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Elena Miyake
Y. Garza
English II-5
February, 27, 2015
Mysteries and interpretations of Shakespeare
As known throughout the world, William Shakespeare is one of the greatest writers who
described the human nature with his outstanding talents. In his later years, he wrote sonnets that
express humans passion, soul, and love to his private readership (Biography of William
Shakespeare). Among his great sonnets, sonnet CV has great deals to reveal the love for a young
man called the fair youth by using religious beliefs and romantic languages. Let not my love
calld idolatry (Shakespeare). As shown by the first line of sonnet CV, these religious beliefs
such as idolatry present in the sonnet can be interpreted as blasphemy against the church or as his
faith for the fair youth. Among an argument about the sonnet, I believe that Shakespeares uses
of attentive and vivid languages containing imagery, symbolism and allusions in the sonnet
express the faithful love in beautiful way.
As mentioned above, Shakespeares sonnet CV shows dangerous and faithful love for the
fair youth. The sonnet also implies the immortal relationship between men, and this evidence
makes people think Shakespeare had homosexual thoughts (Biography of William Shakespeare).
However, he got married at ages 18 and had 3 children (William Shakespeare. Biography).
In addition, its not known if the speaker of the sonnet was Shakespeare himself or if the fair
youth was existed (Biography of William Shakespeare). These beliefs still make people
confused. It is therefore impossible to state his truth. The way how Shakespeare describes the fair
youth in the sonnet simultaneously makes people argue about his religious life. His attitudes in

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the poem such as saying Nor my beloved as an idol show were often interpreted as his
unfaithfulness against the church (Shakespeare). Whereas, all people would know about this
argument is that its believed Shakespeare was born in catholic family at a time when catholic
practice was against the law (Biography of William Shakespeare). Even though his attitudes in
his sonnet are suspicious, there is no fact that tells his religious beliefs. I, however, believe that
he just exaggerated the love for the fair youth with his faithfulness. The answer depends on how
the one interprets him and his sonnets. As I said for many times, these beliefs about
Shakespeares life are only surmises. As time passes, no one knows his truth. His mysteries of
the sonnets still catch peoples curiosity and never let them out of the enigma.
Imagery is an important tool to express ones images and feelings. Shakespeare uses this
technique to express directly the appearance of the fair youth in the sonnet. Still constant in a
wondrous excellence (Shakespeare). This line in the sonnet describes the beautiful appearance
of the fair youth (Summary and Analysis Sonnet 105). As the speaker describes the fair youths
beauty, the sonnet keeps revealing the love for him. Furthermore, Shakespeare used another
example to describe the perfection of the fair youth. Kind is my love to-day, to-morrow kind
(Shakespeare). This line focused on the term kindness. Shakespeare already describes the fair
youths beauty in his past sonnets. Thus, he focused on describing the kindness of the fair youth
in the line (Sonnet CV). The use of imageries in these lines is simple and universal, but it makes
the structure of the sonnet clear. Although, the beauty of the fair youth was expressed by other
sonnets, the sonnet expresses his unchanging beauty and love even more.
Shakespeare used a symbolism in order to complete the purpose of the sonnet which is
the fair youth. The speaker in the sonnet reveals his love is truth throughout the poem by using
the idea idol worship. Let not my love be calld idolatry (Shakespeare). Again, in the first

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line, the speaker asks not to compare his love as idolatry (Sonnet CV). As the sonnet moves on,
Shakespeare describes why he used the term idolatry. To show his thoughts of the fair youth,
he used a symbol expressing the fair youths perfection. `Fair, kind and true, is all my
argument (Shakespeare). As shown in the line, the idea fair, kind and true symbolizes Holy
Trinity (Sonnet CV). Generally, the idea is inferred as the fair youth himself, but it has deeper
insight. Holy Trinity is a perfect figure, so is the fair youth. Shakespeare used the symbolism to
show the fair youth is only one and he is not an idol. One thing expressing, leaves out
difference (Shakespeare). In this line, he reveals his sonnet is to express one thing, the fair
youth (Fineman). The sonnet has a simple purpose and the purpose makes the sonnet deeper and
deeper. The symbolism in the sonnet ties the entire sonnet and gives Shakespeares direct
thoughts to a reader.
Allusions present in the sonnet are hard to be noticed and it similarly shows
Shakespeares extraordinary use of language. He made allusions to the church at his time by
putting wordplay throughout the sonnet. `Fair, kind and true, varying to other words
(Shakespeare). Including this line above, Shakespeare repeats the idea fair, kind and true thrice
in the sonnet and it alludes to the common book of prayer which says God the father, God the
son, and God the Holy Spirit (Fineman). The interpretation of this allusion may vary. As I said, it
can be blasphemy against the church or faithfulness to the fair youth, and I would prefer the
second one. As the sonnet ends, the caplet finally brings the sonnet conclusion by describing the
fair youth as godlike (Fineman). `Fair, kind and true, have often lived alone, which three till
now, never kept seat in one (Shakespeare). This is a caplet of the sonnet. A word have often
lived alone presents in the caplet shows the idea fair, kind and true which is a symbol for
Holy Trinity is completed by God. Moreover, Shakespeare alludes the fair youth is the one

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completes the idea by using a word never kept seat in one in the caplet (Fineman). The sonnet
ends up revealing the fair youth is a true god and is not an idol. The allusion presents in the
caplet shows why Shakespeare used these imageries and a symbolism about the fair youth
throughout the sonnet. He eventually used them to express the fair youth as godlike. These
allusions present in the sonnet and the sonnet itself are well formed and gives a reader the
afterglow of the sonnet.
Among Shakespeares great works, his each sonnet has few influences, but each sonnet
contains vivid description of Shakespeares soul. As discussed before, his sonnets such as sonnet
CV show Shakespeares messages and feelings. The truth of Shakespeare is unknown, but a
reader can feel his passion, nature, and love from his beautiful works. You can feel these things
from sonnet CV as well. How do you feel and interpret sonnet CV? The answer is not decided,
so what you felt and interpret is the answer. Romantic loves were often exaggerated as the
sonnet. Even though people interpret this sonnet as unfaithfulness against God, I believe that
love is God himself and everyone can be godlike at this point, so have you ever felt that way?

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Works Cited
Shakespeare, William.Sonnet 105. William Shakespeare intro. n.p., n.d.. Web. 6 Feb.2015.
<http://www.william-shakespeareinfo/william-shakespeare-sonnet-105.htm>
Biography of William Shakespeare. Poem Hunter.com. n.p., n.d.. Web. 9 Feb. 2015.
<http://www.poemhunter.com/william-shakespeare/biography/>
William Shakespeare-Biography-Poet, Playwright. Biography.com. A&E Television., 2015.
Web. 9 Feb. 2015. <http://www.biography.com/people/william-shakespeare9480323#synopsis>
Sonnet CV. Shakespeares sonnets. Oxquarry Books Ltd., 2001-2014. Web. 9 Feb. 2015.
<http://www.shakespeares-sonnets.com/sonnet/105>
Fineman, Kelly. Sonnet 105 by William Shakespeare. n.p., February 24, 2010. Web. 10
Feb.2015. <http://kellyrfineman.blogspot.com/2010/2/sonnet-105by-williamshakespearhtml>
Summary and Analysis Sonnet 105. Cliffsnotes.com. n.p., n.d.. Web. 10 Feb. 2015.
<http://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/s/shakespeares-sonnets/summary and
analysis/sonnet-105>