18 pages 36 minutes read

William Shakespeare

Sonnet 43

Fiction | Poem | Adult | Published in 1609

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Symbols & Motifs

The Fair and Imperfect Shadow

Some meanings of the word shadow include the darkness something casts when exposed by light; areas of dark; a sense of gloom; or an inseparable companion. The word shade, by contrast, indicates a color (especially how it relates to light); an area of coolness relative to sunlight; or is another word for ghost. The speaker describes The Fair Youth as both a “shadow” (Lines 5, 6) and a “shade” (Lines 8, 11). At first, the beloved illuminates “shadows” (Line 5) of darkness for the speaker due to the beloved’s brightness. His “shadow’s form” (Line 6) creates a “happy show” (Line 6). However, the use of “shadow’s form” (Line 6) suggests that the beloved is illusory, a figure from the speaker’s dream that comes and goes at will. Although at first this “shade shines” (Line 11), it is later described as a “fair imperfect shade” (Line 11), suggesting that the beloved is both beautiful and flawed. This shows that the speaker views him as an entity that functions both as a beam of light who brightens his days and an oppressive ghost who haunts the speaker. This heightens the tension in the poem itself.

Related Titles

By William Shakespeare

Study Guide
logo

All's Well That Ends Well

William Shakespeare

All's Well That Ends Well

William Shakespeare

STUDY + TEACHING GUIDE
logo

A Midsummer Night's Dream

William Shakespeare

A Midsummer Night's Dream

William Shakespeare

Study Guide
logo

Antony and Cleopatra

William Shakespeare

Antony and Cleopatra

William Shakespeare

STUDY + TEACHING GUIDE
logo

As You Like It

William Shakespeare

As You Like It

William Shakespeare

Study Guide
logo

Coriolanus

William Shakespeare

Coriolanus

William Shakespeare

Plot Summary
logo

Cymbeline

William Shakespeare

Cymbeline

William Shakespeare

Study Guide
logo

Hamlet

William Shakespeare

Hamlet

William Shakespeare

Study Guide
logo

Henry IV, Part 1

William Shakespeare

Henry IV, Part 1

William Shakespeare

Plot Summary
logo

Henry IV, Part 2

William Shakespeare

Henry IV, Part 2

William Shakespeare

Study Guide
logo

Henry V

William Shakespeare

Henry V

William Shakespeare

Plot Summary
logo

Henry VIII

William Shakespeare

Henry VIII

William Shakespeare

Plot Summary
logo

Henry VI, Part 1

William Shakespeare

Henry VI, Part 1

William Shakespeare

Plot Summary
logo

Henry VI, Part 3

William Shakespeare

Henry VI, Part 3

William Shakespeare

STUDY + TEACHING GUIDE
logo

Julius Caesar

William Shakespeare

Julius Caesar

William Shakespeare

Plot Summary
logo

King John

William Shakespeare

King John

William Shakespeare

STUDY + TEACHING GUIDE
logo

King Lear

William Shakespeare

King Lear

William Shakespeare

Study Guide
logo

Love's Labour's Lost

William Shakespeare

Love's Labour's Lost

William Shakespeare

STUDY + TEACHING GUIDE
logo

Macbeth

William Shakespeare

Macbeth

William Shakespeare

Study Guide
logo

Measure For Measure

William Shakespeare

Measure For Measure

William Shakespeare

STUDY + TEACHING GUIDE
logo

Much Ado About Nothing

William Shakespeare

Much Ado About Nothing

William Shakespeare