'Sonnet 106: When in the chronicle of wasted time' by William Shakespeare


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When in the chronicle of wasted time
I see descriptions of the fairest wights,
And beauty making beautiful old rhyme
In praise of ladies dead, and lovely knights,
Then, in the blazon of sweet beauty's best,
Of hand, of foot, of lip, of eye, of brow,
I see their antique pen would have expressed
Even such a beauty as you master now.
So all their praises are but prophecies
Of this our time, all you prefiguring;
And, for they looked but with divining eyes,
They had not skill enough your worth to sing.
For we, which now behold these present days,
Have eyes to wonder, but lack tongues to praise.

Editor 1 Interpretation

Sonnet 106: When in the chronicle of wasted time by William Shakespeare

As a literary critic and interpreter, it is almost impossible not to get excited by the works of William Shakespeare. His sonnets, in particular, are a gem in the world of poetry. Sonnet 106, titled "When in the chronicle of wasted time," is no exception. In this sonnet, Shakespeare explores the concept of time and how it affects human relationships.

At first glance, the sonnet appears to be a typical love poem. However, upon closer examination, it becomes clear that Shakespeare is not merely discussing romantic love, but rather love in a broader sense. The poem opens with the line, "When in the chronicle of wasted time," which sets the tone for the rest of the sonnet. The use of the word "chronicle" implies a historical record, suggesting that the poem is about events that have already occurred.

Shakespeare then goes on to say, "I see descriptions of the fairest wights." Here, he is referring to the most beautiful people he has encountered over time. The use of the word "descriptions" suggests that these people are no longer present, and all that remains of them are written accounts. It is not clear whether the "fairest wights" are meant to be romantic partners or just individuals who have made an impact on Shakespeare's life.

The second quatrain of the sonnet begins with the line, "And beauty making beautiful old rhyme." Here, Shakespeare is suggesting that beauty is timeless and can be captured in a poetic form. He is also implying that his love for the "fairest wights" is so great that he must immortalize them in verse. The phrase "beautiful old rhyme" suggests that the poem itself is a sort of timeless beauty that will live on beyond the people it describes.

The following lines, "In praise of ladies dead, and lovely knights," further emphasize the idea of the poem as a sort of tribute to those who have passed away. The use of the word "lovely" to describe knights suggests that Shakespeare is not only talking about women, but also men who have left an impression on him.

The third quatrain of the sonnet begins with the line, "Then in the blazon of sweet beauty's best." Here, Shakespeare is using the term "blazon," which means a coat of arms or a description of someone's attributes. The phrase "sweet beauty's best" suggests that he is describing the pinnacle of physical attractiveness.

The next line, "Of hand, of foot, of lip, of eye, of brow," breaks down the physical attributes that make up this ideal beauty. It is interesting to note that Shakespeare does not mention anything about the person's character or personality. This suggests that the "fairest wights" are being idealized purely for their physical appearance.

In the final couplet of the sonnet, Shakespeare concludes by saying, "I see their antique pen would have expressed, Even such a beauty as you master now." Here, he is saying that even the poets of old, who he has been praising throughout the sonnet, would have been impressed by the beauty of the person he is addressing. The use of the word "antique" emphasizes the idea that this beauty is timeless and has been admired throughout history.

Overall, Sonnet 106 is a beautiful exploration of the concept of time and the way it affects human relationships. Shakespeare is able to capture the essence of beauty in his writing, even if the object of that beauty is no longer present. The way he idealizes physical appearance, while neglecting character and personality, is a reflection of the attitudes of his time. However, his words still hold weight today, and the beauty he describes is still something to be admired.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Sonnet 106: When in the chronicle of wasted time, written by William Shakespeare, is a classic poem that has stood the test of time. This sonnet is a part of Shakespeare’s collection of 154 sonnets, which were published in 1609. The sonnet is a reflection on the passage of time and the importance of love in the face of mortality. In this article, we will analyze and explain the poem in detail.

The poem begins with the line, “When in the chronicle of wasted time.” The word “chronicle” refers to a historical record or a written account of events. The phrase “wasted time” suggests that the speaker is reflecting on the past and the time that has been lost. The opening line sets the tone for the rest of the poem, which is a meditation on the fleeting nature of time.

The second line of the poem reads, “I see descriptions of the fairest wights.” The word “wights” refers to people or creatures. The speaker is saying that he sees descriptions of the most beautiful people in history. This line suggests that the speaker is looking back at the past and reflecting on the beauty that has been lost.

The third line of the poem reads, “And beauty making beautiful old rhyme.” The word “rhyme” refers to poetry. The speaker is saying that beauty has the power to make old poetry beautiful again. This line suggests that the speaker believes that beauty is timeless and can transcend the passage of time.

The fourth line of the poem reads, “In praise of ladies dead and lovely knights.” The speaker is saying that he sees poetry that praises women who are dead and knights who are no longer alive. This line suggests that the speaker is reflecting on the past and the beauty that has been lost.

The fifth line of the poem reads, “Then, in the blazon of sweet beauty’s best.” The word “blazon” refers to a coat of arms or a description of a person’s qualities. The speaker is saying that he sees descriptions of the best qualities of beauty. This line suggests that the speaker is reflecting on the beauty that has been lost and is trying to capture it in words.

The sixth line of the poem reads, “Of hand, of foot, of lip, of eye, of brow.” The speaker is listing the physical features of beauty. This line suggests that the speaker is trying to capture the essence of beauty in words.

The seventh line of the poem reads, “I see their antique pen would have expressed.” The word “antique” refers to something that is old or ancient. The speaker is saying that he sees the old poets who would have expressed the beauty of the past. This line suggests that the speaker is reflecting on the past and the beauty that has been lost.

The eighth line of the poem reads, “Even such a beauty as you master now.” The speaker is addressing someone who has the beauty that the old poets would have praised. This line suggests that the speaker is trying to capture the beauty of the present in words.

The ninth line of the poem reads, “So all their praises are but prophecies.” The speaker is saying that the praises of the old poets are like prophecies of the beauty that is to come. This line suggests that the speaker believes that beauty is timeless and can transcend the passage of time.

The tenth line of the poem reads, “Of this our time, all you prefiguring.” The speaker is saying that the person he is addressing is a prefiguration of the beauty that is to come. This line suggests that the speaker believes that beauty is timeless and can transcend the passage of time.

The eleventh line of the poem reads, “And for they looked but with divining eyes.” The speaker is saying that the old poets looked at beauty with divining eyes, which means that they had a special insight into the nature of beauty. This line suggests that the speaker believes that beauty is more than just physical appearance.

The twelfth line of the poem reads, “They had not skill enough your worth to sing.” The speaker is saying that the old poets did not have the skill to capture the beauty of the person he is addressing. This line suggests that the speaker believes that the person he is addressing is more beautiful than anyone in the past.

The thirteenth line of the poem reads, “For we, which now behold these present days.” The speaker is saying that he and the person he is addressing are living in the present and can appreciate the beauty of the present. This line suggests that the speaker believes that beauty is not just something that exists in the past.

The fourteenth line of the poem reads, “Have eyes to wonder, but lack tongues to praise.” The speaker is saying that he and the person he is addressing can appreciate the beauty of the present, but they do not have the words to express it. This line suggests that the speaker believes that beauty is something that is difficult to capture in words.

In conclusion, Sonnet 106: When in the chronicle of wasted time, written by William Shakespeare, is a meditation on the fleeting nature of time and the importance of love in the face of mortality. The poem reflects on the beauty of the past and the present and suggests that beauty is timeless and can transcend the passage of time. The poem is a testament to Shakespeare’s skill as a poet and his ability to capture the essence of human experience in words.

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