Shakespeare's Sonnets, Sonnet 99 summary
Sonnet 99 of 154 · 1 min to read the scene
In Sonnet 99, the speaker accuses flowers of stealing their scent, colors, and beauty from the person addressed, making that person the source of their attractions. A worm destroys one rose as punishment, and the speaker concludes that every flower examined takes something from the beloved.
What happens
- The speaker accuses the violet of taking its scent from the beloved's breath and its purple from the beloved's veins.
- The lily takes the whiteness of the beloved's hand, while marjoram buds take the beloved's hair.
- Red and white roses show shame and despair, while a third rose combines their qualities and takes the beloved's breath.
- A worm destroys the third rose as punishment for theft.
- The speaker examines more flowers and finds that each takes scent or color from the beloved.
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In this scene
What to notice
The closing claim extends the accusations beyond particular blossoms. Every flower examined depends on the beloved for its attractive qualities.
Quick check
What destroys the third rose?
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