Throughout the history of mankind, a paradox has existed between two competing interests: the need for independence and the need for connection. Independence, however, is a product of stability and safety from connection. John Donne, an English metaphysical poet, explains how everyone is connected to each other by saying “no man is an island” (35) in his “Meditation 17”. Also, Shakespeare, a contemporary of Donne, wrote “Sonnet XXX” as an expression of how he failed to master the sad memories of his friend. Both Donne and Shakespeare demonstrate that humanity cannot live alone, albeit in different ways, and this idea can be applied to today’s world, which values neoliberalism and self-reliance as important principles. Donne depicts the universal …show more content…
In the sonnet, Shakespeare revisits his traumas: “weep afresh love 's long since cancell 'd woe, And moan the expense of many a vanish 'd sight” (6-8). Since Shakespeare is only working with fourteen lines, he quickly illustrates that he cannot get control over traumas. He says that he feels the same pain as the past: “I new pay as if not paid before” (12). Just as Donne said that mankind is connected, Shakespeare depicts how humans cannot live alone by showing his futile effort to overcome traumas. However, Shakespeare illustrates how “his friend” is important to him. For instance, Shakespeare fortunately subsides his pain by thinking of his friend: “But if the while I think on thee, dear friend, all losses are restor 'd and sorrows end” (13-14). While Donne develops the idea of universal connection through claiming that humanity should learn from each other, Shakespeare clarifies the need for connection through depicting the advantages of the connection: his lover cures the pain of