Who is the fair Youth in sonnet?

In Shakespeare's sonnets, the "fair youth" refers to the young man to whom the majority of the sonnets are addressed and presumably dedicated. The identity of the fair youth has been the subject of much debate and speculation among scholars and literary critics.

While the sonnets do not explicitly name the fair youth, some theories and interpretations suggest potential candidates:

1. Henry Wriothesley, 3rd Earl of Southampton: Many scholars believe that Southampton is the most likely candidate for the fair youth. Southampton was a patron and friend of Shakespeare and is known to have been associated with the literary circle of the time.

2. William Herbert, 3rd Earl of Pembroke: Pembroke is another proposed candidate for the fair youth. He was also a patron of Shakespeare and was known for his interest in the arts.

3. Queen Elizabeth I: Some scholars suggest that the fair youth could be a poetic representation of Queen Elizabeth I. This interpretation is based on the metaphorical and idealized language used in the sonnets, which could be seen as addressing a royal figure.

4. Fictional or Idealized Figure: It is also possible that the fair youth is a fictional or idealized figure created by Shakespeare to represent universal themes of beauty, love, and mortality rather than a specific individual.

Ultimately, the identity of the fair youth remains uncertain, and it is up to each reader to interpret the sonnets and form their own conclusions about who this person may be.