Introduction: “What Lips” and “Shall I Compare Thee”
Both the sonnets, “What Lips”and “Shall I Compare Thee” explore the theme of love in different eras. While Shakespeare praises his beloved in a typical fashion, comparing her to the summer and immortalizing her like “Time” (Shakespeare 13), Edna St. Vincent Millay expresses love openly, bordering on promiscuity. Her expression is metaphorical, drawing a comparison to ghosts’ “tap and sigh” (Millay 4), as she is no longer with her numerous lovers. This contrast between the spiritual love of Shakespeare and the physical love of Millay is evident in both sonnets. One reflects the love of the Elizabethan era, while the other embodies Victorian standards that were expanding beyond the boundaries set by familial traditions, religious conventions, and social norms.
Despite the divergence in the portrayal of love, both sonnets beautifully express the theme. Millay’s rendition is tinged with nostalgic feelings, whereas Shakespeare’s is characterized by a sense of permanent felicity. Although both sonnets use metaphorical language and employ distinct rhyme schemes, “What Lips My Lips Have Kissed” presents love as an amorous escapade, while “Shall I Compare Thee to a Summer’s Day” presents love as a spiritual experience of praising the beloved and elevating her to an everlasting entity.
Theme in “What Lips” and “Shall I Compare Thee”
The theme of love in both poems is metaphorically compared to seasons. In Edna St. Vincent Millay’s poem, she likens her love to “rain” that is “full of ghosts tonight, that tap and sigh” (Millay 3-4), portraying a sense of haunting nostalgia. She further extends this metaphor by describing herself as “the lonely tree” that waits in winter (9), emphasizing the desolation she feels. The departed lovers are symbolically linked to the changing weather, and she laments that no traveler comes in the winter, indicating the absence of her lovers. The situation has reached a point where she “cannot say what loves have come and gone” (12), and she nostalgically recalls the past, noting that she “only know[s] that summer sang” (13). However, this once joyful memory has become a painful echo of the past, as “sings no more” (14), and she can only remember those loves.
In contrast, Shakespeare’s sonnet “Shall I Compare Thee to a Summer’s Day?” presents a more intense and triumphant portrayal of love as a spiritual experience. In this sonnet, the extended metaphor is clear and direct. His beloved is compared to the summer season, but she surpasses it, and her “eternal summer shall not fade” (Shakespeare 9). The metaphor extends further to declare that death cannot claim her, with the line “Nor shall death brag thou” (11). The culmination of this extended metaphor is the immortalization of his beloved, making her eternal like “Time” (13). Unlike Millay’s melancholic and nostalgic portrayal, Shakespeare’s metaphor emphasizes the enduring and transcendent nature of his love, elevating it to a spiritual realm.
Love in “What Lips” and “Shall I Compare Thee”
The theme of love in “What Lips My Lips Have Kissed” by Edna St. Vincent Millay is characterized by its amorous and physical nature, standing in contrast to the spiritual dimension of Shakespearean love. This dichotomy reflects the difference between Elizabethan and Victorian eras, with Millay openly acknowledging her love for numerous individuals and embracing a somewhat promiscuous persona. The poem begins with a candid admission, “What lips my lips have kissed, and where, and why” (Millay 1), conveying her lack of awareness regarding the specifics of her encounters.
Millay’s love is not only physical but also openly shared with many, and she expresses her nostalgia for past loves with a sense of lament. As she compares her past love to summer, the present moment leaves her feeling like the desolate “lonely tree” in winter (9), devoid of song and filled only with “quiet pain” (6).
In contrast, Shakespeare’s portrayal of love in “Shall I Compare Thee to a Summer’s Day?” is more spiritual and idealized. He praises his beloved by likening her to the summer season, emphasizing her enduring beauty. While acknowledging the transient nature of physical beauty with “every fair from fair sometimes declines” (Shakespeare 7), Shakespeare asserts that his beloved’s beauty will not fade. She is immortalized in the sonnet, living “as long as men can breathe, or eyes can see” (13), transcending the boundaries of time and space.
The difference in the poets’ perspectives becomes evident in the conclusion. While Shakespeare’s beloved remains eternal and untouched by decay, Millay’s lamentation over the inability to sing suggests a sense of pessimism, implying that her capacity for love has waned, and the vibrant echoes of past romances have grown silent.
Common Theme in “What Lips” and “Shall I Compare The”
Despite both sonnets delving into common themes, each discusses love in a distinct manner. One presents love as a personal, promiscuous, and realistic experience, while the other portrays it as a spiritual, transcendental, and idealized passion for another human being. Edna St. Vincent Millay’s “What Lips My Lips Have Kissed” is characterized by a realist perspective, acknowledging the temporal nature of love. She laments that the summer “sings no more” (Millay 13), indicating the end of her past romantic experiences.
On the other hand, William Shakespeare expresses his love through admiration, elevating it to a level of transcendence. His beloved becomes immortalized in his poetry, as he declares, “eternal lines to Time thou grow’st” (Shakespeare 12). This implies that he has made her eternal and everlasting through his words, and as long as people inhabit the earth and read his poetry, she will live on in those lines. Shakespeare’s love is portrayed as a transcendental passion that extends beyond the limitations of time and space.
In contrast, Millay’s perspective is grounded in reality, acknowledging the ephemeral nature of her experiences. While Shakespeare’s sonnet suggests a timeless and eternal love, Millay accepts the finite nature of her existence, recognizing that she won’t persist beyond her time. The differing approaches of the poets highlight the diversity in their views on love, ranging from the tangible and fleeting to the spiritual and everlasting.
Conclusion: “What Lips” and “Shall I Compare The”
In short, although both poets depict love from their respective eras, Shakespeare and Millay approach the theme differently in their sonnets. The Elizabethan-era love portrayed in Shakespeare’s “Shall I Compare…” contrasts sharply with Millay’s modern love, which leans towards physical enjoyment. The evolution from the 16th century to the 19th century illustrates the transformation of love from infatuation to a more personal and experiential dimension.
Millay’s portrayal reflects a sexual experience to be remembered, emphasizing the transient nature of love. In contrast, Shakespeare immortalizes love, making the beloved eternal and everlasting. Both sonnets are written in iambic pentameter, but their rhyme schemes differ. Millay’s ABBAABBA CDE CDE has a faster pace, characteristic of the fast-paced Victorian era, while Shakespeare’s ABABCDCD ABABCC has a slower, more traditional Elizabethan rhythm, aligning with the tempo of that era’s love. The rhyme schemes not only contribute to the beauty of each sonnet but also reflect the pace and essence of the respective historical periods they represent.
Works Cited: “What Lips” and “Shall I Compare Thee”
- Shakespeare, William. “Shall I Compare Thee to a Summer’s Day?” Poet’s Shop. n.d. Web. Accessed 21 Nov. 2023.
- Millay, Edna St. Vincent. “What Lips my Lips Have Kissed.” Poet’s Shop. n.d. Web. Accessed 21 Nov. 2023.
Relevant Questions in “What Lips” and “Shall I Compare Thee”
- How does the theme of love differ between “Shall I Compare Thee to a Summer’s Day?” by William Shakespeare and “What Lips my Lips Have Kissed” by Edna St. Vincent Millay, particularly in the way each poet portrays the essence of love?
- In “Shall I Compare Thee to a Summer’s Day?” and “What Lips my Lips Have Kissed,” how do the poets employ language and imagery to convey the enduring or fleeting nature of romantic feelings, and what role do specific elements play in shaping the perception of love in each poem?
- Exploring the intersection of love and beauty, how do William Shakespeare and Edna St. Vincent Millay connect these themes in “Shall I Compare Thee to a Summer’s Day?” and “What Lips my Lips Have Kissed,” respectively? What distinctive perspectives or nuances do each poet bring to this connection, and how does it contribute to the overall portrayal of love in the two poems?
