The Sonnets

Exploring themes such as love, time, and mortality, Shakespeare's collection of 154 sonnets marks a significant evolution in the sonnet tradition, diverging from the typical worship of an unattainable female figure. Instead, the poems introduce a young man and the enigmatic Dark Lady, challenging conventions with themes of lust, homoeroticism, and infidelity. Published in 1609, the quarto also includes "A Lover's Complaint" and represents a unique blend of traditional form and radical content, reflecting the complexities of human relationships.