On The Theme Of Love In Shakespeare's Sonnets

For over 400 years, scholars of different times have been probing and commenting on Shakespeare's Sonnets from different points of angles. Owing to very limited resources concerning Shakespeare's real life and career, some scholars tend to regard the Sonnets as the autobiographical record of his inner world and reflections, making all kinds of suppositions. Among them, there are positive comments as well as negative ones. Despite all kinds of appraisals, one thing is certain, namely, the Sonnets contain valuable thoughts and great artistic values. On the basis of text perusing, here I will try my utmost to analyze the theme of love in the Sonnets under the guidance of Freudianism as well as a combination of new historicism and new criticism. The thesis consists of five parts: Introduction, Part One, Part Two, Part Three, and Conclusion. Introduction deals with the common knowledge of the Sonnets, the purpose of the thesis, and the methodologies involved in the Sonnets research. Part one, under the guidance of new historicism, introduces the historical background of Shakespeare's time and analyzes the relationship between the themes of the Sonnets and humanism in connection with his personal life experience to deepen our understanding. Part Two introduces and estimates the three schools on the nature of love expressed in the Sonnets. Part Three discusses Freud's psychological analysis and points out that the fire-like language is the heart-felt appeal for "truth, goodness, and beauty" from a sensitive, upright, insightful, but oppressed and tortured soul. It mainly expounds the connotations of "love" in the Sonnets. The conclusion points out the historical significance and aesthetic values of the Sonnets, and tries to show the right attitude we should take towards Shakespeare's Sonnets.