'Sonnet 3: Look in thy glass, and tell the face thou viewest' by William Shakespeare
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Look in thy glass, and tell the face thou viewest
Now is the time that face should form another,
Whose fresh repair if now thou not renewest,
Thou dost beguile the world, unbless some mother.
For where is she so fair whose uneared womb
Disdains the tillage of thy husbandry?
Or who is he so fond will be the tomb
Of his self-love to stop posterity?
Thou art thy mother's glass, and she in thee
Calls back the lovely April of her prime;
So thou through windows of thine age shalt see,
Despite of wrinkles, this thy golden time.
But if thou live remembered not to be,
Die single, and thine image dies with thee.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Sonnet 3: Look in thy glass, and tell the face thou viewest by William Shakespeare
When it comes to English literature, there is no denying the influence of William Shakespeare. The Bard's works are studied, analyzed, and admired by scholars, students, and enthusiasts alike. One of his famous works, Sonnet 3: Look in thy glass, and tell the face thou viewest, is a poetic masterpiece that delves deep into the theme of immortality.
The Poem
Before diving into the interpretation of Sonnet 3, let us take a moment to appreciate the beauty of the poem itself:
Look in thy glass, and tell the face thou viewest
Now is the time that face should form another;
Whose fresh repair if now thou not renewest,
Thou dost beguile the world, unbless some mother.
For where is she so fair whose unear'd womb
Disdains the tillage of thy husbandry?
Or who is he so fond will be the tomb
Of his self-love, to stop posterity?
Thou art thy mother's glass, and she in thee
Calls back the lovely April of her prime:
So thou through windows of thine age shall see
Despite of wrinkles this thy golden time.
But if thou live, remember'd not to be,
Die single, and thine image dies with thee.
The Interpretation
On the surface, Sonnet 3 appears to be a warning to the reader to procreate and continue their lineage. However, upon closer examination, it becomes clear that the poem is a reflection on the nature of mortality and immortality.
The poem begins with the speaker urging the reader to look into a mirror and observe their own face. The phrase "Look in thy glass" is a metaphor for self-reflection and introspection. The speaker then goes on to say that now is the time for the face to "form another," which is a reference to the idea of procreation.
The line "Whose fresh repair if now thou not renewest, / Thou dost beguile the world, unbless some mother" implies that if the reader does not have children, they are depriving the world of a potential blessing. This is a common theme in Shakespeare's sonnets - the idea that having children is a way to achieve immortality.
The speaker then asks a rhetorical question, "For where is she so fair whose unear'd womb / Disdains the tillage of thy husbandry?" This line suggests that there is no woman so beautiful that the reader's offspring would not be a valuable addition to the world.
The next rhetorical question, "Or who is he so fond will be the tomb / Of his self-love, to stop posterity?" is a warning against narcissism. The speaker suggests that if the reader is too self-absorbed to have children, they are denying themselves the opportunity to achieve immortality through their offspring.
The next section of the poem shifts to a metaphor of the reader being a reflection of their mother's youth. The line "Thou art thy mother's glass, and she in thee / Calls back the lovely April of her prime" suggests that the reader is a mirror image of their mother in her youth. This is another reference to the idea of immortality through procreation.
The final two lines of the poem, "But if thou live, remember'd not to be, / Die single, and thine image dies with thee," serve as a warning to the reader that if they do not have children, they will not be remembered after they die. The phrase "thine image dies with thee" is a reference to the fact that without offspring, there will be no one to carry on the reader's legacy.
Conclusion
Sonnet 3 is a beautiful and thought-provoking poem that explores the themes of mortality and immortality. Through its use of metaphors and rhetorical questions, Shakespeare urges the reader to reflect on their own mortality and consider the importance of procreation as a means of achieving immortality. The poem is a testament to Shakespeare's mastery of language and his ability to convey complex ideas through simple yet powerful imagery.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Sonnet 3: Look in thy glass, and tell the face thou viewest by William Shakespeare is a classic poem that has stood the test of time. It is a sonnet that speaks to the human condition and the inevitability of aging. In this article, we will take a detailed look at the poem, its structure, and its meaning.
The poem is a sonnet, which means it has fourteen lines and follows a specific rhyme scheme. The rhyme scheme of Sonnet 3 is ABAB CDCD EFEF GG. This means that the first and third lines of each quatrain rhyme, as do the second and fourth lines. The final couplet has a rhyming couplet, which is a common feature of Shakespearean sonnets.
The poem begins with the line, "Look in thy glass, and tell the face thou viewest." This line is an invitation to the reader to look at themselves in a mirror and reflect on what they see. The use of the word "glass" is a metaphor for a mirror, which was a common object in Shakespeare's time. The word "tell" is also significant because it implies that the face the reader sees in the mirror has a story to tell.
The second line of the poem, "Now is the time that face should form another," is a reference to the inevitability of aging. The word "now" suggests that the time for change is imminent, and the word "form" implies that the face is in a state of flux. The line also suggests that the face should "form another," which means that it should change into something new.
The third line of the poem, "Whose fresh repair if now thou not renewest," is a warning that if the reader does not take action to renew their face, it will become old and worn. The word "repair" suggests that the face is like a building that needs maintenance, and the word "fresh" implies that the face should be youthful and vibrant.
The fourth line of the poem, "Thou dost beguile the world, unbless some mother," is a condemnation of those who do not take care of their appearance. The word "beguile" means to deceive or mislead, and the word "unbless" suggests that those who neglect their appearance are doing a disservice to their mothers.
The second quatrain of the poem begins with the line, "For where is she so fair whose unear'd womb." This line is a rhetorical question that asks where one can find a woman who is so beautiful that she has not yet given birth. The word "unear'd" means untouched or unspoiled, and the line suggests that beauty is fleeting and that even the most beautiful women will eventually age.
The second line of the second quatrain, "Disdains the tillage of thy husbandry?" is a reference to the idea that beauty requires maintenance. The word "tillage" means cultivation or care, and the word "husbandry" refers to the care of crops or animals. The line suggests that beauty is like a crop that requires care and attention to thrive.
The third line of the second quatrain, "Or who is he so fond will be the tomb," is a rhetorical question that asks who would be so foolish as to want to be buried with a beautiful woman. The word "fond" means foolish or naive, and the line suggests that beauty is not enough to sustain a relationship.
The fourth line of the second quatrain, "Of his self-love to stop posterity?" is a reference to the idea that beauty is selfish and does not contribute to the continuation of the human race. The line suggests that those who are obsessed with their appearance are not contributing to the greater good.
The third quatrain of the poem begins with the line, "Thou art thy mother's glass, and she in thee." This line is a reference to the idea that children resemble their parents. The word "glass" is used again as a metaphor for a mirror, and the line suggests that the reader is a reflection of their mother.
The second line of the third quatrain, "Calls back the lovely April of her prime," is a reference to the idea that youth is like the springtime. The word "April" is a metaphor for youth, and the line suggests that the reader's mother was once young and beautiful.
The third line of the third quatrain, "So thou through windows of thine age shalt see," is a reference to the idea that aging is like looking through a window. The line suggests that the reader will see their own aging reflected in their mother's face.
The fourth line of the third quatrain, "Despite of wrinkles this thy golden time," is a reference to the idea that aging is not necessarily a bad thing. The word "wrinkles" suggests that the reader's mother has aged, but the phrase "golden time" implies that there is still beauty to be found in aging.
The final couplet of the poem begins with the line, "But if thou live, remember'd not to be." This line is a warning that if the reader does not take care of themselves, they will not be remembered. The word "remember'd" suggests that the reader's legacy is at stake.
The final line of the poem, "Die single, and thine image dies with thee," is a reference to the idea that if the reader does not take care of themselves, their legacy will die with them. The line suggests that the reader's image is important and that they should take care of themselves for the sake of their legacy.
In conclusion, Sonnet 3: Look in thy glass, and tell the face thou viewest by William Shakespeare is a classic poem that speaks to the human condition and the inevitability of aging. The poem is structured as a sonnet and follows a specific rhyme scheme. The poem is a warning that if the reader does not take care of themselves, they will not be remembered. The poem suggests that beauty requires maintenance and that aging is not necessarily a bad thing. The poem is a reminder that we are all reflections of our parents and that our legacy is at stake.
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