What audience is sonnet 18?

Shakespeare's Sonnet 18 is addressed to a young man, often referred to as the "Fair Youth," whose identity remains a subject of debate among scholars. The young man is admired and praised for his beauty, charm, and virtue. The sonnet expresses the speaker's deep emotional attachment, affection, and desire to immortalize the beloved's qualities through poetry. Therefore, the primary audience of Sonnet 18 is the young man to whom it is addressed. Additionally, it can be seen as a more general exploration of universal themes such as love, beauty, and the desire for preservation, thus resonating with a broader audience as well.