The central idea of Shakespeare's "Sonnet 100" is that the speaker wants his muse to help him immortalize his love. He expresses a sense of urgency to capture the beauty of his beloved before time and decay take their toll. The speaker is frustrated with the muse for not providing inspiration and urges it to return so that he can convey his love's greatness and preserve it against the ravages of time. This theme of seeking immortality through verse is a key aspect of the sonnet.
Read Shakespeare's "Sonnet 100.”
Where art thou, Muse, that thou forget'st so long
To speak of that which gives thee all thy might?
Spend'st thou thy fury on some worthless song,
Darkening thy power to lend base subjects light?
Return, forgetful Muse, and straight redeem
In gentle numbers time so idly spent;
Sing to the ear that doth thy lays esteem
And gives thy pen both skill and argument.
Rise, resty Muse, my love's sweet face survey,
If Time have any wrinkle graven there;
If any, be a satire to decay,
And make Time's spoils despised every where.
Give my love fame faster than Time wastes life;
So thou prevent'st his scythe and crooked knife.
What is the central idea of the sonnet?
The speaker considers his love to be his muse.
The speaker wants his muse to help him immortalize his love.
The speaker fears that his love is growing old faster than he would like.
The speaker thinks that his muse is forgetful and lazy and wastes a lot of time.
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