Sonnet 24 Shakesphere
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In “Sonnet XXIV” by William Shakespeare, an older man paints a portrait of a younger man using his eyes. The meaning of the poem is all about affection manifested through art. Through the young man’s image, the painter feels a deeper connection between the both of them. Representing “eyes as artists” indicates that affection and art are both little ways of comprehending the truth of the world.
The first eight lines in the sonnet are an extended metaphor of the poet painting an image on the canvas of his heart. “Mine eye hath playd the painter and hath steeled thy beauty’s form in table of my heart”. This quote explains how the painter has taken the role of an artist and engraved the image of the youth’s beauty on his heart. When a “And perspective it is best painter’s art, for through the painter must you see his skill.” The painter used his skill to paint an image with his eyes using his point of view. The word “perspective” is saying that through the painter, one can see how art illustrates nature. The painter used his skill to paint an image with his eyes using his point of view.
In this sonnet, the poet feels that his eye has painted such a beautiful appSince this poet was skilled, (“For through the painter must you see his skill”) he was able to store an image of the youth that “which in… [my] bosom’s shop is hanging still,” meaning it continually dwells in the poet’s heart. The poet saw so much beauty in this youth’s “eyes this cunning” and he wanted to “grace their art”. When the poet mentions “grace their art”, he is specifically trying to express the youth’s physical attraction most beautifully. You need to analyze these lines deeper. The words he uses, the meaning they convey. There is a layer here about perspective and love being blinding that you’re not reflecting.
It is not the physical attraction of the youth that the poet was so fond of. There was also the fact that the youth’s image was part of the poet’s heart and the poet was able to see his reflection through this youth. This quote is trying to explain that people are more attracted to the physical attraction because “they draw but what they see, know not the heart.” It is also trying to show the the poet has a unique understanding of the heart which allows him to draw close. The youth’s eyes are windows where the poet can see his heart because they “are windows to my breast.” This quote has a deep meaning of connection. Since the poet is able to link with the youth, he is able to
In the beginning of the poem, the poet was mainly focused on the youth’s physical attraction. He admired this youth so much that he was able to store an image of this youth in his heart. It is very important to know that the symbol “eye as an painter” contributes a lot in the sonnet. If the poet’s eyes never painted a picture of this youth, he would not be able to see his own