Shall i compare thee to a summers day- why does the poet consider comparing his love to a summers day?

Question

Shall i compare thee to a summers day- why does the poet consider comparing his love to a summers day?

Answer 1

Nice question to answer - thanks!

My thoughts would be:

A summers day is, more often than not in poetry, pleasant and fine, bright, and not at all conveying any associations to a storm or darkness which would portray anger or even deceit, but rather create a more softly beautiful tone.

Have you heard the phrase "a breezy summers day"? It can allude the image of a quiet sunny day, with rolling clouds and a soft wind rustling the leaves. This, I would say, is a nice idea to be compared to. To say that His love is even more lovely than a summers day is then indeed a compliment.

Now, because I'm an Aussie, I can and will certainly say that most summer days over here and I'm sure elsewhere, are in fact not quite pleasant, but rather humid or dry and quite uncomfortable, like somebody else spoke of, but if you know a tad about, or find out a little about the poet you ask of (Shakespeare, I'm guessing) you may find that they grew up, lived in or had a particular interest in a region where summer days are, as I mentioned, particularly pleasant.

Its good to find out a bit about the author of a work you are reading, it can help you interpret their writing as they would have intended it, and it can give you a more personal understanding of their emotion and reasons behind what they write.

I hope that can answer your question, or guide you for nicer alternative

Answer 2

For the same reason that another poet said "A rose by any other name still smells the same"..... he felt like it.

Answer 3

If you read the rest of the poem, it will become obvious.

Answer 4

Summer is bright and beautiful. And love could be as sweet as summer. But if you're not careful, you could get sunburn. Whereas, in Love, you could also get hurt.

Answer 5

Because just like a summer's day she makes him all hot, sweaty and uncomfortable?

TV ;-)