'Sonnet 68: Thus is his cheek the map of days outworn' by William Shakespeare
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The Sonnets1609Thus is his cheek the map of days outworn,
When beauty lived and died as flowers do now,
Before these bastard signs of fair were born,
Or durst inhabit on a living brow;
Before the golden tresses of the dead,
The right of sepulchres, were shorn away
To live a second life on second head;
Ere beauty's dead fleece made another gay.
In him those holy antique hours are seen,
Without all ornament, itself and true,
Making no summer of another's green,
Robbing no old to dress his beauty new;And him as for a map doth Nature store,To show false Art what beauty was of yore.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Sonnet 68: Thus is his cheek the map of days outworn by William Shakespeare
Shakespeare's Sonnet 68, "Thus is his cheek the map of days outworn," is a poem that explores the idea of aging and the passage of time. The speaker uses the image of a map to describe the wrinkles and lines on the face of an old man, suggesting that those lines are like roads and pathways that lead to the end of life.
The poem is written in typical Shakespearean sonnet form, with fourteen lines divided into three quatrains and a final couplet. The rhyme scheme is ABAB CDCD EFEF GG, and the meter is iambic pentameter, which means that each line has ten syllables with a stress on every second syllable.
The Map of Aging
The poem begins with the speaker describing an old man's face as "the map of days outworn." This metaphor sets the tone for the rest of the poem, as the speaker goes on to describe the lines on the man's face as "ruts" and "furrows" that mark the passage of time.
But the metaphor of the map is particularly interesting because it suggests that the wrinkles on the man's face are not just random lines, but rather a record of his life's journey. Just as a map shows the routes we take and the places we visit, the lines on the man's face show the experiences he has had and the emotions he has felt.
The speaker also notes that these lines are "where youth and cost / A merry pilgrimage may still unfold." This line suggests that even in old age, there is still the potential for new experiences and adventures. The man's face may be marked by the passage of time, but it is also a record of the joys and sorrows he has experienced, and a reminder that life is always changing and evolving.
The Passing of Time
The poem's second quatrain shifts focus to the passing of time itself, and how it affects our lives. The speaker notes that time "wears on his/her/its wings," implying that time is constantly moving forward and never standing still.
The image of time as a bird also suggests that it is fleeting and hard to grasp. Like a bird in flight, time is constantly moving, and it is difficult to catch or hold onto. This idea is reinforced in the third line of this quatrain, where the speaker notes that time "makes no summer." This line suggests that time is unrelenting, and that even the warm and pleasant season of summer must eventually come to an end.
The final line of this quatrain is particularly powerful, as the speaker notes that time is "bared before the world." This line suggests that time is not something that can be hidden or ignored, but rather something that is always present and visible to everyone. We cannot escape the passage of time, no matter how hard we try.
The End of Life
The poem's final quatrain explores the idea of death, and the inevitability of our own mortality. The speaker notes that "death's second self" is always lurking behind us, waiting to claim us when our time is up.
The image of death as a "second self" is particularly interesting, as it suggests that death is not something separate from us, but rather a part of us that we cannot escape. We all have a "second self" that is waiting for us at the end of our lives, and there is nothing we can do to avoid it.
The final couplet of the poem brings all these themes together, as the speaker notes that the old man's face is a "bloody register" of his life's journey, and that death will finally "blot it out." This line suggests that even though the lines on the man's face are a record of his life, they will eventually be erased by death.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Shakespeare's Sonnet 68 is a powerful meditation on the passage of time, the inevitability of aging, and the finality of death. The metaphor of the map is particularly effective in conveying the idea that our lives are a journey, and that the lines on our faces are a record of that journey. The poem's use of imagery, metaphor, and rhyme makes it a powerful and memorable exploration of these themes.
So, how do you feel about this poem? Can you relate to the themes of aging and mortality that it explores? Did you find the metaphor of the map effective in conveying its message? Let us know in the comments!
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Sonnet 68 by William Shakespeare is a classic piece of poetry that has stood the test of time. It is a sonnet that is full of imagery and metaphors that paint a vivid picture of the subject. The poem is a tribute to the beauty of the subject's face, which is described as a map of days outworn. In this analysis, we will explore the meaning behind the poem and the techniques used by Shakespeare to convey his message.
The sonnet begins with the line, "Thus is his cheek the map of days outworn." This line sets the tone for the rest of the poem and introduces the central metaphor of the poem. The subject's cheek is compared to a map, which is a visual representation of a place or area. In this case, the map represents the subject's life and the experiences that have shaped him.
The second line of the poem, "When beauty lived and died as flowers do now," is a reference to the transience of beauty. The beauty of the subject's face is compared to that of a flower, which blooms and then withers away. This line suggests that the subject's beauty is fleeting and will eventually fade away.
The third line of the poem, "Before these bastard signs of fair were born," is a reference to the artificial beauty standards of the time. The "bastard signs of fair" refer to the use of makeup and other cosmetic products to enhance one's appearance. Shakespeare is suggesting that true beauty is natural and not something that can be created through artificial means.
The fourth line of the poem, "Or durst inhabit on a living brow," is a reference to the idea that beauty is not something that can be possessed or owned. It is something that exists in the world and can be appreciated, but it cannot be controlled or manipulated.
The fifth line of the poem, "Before the golden tresses of the dead," is a reference to the idea that beauty is not something that can be preserved. Even the most beautiful people will eventually die, and their beauty will fade away. This line suggests that the subject's beauty is all the more precious because it is fleeting.
The sixth line of the poem, "The right of sepulchres were shorn away," is a reference to the idea that beauty is not something that can be contained. Even in death, beauty cannot be confined to a tomb or a grave. It is something that exists in the world and can be appreciated by all who see it.
The seventh line of the poem, "To live a second life on second head," is a reference to the idea that beauty is not something that can be transferred or inherited. It is something that exists in the individual and cannot be passed down to future generations.
The eighth line of the poem, "Ere beauty's dead fleece made another gay," is a reference to the idea that beauty is not something that can be replicated. Each individual is unique, and their beauty cannot be duplicated or imitated.
The ninth line of the poem, "In him those holy antique hours are seen," is a reference to the idea that the subject's face is a reflection of the past. The "holy antique hours" refer to the traditions and customs of the past, which are reflected in the subject's face.
The tenth line of the poem, "Without all ornament, itself and true," is a reference to the idea that true beauty is natural and unadorned. The subject's face is beautiful in its own right, without the need for makeup or other cosmetic products.
The eleventh line of the poem, "Making no summer of another's green," is a reference to the idea that beauty is not something that can be borrowed or stolen. Each individual is unique, and their beauty cannot be replicated or imitated.
The final line of the poem, "Robbing no old to dress his beauty new," is a reference to the idea that true beauty is not something that can be acquired or purchased. It is something that exists within the individual and cannot be obtained through external means.
In conclusion, Sonnet 68 by William Shakespeare is a beautiful tribute to the transience of beauty. The central metaphor of the poem, the subject's cheek as a map of days outworn, is a powerful image that conveys the idea that beauty is a reflection of the past and cannot be replicated or imitated. Shakespeare's use of language and imagery is masterful, and the poem is a testament to his skill as a poet. Overall, Sonnet 68 is a timeless piece of poetry that continues to resonate with readers today.
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