Sonnet 94

Sonnet 94 was interesting to me as it seemed very different from the previous sonnets. It contains a large shift and also a new theme. The shift takes place between the second and third quatrains. The sonnet shifts from symbols of human power and stone to the fragility of living things and nature. Throughout the sonnet, Shakespeare is trying to tell the young man to control himself, to control his actions as bad deeds may lead to self-destruction. He does so in the first two quatrains with his admiration toward men that can control themselves and are not victim to temptation. After the shift, he describes nature and how now matter how beautiful a flower may be, it can easily fall victim to disease and in that case, has less dignity than an ugly weed. This identifies Shakespeare’s theme of this sonnet and is clearly depicted in the couplet which states:

“For sweetest things turn sourest by their deeds;

Lilies that fester smell far worse than weeds.”

This couplet clearly shows how little respect Shakespeare has for men who cannot control their actions and his belief that inner strength is far more impressive than external beauty.