Shakespeare's Sonnet 116 Is Not What It Seems

SOURCES


Landry, Hilton, "The Marriage Of True Minds: Truth and Error in Sonnet 116"

MUSIC (via Epidemic Sound)

Erasmus Talbot, "The Roundabout"
Philip Ayers, "Pause For Concern"
Dust Follows, "Swan"

Watch More Nerdwriter:
 
The Nerdwriter is a series of video essays about art, culture, politics, philosophy and more.

[SnowTerebi]

"And we charish the most the things we can lose."

So beautifully written. So many lovers forget about it and stop charishing each other as much as when they are in love the first time.

[lydia]

Your point here is why this sonnet's use in Sense & Sensibility is so perfect. Willoughby dumps Marianne for financial security. Their relationship isn't an ever fixed mark. And it's used so beautifully as Marianne grieves what can't be.

[HayleighPaige]

I had a phase in high school where I tried to memorize as many sonnets as possible - this was my first memorized and one of the few I still remember over a decade later, it’s a weird thing now that I write it in on the last page of every notebook or notepad I own. Anyway, great video!! :))

[iPariah]

Adore waking up, turning on the tv and finding this 10 seconds into its submission, sincerely appreciate all the work you do

[stevezytveld]

It always amazes me how you're able to compress an English Literature lecture into less than eight minutes. Thank you.
- Cathy (&, accidently, Steve), Ottawa/Bytown/Pimisi

[alexpratt]

As someone who has not had much exposure or interest in art interpretation I really appreciate this clip. It makes me feel inspired to go explore some poems or paintings as if they are a little treasure trove of hidden secrets and meanings to be unearthed. I appreciate your work and sharing your thoughts!

[YourMsRightHere]

I have always liked seeing "admit" as "introduce" as in a ticket for admission. He is not inventing the impediment...

The "remover to remove" is describing a drawing compass, btw. And the star to every wandering bark... which makes you think of a sextant. Both tools are also ways to measure degrees.

[DontMockMySmock]

"it's his most famous sonnet"

uhh "shall i compare thee to a summer's day" is literally the only sonnet that 99% of english speakers have ever heard

[youtubevoice]

I wouldn't say there's something sinister about it. He merely points out that there's a big difference between true love and superficial infatuation.
He makes it blatantly clear how big the difference really is with some extreme examples. That's how you'll be able to unmistakably tell the difference.

[MrHeroFamily]

Understanding and proving any work as "Not What It Seems" is the coolest thing for anyone studying the arts. Hats off.

[mooky]

I always wonder to what degree one might consider it bravery to confront the impermanence of everything, or differently said, to what degree its naive not to. I used to ponder about the impermanence of everything, but the paradox is that such thought is as futile as it's implications. I, for once, have decided to play along with whatever we might call life, love, free will, feelings or thought - as not doing so provides me with nothing but a sense of unease and meaninglessness. A fictional story can be as meaningful to you as a real one, and as we are clearly unable to distinguish the two for what's considered 'living', I have decided to not care but embrace. That works astonishingly well, despite the fact that it's self-deceptive on some level.

[ReynaSingh]

The beauty of poetry is the various interpretations. The reader does not necessarily need to see something the way the writer did. Language is ambiguous because meaning is personal. We have no control over how others understand us

[CaptChrispy]

The first thing that comes to mind is that I can't remember Shakespeare ever using 'admit' to mean 'acknowledge' but usually 'let in'.

[Piju]

I read this poem as not a man searching or attempting to convince himself that true love is real, but about the abstract, perfect concept of love. Specifically the second quatrain; Shakespeare uses all of these distant objects or immovable concepts to represent love as an ideal that is used by man, but never touched nor obtained in practice. You mention both the references to the mark and the star. Both are important navigation assets to sailors; they quite literally guide men across oceans and seas without ever being able to own either. This is a clever description of the dichotomy of true love; the sonnet states that true love as an ideal is real, but between two people is unfeasible.

My point is, your video essays are always enjoyable and this one was both excellent and thought provoking. Now hurry up and get that book to my house ;-).

[sirskelletor]

"Bending sickles" is not a reference to death, as death wields a scythe. Rather, sickles are held by Chronos, the greko/roman god of time.

[jl]

Nerdwriter is the only channel where I like the newly released videos out of support before I even watch it

[benwasserman]

When Nerdwriter1 posts a video, we all listen. Simple as that.

[triforce]

“Beauty belongs to what is impertinent…” wow. That line has so many applications. Sunsets, youth, rainbows, the list of fleeting beauty is limitless.

[arpitdas]

This video fits superbly in the entire narrative of the sonnet as well, since it captures the change of love Shakespeare feels for the Fairy Youth and Dark Lady

[luchilenium]

Amazing analysis. I remember studying this sonnet at university, amoung a bunch of others.
Though I would argue that Sonnet 18 is a lot more iconic than this. But it is definitely one of the most recognisable.