Love of Mortals: An Ecological Interpretation of Shakespeare’s Sonnets

Abstract

Growing ecological problems have drawn literary critics’ attentions to the ecological themes in literature. Ecocriticism advocates for the study of ecological dimensions in classic works. Early ecological consciousness is found in Shakespeare’s sonnets. This paper argues that Shakespeare’s poetry not only celebrates the sincerity of human love but also implies a profound understanding of human’s place in nature. Unlike the anthropocentrism prevalent in the Middle Ages and the Enlightenment, Shakespeare’s sonnets reflect a clear perception of the cycles of nature and the transience of human life. By using metaphors, comparisons and contrasts, Shakespeare reveals to readers the mortality and ordinariness of human alongside the immense power of nature. By analyzing three of Shakespeare’s sonnets, the paper seeks to uncover his simple ecological perspectives on the relationship between human and nature.