'Sonnet 73: That time of year thou mayst in me behold' by William Shakespeare

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The Sonnets1609That time of year thou mayst in me behold,
When yellow leaves, or none, or few do hang
Upon those boughs which shake against the cold,
Bare ruined choirs where late the sweet birds sang.
In me thou seest the twilight of such day
As after sunset fadeth in the west,
Which by and by black night doth take away,
Death's second self that seals up all in rest.
In me thou seest the glowing of such fire
That on the ashes of his youth doth lie
As the death-bed whereon it must expire,
Consumed with that which it was nourished by.This thou perceiv'st, which makes thy love more strong,To love that well which thou must leave ere long.

Editor 1 Interpretation

That time of year thou mayst in me behold by William Shakespeare

When it comes to the world of poetry, Shakespeare's name is one that immediately comes to mind. Among his numerous literary works is the sonnet, which is a type of poem that consists of fourteen lines. In this article, I will delve into the intricate details of one of his most popular sonnets, Sonnet 73: That time of year thou mayst in me behold.

Overview

The sonnet is a popular form of poetry that emerged in Italy in the 13th century. It has a strict structure consisting of 14 lines that are usually written in iambic pentameter, a rhyme scheme, and a volta or a turn in thought. Shakespeare's Sonnet 73 is no exception.

First published in 1609, Sonnet 73 is a part of Shakespeare's collection of 154 sonnets. In this poem, Shakespeare uses metaphors and imagery to convey the idea of aging and the inevitable death that follows. The poem is written in iambic pentameter and follows the traditional ABAB CDCD EFEF GG rhyme scheme.

Interpretation

The poem opens with the speaker addressing someone, most likely the person they love. The first line, "That time of year thou mayst in me behold," introduces the central theme of the poem, which is the passage of time. The speaker is essentially saying that the person they are addressing can see the signs of aging in them.

The second line, "When yellow leaves, or none, or few, do hang," is a reference to autumn. The leaves on the trees turn yellow and eventually fall off, signaling the end of summer and the beginning of winter. This is a metaphor for the speaker's own life, which is also slowly coming to an end.

In the third line, "Upon those boughs which shake against the cold," the speaker is using the image of the branches shaking against the cold wind to represent their own frailty. Just like the branches, the speaker's body is also weak and vulnerable to the harshness of the outside world.

The fourth line, "Bare ruined choirs, where late the sweet birds sang," is a metaphor for the speaker's own body. The "bare ruined choirs" are the speaker's bones, which were once covered in flesh and muscle but are now exposed and vulnerable. The "sweet birds" that used to sing are the speaker's voice, which used to be strong and vibrant but is now weakening with age.

In the fifth line, "In me thou seest the twilight of such day," the speaker is acknowledging that their life is coming to an end. The "twilight" represents the final stages of the day, just before it turns into darkness. This is a metaphor for the speaker's own life, which is also coming to an end.

The sixth line, "As after sunset fadeth in the west," is another metaphor for the speaker's life. Just as the sun fades away after it sets, the speaker's life is also fading away as they approach the end of their days.

The seventh and eighth lines, "Which by and by black night doth take away, / Death's second self, that seals up all in rest," are a reference to death. The "black night" is a metaphor for death, which takes away everything and seals it up in eternal rest.

In the final six lines of the poem, the speaker addresses their lover directly. They acknowledge that their time is running out and that they will soon die. The final couplet, "This thou perceiv'st, which makes thy love more strong, / To love that well which thou must leave ere long," is a reminder that even though the speaker's time is running out, their lover's love for them will continue to grow stronger.

Analysis

Sonnet 73 is a beautiful and powerful poem that uses metaphors and imagery to convey the idea of aging and the inevitability of death. Through the use of metaphors such as the "yellow leaves" and the "bare ruined choirs," Shakespeare creates a vivid image of the speaker's own body as it slowly comes to an end.

The poem is also a meditation on the nature of love. Despite the speaker's impending death, their lover's love for them continues to grow stronger. This is a beautiful reminder of the power of love and how it can transcend even death itself.

Another interesting aspect of the poem is the way in which it is structured. The first twelve lines of the poem describe the speaker's own aging and eventual death, while the final two lines focus on the speaker's lover and their love for them. This creates a beautiful contrast between the speaker's own mortality and the eternal nature of love.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Sonnet 73 is a beautiful and powerful poem that uses metaphors and imagery to convey the idea of aging and the inevitability of death. Through the use of metaphors such as the "yellow leaves" and the "bare ruined choirs," Shakespeare creates a vivid image of the speaker's own body as it slowly comes to an end. The poem is also a beautiful meditation on the power of love and how it can transcend even death itself.

So, if you're looking for a beautiful and powerful poem that will leave you contemplating the nature of life and love, then look no further than Shakespeare's Sonnet 73.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

That time of year thou mayst in me behold, is a classic sonnet written by the legendary William Shakespeare. This sonnet is a part of his collection of 154 sonnets, which were published in 1609. The sonnet is a beautiful and melancholic piece of poetry that explores the themes of aging, death, and the passing of time. In this article, we will take a closer look at the sonnet and analyze its structure, language, and meaning.

The sonnet is written in the traditional Shakespearean sonnet form, which consists of three quatrains and a final couplet. The rhyme scheme of the sonnet is ABAB CDCD EFEF GG. The sonnet is written in iambic pentameter, which means that each line has ten syllables and follows a pattern of unstressed and stressed syllables. This gives the sonnet a musical quality and makes it easy to read aloud.

The first quatrain of the sonnet sets the tone for the rest of the poem. Shakespeare begins by addressing the reader directly, saying "That time of year thou mayst in me behold." He is referring to the time of year when the leaves fall from the trees and the days grow shorter. He then goes on to describe his own state, saying "When yellow leaves, or none, or few, do hang." This is a metaphor for his own aging and the loss of vitality that comes with it. He is saying that he is like a tree in the autumn, shedding its leaves and preparing for the winter.

In the second quatrain, Shakespeare continues to explore the theme of aging and the passage of time. He says, "Bare ruined choirs, where late the sweet birds sang." This is a metaphor for the loss of youth and the beauty that comes with it. He is saying that he is like a choir that has lost its singers, and is now empty and silent. He then goes on to say, "In me thou seest the twilight of such day." This is a metaphor for the end of his life, and the fading of his own light.

The third quatrain of the sonnet is perhaps the most poignant. Shakespeare says, "As after sunset fadeth in the west, which by and by black night doth take away." This is a metaphor for the end of life, and the darkness that comes with it. He is saying that his own life is like a sunset, fading away into darkness. He then goes on to say, "Death's second self, that seals up all in rest." This is a metaphor for death, which is like a second self that brings an end to all things.

The final couplet of the sonnet is a powerful conclusion to the poem. Shakespeare says, "In me thou seest the glowing of such fire, that on the ashes of his youth doth lie." This is a metaphor for the enduring spirit that lives on even after the body has aged and died. He is saying that even though his body may be old and worn out, his spirit still burns brightly. He then concludes the sonnet by saying, "As the death-bed whereon it must expire, consumed with that which it was nourished by." This is a metaphor for the end of life, and the way in which the body is consumed by the spirit that has sustained it.

In conclusion, That time of year thou mayst in me behold is a beautiful and melancholic sonnet that explores the themes of aging, death, and the passage of time. Shakespeare uses powerful metaphors and imagery to convey the sense of loss and sadness that comes with growing old. However, he also suggests that there is a spirit within us that endures even after the body has aged and died. This sonnet is a testament to Shakespeare's mastery of language and his ability to capture the essence of the human experience in just fourteen lines.

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