'Sonnet LXVII' by William Shakespeare
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Thus is his cheek the map of days outworn,
When beauty lived and died as flowers do now,
Before the 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 LXVII by William Shakespeare: A Critical Analysis
Shall I compare thee to a summer's day? Thou art more lovely and more temperate: Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May, And summer's lease hath all too short a date:
These opening lines of Sonnet LXVII by William Shakespeare are perhaps some of the most well-known in English literature. The poem is often studied in high school and college English classes, and it has been the subject of countless literary analyses over the years. But what makes this sonnet so enduringly popular? What is it about Shakespeare's writing that has captivated readers for centuries?
In this essay, we will explore Sonnet LXVII in detail, examining the poem's themes, structure, and language. We will consider the historical context in which the sonnet was written, as well as the various interpretations that have been offered over the years. By the end of this essay, we hope to provide a comprehensive analysis of this classic work of poetry.
Historical Context
Before delving into the poem itself, it is important to consider the historical context in which it was written. Shakespeare lived and wrote during the Elizabethan era, a time of great artistic and cultural achievement in England. Queen Elizabeth I ruled during this period, and her reign is often referred to as the "Golden Age" of English history.
Shakespeare was born in 1564, and he began writing plays and poetry in the late 16th century. Sonnet LXVII was likely written in the early 17th century, around the same time as many of Shakespeare's most famous plays, including Hamlet and King Lear.
The sonnet was a popular form of poetry during this time, and Shakespeare is widely regarded as one of its greatest practitioners. In total, he wrote 154 sonnets, all of which were published in a single volume in 1609.
Themes
At its core, Sonnet LXVII is a poem about the fleeting nature of beauty. The speaker begins by comparing his subject to a summer's day, which is traditionally seen as a time of warmth, growth, and beauty. However, the speaker quickly goes on to note the impermanence of the summer season: "And summer's lease hath all too short a date."
This idea of fleeting beauty is further emphasized in the second quatrain, where the speaker describes "the darling buds of May" being shaken by "rough winds." The image here is of a beautiful flower being destroyed by the forces of nature, much like how beauty is often destroyed by the passage of time.
The poem's overall message, then, is that true beauty is not something that can be measured or quantified. It is something that exists for only a brief moment, and then it is gone. The speaker's subject, however, is more than just a fleeting beauty. They are "more lovely and more temperate" than a summer's day, suggesting that their beauty is more enduring and less susceptible to the ravages of time.
Structure
Like all of Shakespeare's sonnets, Sonnet LXVII is written in iambic pentameter, a poetic meter that consists of ten syllables per line, with alternating stressed and unstressed syllables. The poem is divided into three quatrains (four-line stanzas) and a final rhyming couplet:
Shall I compare thee to a summer's day? Thou art more lovely and more temperate: Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May, And summer's lease hath all too short a date:
Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines, And often is his gold complexion dimmed; And every fair from fair sometime declines, By chance, or nature's changing course untrimmed;
But thy eternal summer shall not fade Nor lose possession of that fair thou owest; Nor shall Death brag thou wander'st in his shade, When in eternal lines to time thou growest:
The rhyme scheme of the poem is ABAB CDCD EFEF GG, with the final rhyming couplet serving to provide a sense of closure and resolution to the poem.
Language
One of the things that sets Shakespeare's writing apart from that of his contemporaries is his mastery of language. His use of imagery, metaphor, and wordplay is unparalleled in English literature, and Sonnet LXVII is no exception.
The opening line of the poem, "Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?" is a rhetorical question that immediately engages the reader and invites them to consider the speaker's subject. The use of the word "compare" suggests that the speaker is about to draw a comparison between his subject and a summer's day, but the question mark at the end of the line suggests that there is more to the poem than a simple comparison.
As the poem unfolds, the speaker continues to use vivid imagery to convey his message. The line "And summer's lease hath all too short a date" is a memorable example of this, as it uses the metaphor of a lease to convey the idea that summer is temporary and fleeting. Similarly, the image of "the eye of heaven" in the second quatrain is a poetic way of referring to the sun, and it ties in with the idea of the impermanence of beauty.
Finally, the last two lines of the poem are perhaps the most famous. The use of the word "brag" to describe Death's boastful attitude is an interesting choice, as it suggests that Death is not a force to be feared but rather a pitiable figure who is overcompensating for his own lack of control. And the final phrase, "When in eternal lines to time thou growest," is a beautiful way of suggesting that the speaker's subject will live on forever in the pages of this poem.
Interpretations
Over the years, Sonnet LXVII has been the subject of numerous interpretations and analyses. Some have seen the poem as a celebration of beauty and love, while others have viewed it as a meditation on the inevitability of mortality.
One popular interpretation is that the poem is actually addressed to a young man, with the speaker expressing his love and admiration for the subject. This reading is supported by the fact that many of Shakespeare's sonnets are addressed to a "fair youth," and by the use of the word "owe" in the final couplet, which suggests a debt of gratitude or affection owed to the subject.
Others have read the poem as a commentary on the nature of art itself. The line "When in eternal lines to time thou growest" has been interpreted as a reference to the way that poetry can immortalize its subjects, allowing them to live on long after they have passed away.
Still others have seen the poem as a commentary on the fleeting nature of fame and fortune. The speaker's comparison of his subject to a summer's day suggests that even the most beautiful and powerful things in the world are ultimately transitory, and that true immortality can only be achieved through art.
Conclusion
Sonnet LXVII is a timeless work of poetry that continues to captivate readers today, nearly four centuries after it was written. Through its vivid imagery, masterful use of language, and timeless themes, the poem speaks to the enduring nature of beauty, love, and art.
Whether one sees the poem as a celebration of youth and beauty, a meditation on the inevitability of death, or a commentary on the power of art, there is no denying its lasting impact on English literature. It is a testament to Shakespeare's genius as a writer, and a reminder of the enduring power of poetry to inspire and move us.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Sonnet LXVII by William Shakespeare is a classic piece of poetry that has stood the test of time. It is a beautiful and intricate piece of work that showcases Shakespeare's mastery of language and his ability to convey complex emotions through his writing. In this article, we will take a closer look at Sonnet LXVII and analyze its themes, structure, and language.
The sonnet begins with the speaker addressing his beloved, whom he refers to as "my mistress." He tells her that she is like the sun, which rises every day and brings light to the world. He compares her to the sun not only because of her beauty but also because of her constancy. Just as the sun rises every day without fail, the speaker's love for his mistress is unwavering and constant.
The second quatrain of the sonnet shifts the focus to the passage of time. The speaker acknowledges that time is constantly moving forward, and that everything in the world is subject to its effects. He tells his mistress that even the most beautiful things in the world, such as the sun and the stars, will eventually fade away and be forgotten. However, he assures her that his love for her will never fade, even as time marches on.
The third quatrain of the sonnet is perhaps the most powerful. Here, the speaker tells his mistress that even death cannot diminish his love for her. He says that when he dies, his love will continue to live on, and that future generations will read about their love and be inspired by it. This is a powerful statement, as it suggests that the speaker's love for his mistress is not just a fleeting emotion, but something that will endure long after he is gone.
The final couplet of the sonnet brings everything together. The speaker tells his mistress that as long as people can read and write, his love for her will continue to be celebrated. He says that even if the world were to end, his love for her would still exist, as it is something that transcends time and space.
The themes of Sonnet LXVII are timeless and universal. The sonnet explores the themes of love, time, and mortality, and how they are all interconnected. The speaker's love for his mistress is not just a fleeting emotion, but something that endures even in the face of death and the passage of time. This is a powerful message that speaks to the enduring nature of love and its ability to transcend even the most difficult of circumstances.
The structure of Sonnet LXVII is also worth noting. The sonnet is written in iambic pentameter, which is a common meter in Shakespeare's sonnets. The sonnet is divided into three quatrains and a final couplet, which is a common structure in Shakespearean sonnets. The rhyme scheme of the sonnet is ABAB CDCD EFEF GG, which is also a common structure in Shakespeare's sonnets.
The language of Sonnet LXVII is beautiful and poetic. Shakespeare uses a variety of literary devices, such as metaphors, similes, and personification, to convey his message. For example, he compares his mistress to the sun, which is a powerful metaphor that conveys both her beauty and her constancy. He also personifies time, describing it as a "devouring time" that consumes everything in its path.
In conclusion, Sonnet LXVII by William Shakespeare is a beautiful and powerful piece of poetry that explores the enduring nature of love. The sonnet's themes of love, time, and mortality are universal and timeless, and its structure and language are both beautiful and poetic. This sonnet is a testament to Shakespeare's mastery of language and his ability to convey complex emotions through his writing. It is a classic piece of literature that will continue to inspire and move readers for generations to come.
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