Critical Appreciation of Sonnet 118 by William Shakespeare

Critical Appreciation of Sonnet 118 by William Shakespeare

’Sonnet 118’ by William Shakespeare discusses the complexities of the speaker’s relationship with the Youth and an important mistake he made .Sonnet 118 is one of William Shakespeare’s profound love sonnets that explores love, human error, and the consequences of unnecessary precaution in relationships. The poet uses a metaphor of medicine and food to describe the speaker’s experience with love and the mistakes he made while trying to “control” or “enhance” it.

The poem begins with the speaker comparing human love to health and appetite. Just as people sometimes take bitter medicines or strong remedies to prevent illness, the speaker in the poem tries to anticipate potential problems in his love by turning to other friends or lovers. He thinks that by doing so, he can avoid future difficulties. This metaphor highlights human nature — our tendency to interfere unnecessarily in matters that are already fine.

Shakespeare describes the speaker’s love for the Fair Youth as so sweet and fulfilling that it becomes almost overwhelming or “cloying.” To cope with this intensity, the speaker seeks “bitter sauces” — a metaphor for distractions or experiences outside the relationship. However, instead of preventing harm, these actions create real problems. The attempt to control or perfect love leads to regret and self-inflicted pain.

The poem’s structure, a Shakespearean sonnet, uses iambic pentameter and the ABAB CDCD EFEF GG rhyme scheme, which allows the poet to present the problem in the three quatrains and provide a final reflection in the couplet. The volta, or the “turn,” comes in the last couplet, where the speaker admits the truth: the “drugs” or unnecessary actions intended to prevent harm have poisoned the relationship. This realization gives the poem a moral and emotional depth.

Shakespeare also makes effective use of literary devices. The poem uses alliteration (“sicken to shun sickness”), imagery (describing sweetness and bitterness), and enjambment (flowing lines to express continuous thought). These devices enhance the intensity of the poem and allow readers to feel the speaker’s emotional struggle.

Sonnet 118 is a brilliant reflection on love, human error, and learning from mistakes. Shakespeare conveys that love, like health, should be accepted as it is, without unnecessary interference. The poem teaches that overthinking or attempting to “fix” what is already perfect can be harmful, and that true understanding of love comes with experience, reflection, and self-awareness.