Sonnet 99 is very complex in that it is full of descriptions. The sonnet mentions many different flowers, like violets, roses, lilies, and marjoram. These flowers are all paired with different aspects of who can be assumed to be the young man. Shakespeare scolds all these flowers for stealing their beauty from the young man. “The purple pride” is used to describe the violet, which Shakespeare says stole its sweet smell from the man. The lily is said to have stolen its color from the skin of the man, and the marjoram, known for its sweet smell, stole its smell from the young man’s hair. Roses are also mentioned, and their colors are important to note. Line 9 says “One blushing shame, another white despair”. The rose that blushes, shameful of stealing its beauty from the man, is red. The rose that cowers with despair is white. Line 13 reads “A vengeful canker eat him up to death”. This evil menace could be anything or anyone, but regardless, it is a very powerful way of saying that the flower got what it deserved by being destroyed. Shakespeare is saying that he believes the flowers to be thieves because they stole their beautiful colors, smells, and presence from the boy. The flowers hold no true beauty whatsoever because their beauty is stolen.
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