Sonnet 116 and The Great Gatsby: A Comparative Analysis

This detailed examination explores the thematic connections between Shakespeare's Sonnet 116 and Gatsby's love for Daisy, revealing profound parallels in their treatment of eternal love and devotion.

Quote: "Let me not to the marriage of true mindes / Admit impediments, love is not love"

Highlight: The sonnet's structure mirrors its content through iambic pentameter that echoes a heartbeat, while the rhyming couplet at the conclusion symbolizes the unity of lovers.

Vocabulary: Iambic pentameter - a metrical pattern consisting of five pairs of unstressed/stressed syllables.

Example: Maritime imagery appears in both works, with Shakespeare's "wandring barke" and Gatsby's connection to boats and water symbolizing journey and constancy.

Definition: The "ever fixed marke" refers to the North Star, used historically for navigation, symbolizing unwavering guidance and constant love.

The analysis reveals sophisticated literary techniques including:

• Personification of love as an immovable force
• Temporal imagery challenging time's power over true love
• Alliteration and rhythmic patterns enhancing emotional impact
• Religious and astronomical metaphors elevating love to cosmic significance

The comparative study demonstrates how both works explore themes of idealistic love, determination, and the transcendent quality of genuine affection, despite being separated by centuries of literary history.