The Fair Youth

The Fair Youth is a central figure in William Shakespeare’s sonnets, believed to be a young man of great beauty and virtue. Throughout the sonnets, the narrator expresses deep admiration, love, and a desire to protect or preserve the youth’s appearance and essence. Scholars often interpret the Fair Youth as representing themes of aging, mortality, and the enduring power of love or friendship. While the exact identity remains uncertain, the Fair Youth embodies idealized youthfulness and the human desire to hold onto beauty and vitality across time.