For whom did William Shakespeare write his sonnets? Was it for any male or female?I want to know whom Shakespeare wanted to give eternity in his poem.

The sonnets of William Shakespeare were his final
non-dramatic works to receive publication (in 1609, although several had received prior
publication). Most historians agree that the sonnets were originally intended for
private readership, and they have been categorized in two series: One group appears to
have been written about "the dark lady," a lustful series about the love of a woman of
dark complexion. The other group is about the love of a young man, the "fair
youth."

The sonnets were dedicated to the unknown and much
speculated "Mr. W. H." At the end of the dedication appear the initials "T. T.",
probably the publisher Thomas Thorpe; it is believed that Thorpe signed his intitials
himself and that the publication was probably not authorized
by Shakespeare.

Scholars have long wondered about the
identity of "fair youth" of Shakespeare's sonnets. Among the candidates were
William Herbert, the Earl of Pembroke; Henry
Wriothesley, the Earl of Southampton; dramatist William
Haughton; William Hart, Shakespeare's
nephew; William Hatcliffe; and Willie
Hughes. Other theories suggest Shakespeare wrote them to himself or to a
fictional "W. H."

The identity of the "Dark Lady" is
totally unknown with few guesses to her identity even by Shakespearean
scholars.

A third character, the "Rival Poet," is believed
to have been either Christopher Marlowe or
George Chapman.