Does this sonnet prove Shakespeare was gay or bisexual?

It's a sign of same-sex desire, but slapping modern identity labels onto a 16th-century writer is complicated. The Elizabethan era had strong traditions of male friendship and admiration that don't fit well with today's categories. What the poem clearly reveals is that Shakespeare had a deep emotional — and at least aesthetically physical — attraction to this young man. We can't say for sure if he acted on it.

What does "master mistress" mean?

It's a purposeful contradiction. A **mistress** in Elizabethan terms referred to a beloved woman who wielded influence over a man's heart. By referring to the young man as his "master mistress," Shakespeare indicates that this individual has the same emotional dominance over him — yet is male. The phrase condenses the entire tension of the poem into just two words.

What is the "one thing" Shakespeare refers to?

It's a cheeky play on words for a penis. Shakespeare mentions that Nature added "one thing" that is "to my purpose nothing" — implying it's not helpful for what he desires from the young man. The humor is intentionally crude and casual, as if Shakespeare is brushing off the physical barrier with a laugh.

What does "prick'd thee out" mean?

It has two meanings at play. Literally, **to prick out** referred to marking or selecting a name on a list — so Nature *chose* the young man for women's pleasure. However, "prick" was also Elizabethan slang for penis, giving the line an obvious sexual double meaning. Shakespeare loved this kind of layered wordplay.

Why does Shakespeare say women are "false" in this poem?

He's using a typical Elizabethan stereotype of women as fickle and deceptive — "false in rolling" eyes and "shifting change" in fashion. This is a rhetorical strategy to elevate the young man's image by comparison: he possesses a woman's beauty and gentleness without her alleged inconstancy. While modern readers justifiably see this as sexist, at the time, it was considered a standard compliment.

How does this sonnet fit into the sequence as a whole?

The Fair Youth sonnets (1–126) delve into themes of love, beauty, time, and how poetry can capture what life tends to erase. Sonnet 20 stands out for its direct and humorous take on physical desire. While most of the sequence leans towards reflections on time, mortality, and the lasting power of poetry, this particular sonnet offers a lighter tone. Nonetheless, it’s key to grasping the emotional depth of the entire sequence.

Is this a Shakespearean or Petrarchan sonnet?

It's a **Shakespearean sonnet**: it consists of three quatrains (four-line stanzas) followed by a closing couplet, with a rhyme scheme of ABAB CDCD EFEF GG. One interesting aspect is that each line ends with a feminine rhyme (an additional unstressed syllable), creating a softer, more flowing sound. This choice likely reflects Shakespeare's intention to underscore the poem's themes of gender fluidity.

The Annotated Edition

Sonnet 20 by William Shakespeare

Summary, meaning, line-by-line analysis & FAQ.

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Poet: William Shakespeare
Themes: beauty, identity, love

The PoemFull text

Sonnet 20

William Shakespeare

A woman’s face with nature’s own hand painted, Hast thou, the master mistress of my passion; A woman’s gentle heart, but not acquainted With shifting change, as is false women’s fashion: An eye more bright than theirs, less false in rolling, Gilding the object whereupon it gazeth; A man in hue all ‘hues’ in his controlling, Which steals men’s eyes and women’s souls amazeth. And for a woman wert thou first created; Till Nature, as she wrought thee, fell a-doting, And by addition me of thee defeated, By adding one thing to my purpose nothing. But since she prick’d thee out for women’s pleasure, Mine be thy love and thy love’s use their treasure.

§01Quick summary

What this poem is about

Shakespeare addresses a young man he loves profoundly, suggesting that Nature intended to create a woman but became so captivated by her own handiwork that she gave him a male body—implying Shakespeare can't possess him physically. The poem playfully yet wistfully conveys: you're so beautiful and virtuous that everyone desires you, but the physical attraction is meant for women while my emotional love is reserved for you. It’s a mix of tenderness, humor, and a touch of heartbreak.

§02Themes

Recurring themes

§03Line by line

Stanza by stanza, with notes

A woman's face with nature's own hand painted, / Hast thou, the master mistress of my passion;
Editor's note
Shakespeare begins by admiring the young man's face, which is naturally beautiful—no makeup required, unlike the painted faces that fashionable women wore. The phrase **"master mistress"** serves as the poem's central paradox: this individual possesses the emotional influence over Shakespeare that a mistress (a beloved woman) would, yet is also a master (a man). It's a clever, concise way of expressing *you mean everything to me, and you defy simple labels.*
A woman's gentle heart, but not acquainted / With shifting change, as is false women's fashion:
Editor's note
The young man possesses a woman's tenderness but lacks her fickleness — or so Shakespeare suggests. This reflects a typical Elizabethan jab at women for being inconstant, yet Shakespeare turns it into a compliment: the young man embodies the best traits of femininity (softness, warmth) while avoiding the less desirable ones (changeability). It also subtly introduces the notion that the young man represents an ideal that goes beyond gender.
An eye more bright than theirs, less false in rolling, / Gilding the object whereupon it gazeth;
Editor's note
His gaze shines brighter and feels more sincere than the stereotypical "rolling" eyes of women — often seen as flirtatious and deceitful. When he focuses on something, he *gilds* it, enhancing its beauty rather than twisting it. Shakespeare suggests that this young man perceives the world with honesty and generosity, which itself embodies a unique kind of beauty.
A man in hue all 'hues' in his controlling, / Which steals men's eyes and women's souls amazeth.
Editor's note
This couplet is packed with wordplay. **"Hue"** refers to appearance or complexion, but Shakespeare likely plays on the name **"Hughes,"** which is one theory regarding the Fair Youth's identity. The young man's beauty holds sway over all colors and appearances — he's so captivating that men can't help but notice him and women are left in awe. In short, he's universally irresistible.
And for a woman wert thou first created; / Till Nature, as she wrought thee, fell a-doting,
Editor's note
Here, Shakespeare creates a whimsical myth: Nature intended for the young man to be a woman, but as she was shaping him, she found herself in love with her own creation. This playful twist suggests that he is so flawless that even the very force that brought him to life couldn't help but be drawn to him. It also sets the stage for the poem's punchline about why Shakespeare himself can't completely possess him.
And by addition me of thee defeated, / By adding one thing to my purpose nothing.
Editor's note
Nature "defeated" Shakespeare's hopes by introducing a male body—the "one thing" (a cheeky nod to a penis) that is "to my purpose nothing," implying it's pointless for what he wants. The tone is more wry than bitter: Shakespeare is poking fun at himself, recognizing the physical barrier with a playful shrug and a smirk.
But since she prick'd thee out for women's pleasure, / Mine be thy love and thy love's use their treasure.
Editor's note
The closing couplet establishes a clear distinction: **"prick'd thee out"** refers to both *choosing you* and has an unmistakable sexual connotation. Women may gain the physical use of the young man's body ("love's use"), but Shakespeare asserts that he holds the more profound emotional love. This statement serves as both comfort and a daring claim — the heart holds greater significance than the body, and that heart is claimed by Shakespeare.

§04Tone & mood

How this poem feels

The tone is warm, witty, and gently regretful. Shakespeare seems genuinely charmed by his own subject and revels in the wordplay too much to feel truly sad. Beneath the jokes, there's a current of genuine longing, but the poem never drifts into self-pity. Imagine it as a love letter from someone clever enough to find humor in the situation while still meaning every word.

§05Symbols & metaphors

Symbols & metaphors

Nature as a craftsperson: By portraying Nature as an artist who "falls a-doting" on her creations, Shakespeare elevates the young man's beauty to a near-supernatural level — he didn't merely grow up handsome; he was *crafted* by the universe itself.
Gilding gaze: The image of the young man's eye *gilding* whatever it looks at implies that his attention is a gift. Gold represents the highest value; being seen by him makes one more precious. This also subtly contrasts with the "false rolling" eyes of women in the poem, which distort instead of enhance.
The "one thing" / addition: The intentionally ambiguous "one thing" introduced by Nature serves as both a cheeky joke and a representation of the divide between emotional and physical love. It stands for the one hurdle separating Shakespeare from total connection with the young man—small in name but significant in impact.
Master mistress: This compressed oxymoron lies at the poem's symbolic core. It reflects the young man's dual nature — wielding power over Shakespeare as a beloved woman might, even though he is male. Rather than resolving the tension, it embraces and celebrates it.
Love vs. love's use: The final line divides love into two aspects: the feeling itself and its physical expression. Shakespeare asserts the former, while he acknowledges the latter as belonging to women. This separation places emotional love on a higher plane than the physical, suggesting that Shakespeare views his stance as the more significant one.

§06Historical context

Historical context

Sonnet 20 is part of the first 126 of Shakespeare's 154 sonnets, which are addressed to a young man known as the **Fair Youth**. Scholars have debated the identity of this figure for centuries, with potential candidates including Henry Wriothesley (the Earl of Southampton) and William Herbert (the Earl of Pembroke). Although the sonnets were published in 1609, many were likely written in the 1590s. Sonnet 20 stands out in the collection because it directly addresses same-sex desire — or at least as directly as the conventions and censorship of Elizabethan society would permit. Shakespeare cleverly employs wit and wordplay as a form of disguise, yet the emotional depth is clear. The poem exists at the crossroads of Renaissance ideals of male friendship, Petrarchan love poetry, and what, to contemporary readers, feels like genuine romantic longing.

§07FAQ

Questions readers ask

Nobody knows for sure. The Fair Youth sonnets are dedicated to a "Mr. W.H.," with the top contenders being **Henry Wriothesley** and **William Herbert**. Shakespeare never publicly revealed who the subject was, and the mystery remains unsolved. What’s important for understanding the poem is that Shakespeare writes as if this person is very real and significant to him.

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Sonnet 20 by William Shakespeare

Sonnet 20

What this poem is about

Recurring themes

Stanza by stanza, with notes

How this poem feels

Symbols & metaphors

Historical context

Questions readers ask

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