I think the word "thee" is reflecting the poetry - not a person. Shakespeare personifies the poetry by using thee/thou in the poem. In a sense he feels so connected to poetry that he compares it to a living person.
But won't that make the last line a little weird? "So long lives this, and this gives life to thee." The "this" in the line is surely talking about the sonnet itself and if so, and if "thee" refers to the poem according to you then it would imply that the sonnet is giving birth to itself and that as long as the sonnet lives it would give life to itself.
See how shakespeare refers to "'his' gold complexion" , and "in 'his' shade" , its more likely to be a person. And the last 'this' , i think , refers to the poetry while 'thee' refers to the young man.
I think "his shade" refers to Death's shade. The person the sonnet addresses appears in the ungendered second person pronouns (thou/thee). But in the context of the surrounding sonnets, it does make sense to think the sonnet is written to a male person. At the same time, I'd say that there isn't anything within the poem that genders the person addressed.
This was so helapful in my Composition 2 essay! This assignment has inspired me to read the full list of sonnets from Shakespeare.
That's wonderful! You're in for a treat.
I think the word "thee" is reflecting the poetry - not a person. Shakespeare personifies the poetry by using thee/thou in the poem. In a sense he feels so connected to poetry that he compares it to a living person.
But won't that make the last line a little weird? "So long lives this, and this gives life to thee." The "this" in the line is surely talking about the sonnet itself and if so, and if "thee" refers to the poem according to you then it would imply that the sonnet is giving birth to itself and that as long as the sonnet lives it would give life to itself.
See how shakespeare refers to "'his' gold complexion" , and "in 'his' shade" , its more likely to be a person. And the last 'this' , i think , refers to the poetry while 'thee' refers to the young man.
Thanks for the explanation I'm studying English literature and soon I will have an Exam
😁🥰 explained so well!!
Thans You!
i think the line that goes "nor shall death brag thou wander'st in his shade" explains this sonnet is written for a male person (his shade??).
I think "his shade" refers to Death's shade. The person the sonnet addresses appears in the ungendered second person pronouns (thou/thee). But in the context of the surrounding sonnets, it does make sense to think the sonnet is written to a male person. At the same time, I'd say that there isn't anything within the poem that genders the person addressed.
@@closereadingpoetry makes sense. thanks..
@@closereadingpoetry what about 'his gold complexion'?
Thanks
No problem
😍😍😍😍