Many critics, professional and amateur, analyze William Shakespeare's sonnets with a fine-tooth comb. From manipulating iambic pentameter and rhyme scheme to combining incompatible words, Shakespeare's sonnets are interpreted in a variety of ways. “Sonnet 30” is popular among critics because most believe it is a great metaphor, between love and financial hardship. However, although there is evidence for such an idea, the true meaning of the poem is inherently clear. The narrator of this poem does not compare monetary misfortunes to his love, but rather evokes his sorrow and affection towards his two lovers. The poetry seamlessly gives us the inside of the narrator's mind. Shakespeare uses his classic sonnet format to emphasize this, as he shows the adulterer's despair and regret towards his first lover in the quatrains, but shifts to a charming, remorseless tone towards the mistress in the couplet. Regardless of the format, the language of the poem indicates that it is addressed to two lovers. The emotional narrator takes a dual perspective because he shows empathy towards both people. Although many consider it a particularly subtle financial metaphor for love, William Shakespeare's "Sonnet 30" is a tribute to the narrator's mistress. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an Original EssayThe format of “Sonnet 30” helps shed light on the true meaning of Shakespeare. Shakespeare had a particular way of organizing his sonnets, as they all had three quatrains and a couplet, where the change in tone occurred. The sonnets were also all written with precisely ten syllables per line, in order to meet the requirements of iambic pentameter. In this specific sonnet, Shakespeare uses the format to his advantage. Throughout the majority of the poem, lines 1-12, the narrator describes his feelings during his "sweet silent thought", where he gathers all of his shameful emotions towards his original lover. In these twelve lines, the narrator admits that he "groans at the expense of many vanished spectacles," that is, he mourns the death of their relationship because of his deception. He goes on to list his regrets, only to mention that he found a mistress or a "precious friend hidden in the dateless night of death." The sonnet continues in this manner until the verse, or the last two lines. In these lines, Shakespeare often moved the sonnet into a different gear, both summarizing his poetry and leaving it open-ended. Here, Shakespeare ends with these lines “But if meanwhile I think of thee, dear friend, / All losses are restored and sorrows end.” This ending is undoubtedly directed towards the narrator's mistress. The change in tone at this time is widely expected by Shakespeare and his readers. The shift from a sad and empathetic voice to a gentle and optimistic point of view indicates the change of people. This change is transparent to the reader, as it is obvious that the narrator is speaking to another person of interest, the mistress. Shakespeare engages with the format in an ironic and intelligent way, which conveys the narrator's emotions to readers. Beyond the format of Shakespeare's work lies physical literature. Shakespeare is known for his original combination of words and phrases that present a profound image. The narrator's feelings are emphasized and developed in the first twelve lines, with words such as "groan", "grief" and "woe". Beautifully crafted yet haunting images of this crying man are also, 5(2), 178-192.