The
Rival Poet is one of several 'characters,' either fictional or real persons, featured in
William Shakespeare's sonnets. The sonnets most commonly identified as the Rival Poet group exist within the
Fair Youth group in
sonnets 78–
86. Several theories about these characters, the Rival Poet included, have been expounded, and scholarly debate continues to put forward both conflicting and compelling arguments. In the context of these theories, the speaker of the poem sees the Rival Poet as a competitor for fame, wealth and patronage.