An Open-Minded Reading of Shakespeare's Sonnets

An open-minded reading of the Shakespeare Sonnets—without any imposition of assumed authorship—suggests:

1. Sonnets 1-16 were written by an older person trying to persuade a young man, in his/her family, to marry and have children;
2. Sonnet 17 was written by a young woman trying to persuade a young man to marry and have children. 
3. Sonnets 18-126 were written in the context of love between a young woman and a young man, both of aristocratic upbringing.

Meanwhile, Sonnets 127-154, addressed to a “dark lady”, are the "early invention of a young courtier, trying his best to seduce a somewhat available woman—not the lusty and misplaced attempts of a common, middle-aged man trying to have sex with a noble woman."

SOURCE: Shakespeare's Sonnets and the Authorship Question--Mary Sidney Wroth