After reading these three sonnets the idea of the mentor and the mentee seems to have almost gone away. These sonnets show that there must have been some sort of a relationship between the two. In Sonnet 20, there is evidence of a some what sexual relationship, or at least the want for one. Shakespeare speaks about this young man as if he was meant to be a women. "A women's face with nature's own hand painted/ Hast thou, the master-mistress of my passion;/ a woman's gentle heart, but not acquainted/" he is admiring the mans features, noting that he should have been a women because of the beauty he possesses. He wishes that this man had indeed been a women so that he may be with him, but "by addition me of thee defeated/ By adding one thing to my purpose nothing." The fact that he is a man has defeated him. Although he does not fully give up on this love, " but since she pricked thee out for women's pleasure,/ mine be thy love and thy love's use their treasure/" He is saying that although the young man is made for a women, he will still love the man. This sonnet is showing that Shakespeare is trying to make any sort of relationship with this man, even if it isn't physical love.

In sonnet 36, it seems that Shakespeare has come to realize that though he loves this man he does not wish to shame him. He has decided that they must part ways in order to keep themselves in good standing, "I may not evermore acknowledge thee/ Lest my bewailed guilt should thee shame." He says to the young man or OOP, that though he loves him he release him. When we come to sonnet 55, it seems like Shakespeare is trying to show the OOP that they will remain in his " powerful rhyme" even if they are no longer together. The OOP's beauty will live on in Shakespeare's records and he will be remember. These three sonnets show the relationship between the two much clearer then the first 17. The relationship does seem to have progressed from just a mentor looking after his apprentice, to a more love based thing.