Love and Jealousy
Shakespeare’s poetry explores themes such as love, jealousy, betrayal, and death. In a sense, the entire body of Shakespeare’s work could be seen as a reflection on these concepts. Whether he was writing tragedies, comedies, or romantic sonnets, these themes were always present. Shakespeare understood that love and death were often closely intertwined, and his writings often reflect this knowledge.
In his tragedy Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare captured the tragic consequences of love, jealousy, and betrayal. The title characters are two teenage star-crossed lovers, who defy the expectations of their feuding families in order to be together. Despite their devotion to each other, their relationship ends in tragedy due to betrayal and miscommunication. Throughout the play, Shakespeare examines the power of love and jealousy, and how both can lead to destructive outcomes.
Shakespeare’s sonnets, too, are filled with themes of love, jealousy, and betrayal. In Sonnet 147, Shakespeare captures the pain of being betrayed by someone one loves. The speaker in the sonnet reveals how he was betrayed by his beloved, and how his love for her made him vulnerable to such pain. The imagery of the poem is stark and slightly disturbing, reflecting its dark subject matter.
Death and Mortality
Death and the inevitability of mortality are also common themes in Shakespeare’s poetry. In Macbeth, for example, the title character is consumed by notions of mortality and death. By beginning the play with the witches’ prophecy, Shakespeare sets up a play that is, at its core, about the fear of death. Macbeth himself recognizes this, as he laments in Act 5, “Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow / Creeps in this petty pace from day to day.” Macbeth realizes that all of his attempts at dodging death, including murder, are futile.
Shakespeare’s sonnets also reflect on the concept of mortality. In Sonnet 73, the speaker examines the passage of time and its effect on life. He considers how age takes away one’s youthful beauty, and how life is so fleeting. The speaker is resigned to the inevitability of death, and Shakespeare’s thoughtful and melancholic musings on the process of aging are reflective of a deep understanding of the human experience.
Courage in the Face of Adversity
In his plays and sonnets, Shakespeare often presents characters who find the fortitude to confront the trials that life throws at them. These brave souls grapple with pain and suffering in pursuit of higher goals. Hamlet is a prime example of this, as he endlessly reflects on his moral duties and the morality of revenge. Even after learning of the treacherous plans of his uncle Claudius, Hamlet is able to rise above his conflicted conscience and his overwhelming grief to perform his duty.
Shakespeare’s sonnets also feature characters who display courage amidst adversity. In Sonnet 18, the speaker is presented with a question as to why his beloved should retain his beauty when it will eventually be taken away by the passing of time. To answer this, the speaker reveals the beauty he sees in his beloved, and the courage he has to make her exempt from life’s inevitable passage.
The Power of Language
The power of language is a recurring theme in Shakespeare’s poetry. In many of his plays, language is used as a tool to either deceive or manipulate others. In Othello, for example, Iago uses his rhetoricial finesse to manipulate Othello into believing Desdemona is unfaithful. Similarly, in Julius Caesar, Antony uses his words to turn the Roman citizens against Brutus and the other conspirators.
Similarly, Shakespeare’s sonnets explore the power of language. In Sonnet 144, for example, the speaker examines how words can mend a relationship or break it. He reveals how his beloved’s words have the power to either bring him peace or misery. By exploring the potential of words, Shakespeare’s sonnets illustrate his mastery of the English language and its persuasive power.
The Weight of Moral Responsibility
Characters in Shakespeare’s plays are often burdened with moral responsibility. This is particularly apparent in Macbeth, in which Macbeth grapples with his conscience as he attempts to keep his throne. Despite the ever-present fear of death, Macbeth remains morally conscious, and struggles with the implications of his decisions. His moral dilemma only deepens as he commits further unjust acts to protect his reign.
Similarly, in his sonnets, Shakespeare often delves into the complexity of moral responsibility. In Sonnet 129, for example, the speaker examines how lust can corrode one’s moral foundations. He warns against the temptation that lust can cause and considers how easily it can lead to darkness. The dark and serious tone of the sonnet reflects the gravity of moral responsibility.
The Conflict of Reality and Fantasy
In both his tragedies and his comedies, Shakespeare often explores the conflict between reality and fantasy. In Midsummer Night’s Dream, for example, the action of the play takes place in a magical and fantastical realm, disconnected from the real world. In this play and other comedies, Shakespeare plays with comic clichés to explore the themes of desire, jealousy and love.
Shakespeare’s sonnets also examine this conflict between reality and fantasy. In Sonnet 130, the speaker contrasts his beloved’s imperfections to the idealized versions of beauty found in literature at the time. This contrast serves as a commentary on the false nature of ideal beauty, and how it can lead people to deceive themselves. The speaker recognizes the value in his beloved’s flaws and the perils of viewing her through an unrealistic lens.
The Role of Destiny
Shakespeare often presents characters who struggle with their pre-destined fate. In Romeo and Juliet , for example, the titular characters must deal with the predetermined attempts of their families to keep them apart. Despite their undying devotion to each other, the lovers are unable to fight their fate.
Shakespeare’s sonnets also explore pre-destined fate. In Sonnet 116, the speaker examines the indomitable nature of true love, and how even fate cannot keep two people apart. He reflects on how the power of love can conquer all, including death and discord. By emphasizing the inevitabilities of love, the speaker implies that destiny is not a force to be reckoned with, but rather something to be embraced.
The Struggles of Humanity
Shakespeare’s poetry often examines the struggles of humanity. In Hamlet, for example, the titular character must confront his inner turmoil as his senses of duty and morality clash. To ease his troubles, he speaks of humanity’s fears, such as mortality and fate. He attempts to give voice to the collective fears of humanity, while simultaneously struggling with his own.
Shakespeare’s sonnets also reflect the struggles of humanity. In Sonnets 14 and 30, the speaker notes how life is a journey filled with pain and suffering, but ultimately one that is worth it. He links his own misfortunes to those of countless others, and speaks of his hopes despite the darkness of life. By embracing both hope and despair, the speaker expresses a profound understanding of the complexity of the human condition.
