Sonnet 18

Francesco Petrarch

Fiction | Poem | Adult | Published in 1330

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Summary

Background

Poem Analysis

Themes

Symbols & Motifs

Literary Devices

Symbols & Motifs

Light

Petrarch uses light symbolism throughout the Canzoniere. On a physical level, Laura has light blonde or golden hair, as well as a light complexion and eyes. Light is repeated in “Sonnet 18,” four times in the Italian (luce) and in Durling’s translation, and three times in Kline’s translation. On a symbolic level, this connects Laura’s beauty with goodness, as light is a symbol of goodness. Light, for Petrarch, is connected with classical (pre-Christian) poetry, as well as with his own Catholic understanding of good and evil. As a humanist, Petrarch believed in the value of what his cohort called pagan works and not limiting education and scholarship to Christian writers and writings. Light, to pre-Christian writers, also symbolized goodness.

Fire

Petrarch uses a large amount of fire symbolism in his sonnets. Petrarch’s use of fire as a symbol of passionate love inspired many later sonneteers and poets. The lover’s fiery desire is contrasted with Laura’s icy indifference or rejection. For instance, “cold ice came from those lovely eyes” is in the Canzoniere’s 59th poem. Petrarch also uses paradoxes like icy fire to describe his beloved. In “Sonnet 18,” fire is not stated directly but implied through the verbs “burn and melt” (Line 4). Melting is a characteristic of ice, as well as wax—fire changes the state of both matters to liquid. This speaks to the theme of the beautiful beloved’s power as a light powerful enough to burn.

Eyes

Eyes and sight are prominent symbols throughout the Canzoniere. In the first 61 poems, eyes appear 56 times in Kline’s translation. Kline’s translation includes “eyes” in Line 1 of “Sonnet 18,” while Durling’s translation implies eyes through blindness and tears. The Italian word for eyes, occhi, does not appear in the original vernacular of “Sonnet 18.” However, “Sonnet 18” implies the eyes of the beloved (Laura), the speaker (Petrarch), and other people. Laura’s eyes are part of her “lovely face” (Line 2), and the speaker compares himself to a “blind man” (7) without her light. Eyes are a conduit between the lover and the beloved. The act of looking inspires love, and the inability to see the beloved is akin to darkness and death.

In the final tercet, the speaker is concerned that his words will make other “men weep” (Line 13), and he wants to shed tears in solitude. Silence—not speaking dead or deadly words—comes back to the eyes in that they inspire tears. The speaker is not interested in a symbolic emotional conduit with other men; rather, he wants to hide his emotions from others’ eyes. He feels other people (non-romantic friendships) cannot cheer him up, but rather that he will bring other people to tears by relaying his romantic woes.