Sonnet 116 And Love's Philosophy Comaprison

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How is the theme ‘Love’ expressed differently in the poems ‘Sonnet 116’ and ‘Love’s Philosophy’? The theme of love is frequently used and explored during literature. Although it is expressed differently, ultimately they all have the same meaning. Love is strong and undying. It is an intense feeling of deep affection that conquers all, making you feel comforted and appreciated. Both “Love’s Philosophy” by Percy Bysshe Shelley and “Let me not the marriage …” by William Shakespeare (also known as Sonnet 116) are two examples of poems that believe in the power of eternal love. In “Love’s Philosophy”, the poem is about how the persona was in love with another but ended up being rejected by her. Throughout this poem, he compares it to nature and its beauty because nature is without flaws and always balances itself out no matter what happens. On the other hand in “Let me not the marriage …” Shakespeare talks about how marriage should be proof for love and not a service to others. He talks about how love never changes no matter what the circumstances. Throughout both poems there is a very prominent use of personification. Shakespeare utilizes things like Death to personify and illustrate how love is not at the mercy of time. “Love’s not Time’s fool”. He is implying that love does not change even in the occurrence of death. “Or bends with remover to remove”. Shakespeare is reinforcing the idea that true love wont change and it is eternal. However Percy Bysshe Shelley relates love to nature as it is always at harmony with itself. “sunlight clasps the earth”. Here he is comparing the tight clasp of two people to the sunlight’s completely engulfing the earth in it’s light. He is expressing this in such depth so that we fully understand what he is trying to express through this poem. In addition to this, he says, “moonbeams kiss the sea”. It is evident that Percy is
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