In Shakespeare's poem, "Shall I Compare Thee to a Summer's Day"...?

Question

In that poem, why does he decide his love is better than a summer's day?

Answer 1

Few things to clarify first. This is sonnet 18. One of the sonnets written in honor and praise of the "Fair Youth" whom the poet was in love with. A young man's beauty is what we are talking about here.

The poet thinks his lover is better than a day in the summer season because although summer is "temperate" and attractive, sometimes it is spoiled by "Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May." And again, summer does not last long, "summer's lease hath all too short a date." During the summer season, sometimes the sun becomes too hot and spoils the beauty of some days,
"Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines,/
And often is his gold complexion dimm'd."
Again the Summer season soon declines and gives way to fall and then winter because nature or chance decrees that everything that is pretty/attractive must diminish in beauty,
"And every fair from fair sometime declines,
By chance, or nature's changing course, untrimm'd;"
But his lover's beauty will not decline like the summer's day, nor lose the tantalizing beauty,
"But thy eternal summer shall not fade,/ Nor lose possession of that fair thou owest."
Not even death shall take away or mess up the beauty of the lover by way of death,
"Nor shall Death brag thou wander'st in his shade."
The beauty will continue to exist/grow until the end of time,
"When in eternal lines to time thou growest."
As long as people continue to live and continue to use their eyes to read this sonnet 18,
"So long as men can breathe, or eyes can see," and as long as this sonnet continues to exist as it was composed as acknowledgement and celebration of the lover's beauty, that alone gives breathe to and reaffirms the everlasting beauty of the lover,
"So long lives this, and this gives life to thee."
Hence, the beauty (summer) of the lover is better than a day in summer.

And indeed, it is re-affirmed when we read the sonnet now and acknowledge that it celebrates the lover's beauty. Many centuries and several summer days have gone by since. Yes, the beauty of the lover will always be fresh as long as we read this sonnet.


good luck

Answer 2

This poem is so amazing because it's not really about love at all. It's simply about Shakespeare's ego. He finally decides that he shouldn't compare her to a summer's day because a summer's day is a fleeting thing. It's soon over. The only thing he can compare her to is a poem because its beauty lasts forever. Shakespeare was right, obviously, because his poetry is still being read.

Answer 3

Oh I read this poem in LA! The teacher told us because a summer day is so nice and great, that she (his love) is fantastic and beautiful enough to be compared to the nicest days of the year.

Answer 4

In my point of view. Summer's day is what most people waiting for. Because it's nice and sunny. It makes everyone happy and cheerful.

Shakespeare believes that his love does the same to him, or perhaps even better. Cheer him up in the moment of sadness, perhaps that's why he said she is better than a summer's day.

Answer 5

he thinks the girl is hot like a summer's day

Answer 6

If im correct its because a summers day is beautiful and bright so maybe he thought she was beautiful

Answer 7

Okay. That is from Romeo and Juliet...right? He is comparing Juliet to the bright radiant sun because he loves her.

Answer 8

he loves her and thinks she's HOT!!!