Based on the Sonnet's selected 20, 36 and 55 compared to the sonnet's discussed in class I think the class as a whole had it wrong. It seems that as the sonnets progressed Shakespeare developed a somewhat sexual attraction to the "OOP" and felt not only ashamed "I may not evermore acknowledge thee,Lest my bewailed guilt should do thee shame,Nor thou with public kindness honour me,Unless thou take that honour from thy name" but also overpowering emotional connection to the "OOP" "Though in our lives a separable spite,Which though it alter not love's sole effect" I think that sonnet 20 in particular is a cry to God, why did you make my soul mate a man? "Till Nature, as she wrought thee, fell a-doting, And by addition me of thee defeated, By adding one thing to my purpose nothing." seems to refer directly to the "OOP's" penis as a a social barrier "Nor thou with public kindness honour me, Unless thou take that honour from thy name" comes up in my head over and over as a direct exclamation that the love between Shakespeare and the OOP is held back by the views of society. Sonnet 55 breaks away from the desperation and seems to be Shakespeare exclaiming his usefulness to the OOP. Almost like a "Love me because I can make you live forever"/ "Not marble, nor the gilded monuments, Of princes, shall outlive this powerful rhyme." "Shall you pace forth; your praise shall still find room Even in the eyes of all posterity That wear this world out to the ending doom." In the sonnets selected I can assume Shakespeare's love for the OOP is not completely full circle. He seems to be saying please love me no matter the consequences one minute and then I will avoid you for the sake of honor the next. I get the feeling the Shakespeare is struggling with these feelings and is attempting to make them seem normal and acceptable.