Respuesta :
The lines you provided are from a sonnet by William Shakespeare, Sonnet 30. In these lines, Shakespeare uses a simile to describe the nature of his love. Let's break it down:
Simile Definition:
A simile is a figure of speech that compares two different things using the words "like" or "as" to highlight a similarity between them. It is a way of expressing an idea by likening one thing to another to make the description more vivid or understandable.
Explanation of the Simile:
"My love is like to ice, and I to fire;"
In this simile, Shakespeare compares his love to ice and himself to fire. The use of "like" indicates that he is drawing a comparison between the nature of his love and the qualities of ice. Ice is often associated with coldness, rigidity, and lack of emotion. On the other hand, fire is associated with heat, passion, and intensity.
Interpretation:
Shakespeare is expressing a paradoxical situation in his love. Despite his intense and passionate desire ("I to fire"), the subject of his love remains cold and unresponsive ("My love is like to ice"). The simile underscores the stark contrast between the speaker's fiery emotions and the apparent coldness or indifference of the person he loves.
Continuation:
"How comes it then that this her cold so great
Is not dissolved through my so hot desire,
But harder grows the more I her entreat?"
Here, Shakespeare reflects on the paradox that despite his fervent desire, the coldness of his beloved seems to intensify rather than melt away. The simile serves to emphasize the emotional struggle and unreciprocated nature of the speaker's love.
