Sonnet 116

On March 21, 2020, as people around the world sheltered in place in response to coronavirus, the actor Sir Patrick Stewart posted a video of himself reciting Shakespeare’s Sonnet 116 on Instagram. The post went quickly viral, and the response prompted the actor to continue the project: he spent the spring working through all of Shakespeare’s sonnets, reading one on social media every day. Sonnet 116 is among the world’s most beloved poems, bearing a personal resonance for many readers. Library Director Sarah Kortemeier recited it at her own wedding in 2010, and now, in 2021, Sonnet 116 speaks to us of resolution, hope, and the steadfast quality of deep love.

William Shakespeare, “Sonnet 116.” Recited by Sir Patrick Stewart.