metaphor of the “onion” as the symbol of love. An onion contains many layers, similar to love has to peel the different layers. Another key link between them is how both love and onions can make a person cry uncontrollably.In addition, the taste of an onion is sharp and acidic similar to love. Carol Ann Duffy addresses the reader directly using “ I give you” and “here” giving the poem a personal tone, also further making the tone very intimate and bold. Carol Ann Duffy uses the simile “blind you with tears like a lover” this compares how both an onion and a lover can leave a person in tears. Furthermore, Carol Ann Duffy structures the poem using an irregular stanza pattern symbolising how love is irregular and starts and stops. One minute you are together and the other you are …show more content…

William Shakespeare believes love to be an everlasting unbreakable bond, whereas Carol Ann Duffy tends to challenge the traditional belief of love and highlights the negatives. In 'Sonnet 116', Shakespeare uses “Love’s not time’s fool” this use of metaphorical language implies true love is endless and will last from the first to last second. However, in 'Valentine' Carol Ann Duffy uses an “onion” as the symbol of love, the “onion” rots showing how love will end. This shows the diversity of Carol Ann Duffy’s and Shakespeare’s views of

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