# Sonnet LXIX explained — Poetry

> Chapter companion for Poetry by William Shakespeare.

## What happens

The speaker observes that while the world praises the young man's outward beauty, deeper scrutiny reveals a discrepancy between his fair appearance and his foul deeds, suggesting that his character has become common and corrupted.

## Themes in this chapter

### Truth and Deception

The poem contrasts the 'bare truth' of outward praise with the hidden truth of the youth's flawed character.

### Beauty and Transience

The youth's fair flower is tainted by the 'rank smell of weeds,' suggesting the fleeting and corruptible nature of beauty.

## Character check-ins

### Youth

The young man whose outward beauty is praised but whose inner character is found wanting.

### William Shakespeare

The speaker who reflects on the disparity between the youth's appearance and his deeds.

## Key lines

> Those parts of thee that the world’s eye doth view Want nothing that the thought of hearts can mend;

Your outward appearance is so perfect that no one could imagine any improvement.

_The speaker acknowledges the youth's flawless physical beauty._

> But why thy odour matcheth not thy show, The solve is this, that thou dost common grow.

The reason your inner character does not match your outward beauty is that you have become ordinary and morally degraded.

_The speaker concludes that the youth's corruption stems from his commonness._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_28_se/chapters/lxix
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_28_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_28_se/chapters