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_poptart_
05-11-2007, 09:28 AM
Hi,
a likely question in my exam will be
"lust in renaissance texts ultimately leads to death"
OR
"analyse the representation of death in Renaissance texts".

For the sonnets, I have noted how it is through offspring and/or poetry one can achieve immortality.

However in sonnets such as 23 and 147, desire is ultimately what leads to death and decay, 'My love is as a fever' and 'in mine own love's strength seem to decay'.

I am a bit muddled in my thoughts and am unsure as to whether there is a generalised notion of death in the sonnets or whether I should compare/contrast how Shakespeare talks about the ability to 'combat' death through reproduction, at the same time as commenting that desire leads only to death.

Any ideas would be great!