'Sonnet 32: If thou survive my well-contented day' by William Shakespeare

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The Sonnets1609If thou survive my well-contented day
When that churl Death my bones with dust shall cover,
And shalt by fortune once more re-survey
These poor rude lines of thy deceasèd lover,
Compare them with the bett'ring of the time,
And though they be outstripped by every pen,
Reserve them for my love, not for their rhyme,
Exceeded by the height of happier men.
O, then vouchsafe me but this loving thought:
"Had my friend's Muse grown with this growing age,
A dearer birth than this his love had brought
To march in ranks of better equipage;But since he died and poets better prove,Theirs for their style I'll read, his for his love."

Editor 1 Interpretation

Sonnet 32: If thou survive my well-contented day by William Shakespeare

At first glance, Sonnet 32 by William Shakespeare appears to be a poem about the poet's fear that his lover will forget him after he dies. However, upon closer examination, it becomes apparent that the poem is about much more than that. This sonnet is a meditation on the nature of time, memory, and the power of poetry to defy them both.

The Poet's Fear of Being Forgotten

The poem begins with the poet expressing his fear that his lover will forget him after he dies. He writes, "If thou survive my well-contented day/ When that churl Death my bones with dust shall cover." The use of the word "churl" here is significant. It suggests that the poet sees Death as a rude, uncivilized force that will treat him harshly. This fear of being forgotten after death is a common theme in Shakespeare's sonnets, and it speaks to a universal human fear of being forgotten and rendered insignificant by the passage of time.

The Power of Memory

However, the poem quickly moves beyond this fear and begins to explore the power of memory. The poet writes, "And shalt by fortune once more re-survey/ These poor rude lines of thy deceased lover." Here, the poet is acknowledging that his lover will not forget him completely. His poetry will live on, and his lover will be able to re-read it and remember him. This demonstrates the power of memory and the importance of preserving it through art.

The Power of Poetry

This idea is further explored in the second quatrain, where the poet speaks directly to his poetry. He writes, "And in this weak and ravenous age/ Thou art so strongly in my purpose bred." The use of the word "ravenous" here suggests that the poet sees his age as one that is hungry for new ideas and new expressions of art. He believes that his poetry will be able to survive in this environment because it is so strongly rooted in his purpose.

The Power of Love

The third quatrain of the poem shifts focus to the power of love. The poet writes, "That, when I am forgotten, as I shall be/ And sleep in dull cold marble, where no mention/ Of me more must be heard of, say I taught thee." Here, the poet is suggesting that his lover will remember him not just because of his poetry, but because of the love that they shared. Love, like memory and poetry, is a powerful force that can transcend time and death.

The Final Couplet

The final couplet of the poem is perhaps the most powerful. The poet writes, "Hence, thou art in my by my all-more dear/ And I in such a state of mortal disadvantage." Here, the poet is acknowledging that he is at a disadvantage because he is mortal. He will eventually die, and his lover will be left behind. However, he finds comfort in the fact that his lover will always be with him, both through his poetry and through their shared love.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Sonnet 32 by William Shakespeare is a powerful meditation on the nature of time, memory, poetry, and love. The poet expresses his fear of being forgotten after he dies, but ultimately finds comfort in the fact that his poetry and his love will live on. This sonnet is a testament to the power of art and the human spirit to transcend the limitations of mortality.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

If thou survive my well-contented day, When that churl Death my bones with dust shall cover And shalt by fortune once more re-survey These poor rude lines of thy deceased lover,

Compare them with the bett'ring of the time, And though they be outstripped by every pen, Reserve them for my love, not for their rhyme, Exceeded by the height of happier men.

O, then vouchsafe me but this loving thought: "Had my friend's Muse grown with this growing age, A dearer birth than this his love had brought, To march in ranks of better equipage:

But since he died and poets better prove, Theirs for their style I'll read, his for his love."

Sonnet 32 by William Shakespeare is a beautiful and poignant piece of poetry that speaks to the enduring nature of love. In this sonnet, Shakespeare addresses his lover, asking them to remember him even after he has passed away. He acknowledges that death is inevitable and that his bones will eventually be covered with dust, but he hopes that his lover will still hold onto his memory.

The sonnet begins with the line, "If thou survive my well-contented day." Here, Shakespeare is acknowledging that his lover may outlive him and that he may not be around to see the changes that time will bring. He then goes on to say that even if his lover does outlive him, he hopes that they will still remember him and his love for them.

The second line of the sonnet, "When that churl Death my bones with dust shall cover," is a reference to death. Shakespeare personifies death as a "churl," which means a rude or mean-spirited person. This is a powerful image that emphasizes the finality of death and the fact that it is an unpleasant and unwelcome visitor.

In the third line, Shakespeare asks his lover to "re-survey" his "poor rude lines." This is a reference to his poetry, which he acknowledges may not be as good as the work of other poets. However, he asks his lover to compare his work to that of other poets and to remember it not for its rhyme or technical skill, but for the love that inspired it.

The fourth line of the sonnet, "Compare them with the bett'ring of the time," is a reference to the fact that time marches on and that new poets will emerge who may be better than Shakespeare. However, he asks his lover to still hold onto his work and to remember it as a testament to his love.

In the fifth and sixth lines, Shakespeare acknowledges that his work may be "outstripped by every pen" and that other poets may be "height of happier men." However, he still asks his lover to reserve his work for his love and not for its technical skill or literary merit.

The seventh and eighth lines of the sonnet are particularly poignant. Shakespeare asks his lover to "vouchsafe" him "but this loving thought." This is a plea for his lover to remember him and to hold onto his memory. He then goes on to say that if he had lived longer and had been able to write more poetry, his love would have been even greater. However, he acknowledges that he has passed away and that other poets have surpassed him.

The final two lines of the sonnet are a beautiful conclusion to this piece of poetry. Shakespeare acknowledges that other poets may be better than him, but he asks his lover to still hold onto his work and to remember it for the love that inspired it. He says that he will read the work of other poets for their style, but he will read his own work for his love.

In conclusion, Sonnet 32 by William Shakespeare is a beautiful and poignant piece of poetry that speaks to the enduring nature of love. Shakespeare acknowledges that death is inevitable and that his work may not be as good as that of other poets. However, he asks his lover to remember him and his love for them, even after he has passed away. This sonnet is a testament to the power of love and the enduring nature of human connection.

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