In Sonnet 18, William Shakespeare refers to the “Eye of Heaven” as a metaphor for the sun. This phrase captures the essence of sunlight, which is often depicted as a watchful eye or a source of illumination. Shakespeare uses this image to compare the sun’s perspective and qualities with the beauty of his beloved.
The reference emphasizes the sun’s radiant nature, capable of shedding light and warmth. However, the sonnet also implies that the sun can be fickle—subject to changes in weather, its brightness can be obscured by clouds, and its heat can be cruel during the peak of summer. In contrast, the beauty of the speaker’s beloved is portrayed as eternal and unchanging, suggesting that unlike the sun, which has its imperfections, the beloved’s beauty will never fade.
Overall, the “Eye of Heaven” serves as a powerful symbol of nature’s beauty, but it also highlights the transience of that beauty in the natural world, setting up a contrast between nature and the more lasting beauty captured in poetry.