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Many gilded monuments of princes have risen over the ages, but they are swept aside by time. However, the poems and memories of loved ones shall shine more [brightly] than any statue in history, for all time. William Shakespeare in sonnet 55 uses diction, allusion, and other significant devices to convey how throughout time, war, and death the memories of loved ones will never be tainted or destroyed. These statues of the princes will crumble because they are tainted by the spoils and ominous of the nobility they represent. In contrast the poem from the lover comes straight from the heart, and hence is not spoiled by princely riches. The diction chosen by Shakespeare in sonnet 55 is used to describe the spoiled nature of statues versus the virtues and endurance of the poet s word.
Statues raised to commemorate princes are done so because of their riches and position on the thrown. His description of the monuments as being gilded illustrates that they are symbols of money and power not character. Shakespeare describes that over time the memory the statue represents becomes spoiled. In the line Than unwept stone besmear d with sluttish time, the diction illustrates that the memory becomes tainted by the misdeeds and undoing that begets all princes; Some time after their triumphs have been celebrated. In contrast to the soiled memories and characters that monuments represent Shakespeare depicts the virtues of this sonnet written for a loved one.
The written word is described in the sonnet as being something that cannot be destroyed or forgotten for all time to come. Words used to illustrate this are found in the lines The living record of you memory, and Of princes, shall outlive this powerful rime. Shakespeare takes this further by using diction that not only depicts the timeless quality the poem possesses but the enduring virtues of the memory it depicts. Two lines illustrating this enduring quality are: Gains all death and all-oblivious enmity, and nor war s quick fire shall burn.
Although the diction is used to describe the nature of monuments versus the written word, it also makes use of allusions to convey
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