Sonnet 116

Shakespeare’s usage of the idea of time reflects the reader’s perception of Father Time. Through personification and other literary devices, Shakespeare effectively shows the relationship between love and time. Associated with time is the concept of change. Shakespeare argues throughout the poem that although time changes, love does not. In making this point, Shakespeare is able to portray love as an everlasting principle that does not, as he says in like 3, “alter” even when it seems that change is inevitable.
In calling love “an ever-fixed mark (L5),” Shakespeare parallels love and time. As time passes, love remains. This establishes the concept that love is stronger than time, so it should be taken more heavily. Strength is carried through to the next line as Shakespeare says that love is “never shaken.” Here, Shakespeare says once you are in love, you cannot escape it. Shakespeare’s use of personification portrays this in a very direct manner.
In his allusion to ships measuring their distance from the stars to find land, Shakespeare shows that love is a necessity. He argues that though the worth of love is not always apparent, it is true that one has not found the meaning of life if they have yet to find love. The way that Shakespeare portrays love as an absolute requisite in life is only made so by the literary devices he uses, such as personification and allusion, without which, his point would be dull and seemingly trivial.