Sonnet 87

Sonnet 87 is one of 154 sonnets written by William Shakespeare. It is part of the "Fair Youth" sequence, sonnets 1-126, which are generally believed to be addressed to a young man of high social standing. Sonnet 87 explores themes of separation, freedom, and the speaker's perceived unworthiness of the Fair Youth's affection. The poem argues that the young man's previous commitment to the speaker was based on a flawed understanding or perhaps even pity, and that the youth is now free to seek a more suitable match.

The sonnet argues that the speaker never truly "owned" the Fair Youth's love and that the youth's beauty and worth are far beyond what the speaker can legitimately possess. The language suggests a sense of release, although tinged with melancholy. The speaker acknowledges the youth's superior social position and inherent value, suggesting that he realizes the relationship was never truly equitable.

Key themes explored in Sonnet 87 include:

• Unworthiness: The speaker expresses a sense of inadequacy and believes he is not deserving of the Fair Youth's affection.
• Freedom: The sonnet focuses on the release of the Fair Youth from any obligation or commitment to the speaker.
• Inequality: The poem highlights the perceived social and personal disparity between the speaker and the Fair Youth, contributing to the argument for separation.
• Conditional Love: The sonnet questions the basis of their relationship, suggesting that it might have been founded on a misunderstanding or a temporary impulse.

The sonnet's structure adheres to the traditional Shakespearean sonnet form, consisting of fourteen lines in iambic pentameter, rhyming ABAB CDCD EFEF GG. This structure provides a framework for the speaker to systematically dismantle the foundation of their relationship and to grant the Fair Youth his freedom.