'Sonnet 73: That time of year thou mayst in me behold' by William Shakespeare


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That time of year thou mayst in me behold,
When yellow leaves, or none, or few do hang
Upon those boughs which shake against the cold,
Bare ruined choirs where late the sweet birds sang.
In me thou seest the twilight of such day
As after sunset fadeth in the west,
Which by and by black night doth take away,
Death's second self that seals up all in rest.
In me thou seest the glowing of such fire
That on the ashes of his youth doth lie
As the death-bed whereon it must expire,
Consumed with that which it was nourished by.
This thou perceiv'st, which makes thy love more strong,
To love that well which thou must leave ere long.

Editor 1 Interpretation

Sonnet 73: That time of year thou mayst in me behold by William Shakespeare

Oh, what a masterpiece Sonnet 73 is! William Shakespeare, the literary genius of the Elizabethan era, has again proved his mastery of language and poetic expression. This sonnet is one of his most famous and beloved works, and it is easy to see why. In this essay, I will delve into the depths of Sonnet 73, exploring its themes, structure, and language to understand the poem's meaning and significance.

Overview of Sonnet 73

Sonnet 73 is one of Shakespeare's 154 sonnets, which he wrote primarily in the early 17th century. As the title suggests, the poem is a sonnet, which means it follows a strict rhyme scheme and structure. The poem is divided into three quatrains (four-line stanzas) and a final couplet (two-line stanza) with the rhyme scheme ABAB CDCD EFEF GG. The poem is written in iambic pentameter, which means each line contains ten syllables with a stress on every other syllable.

The poem's speaker addresses a young man, saying that he may see the speaker's aging and approaching death as a metaphor for the changing of the seasons. The speaker compares himself to the "bare ruined choirs," the stripped branches of trees that are left after leaves have fallen in autumn. He then compares himself to "death's second self," implying that he is facing his own death. In the final couplet, the speaker suggests that the young man should love him more deeply because of his mortality.

Themes in Sonnet 73

One of the most prominent themes in Sonnet 73 is the transience of human life. The poem portrays the inevitability of aging and death, which is reflected in the changing of the seasons. The speaker compares himself to the barren trees of autumn, which symbolize the end of life. The imagery of the "death's second self" and the "death-bed" further emphasizes the theme of mortality. The poem's tone is melancholic, reflecting the speaker's acceptance of his own death.

Another theme in Sonnet 73 is the power of love. The speaker suggests that the young man should love him more deeply because of his mortality. This idea reflects the belief that love can conquer death and that the memory of a loved one can endure beyond physical life. The speaker's plea for the young man to "love that well which thou must leave ere long" highlights the importance of cherishing life and relationships while they last.

Interpretation of Sonnet 73

Sonnet 73 is a complex poem that can be interpreted in many ways. One way to read the poem is as a meditation on the inevitability of death. The speaker accepts his own mortality and compares himself to the changing of the seasons. The poem's imagery of the barren trees and the death-bed emphasizes the idea that all things must come to an end.

Another way to interpret Sonnet 73 is as a plea for the young man to love the speaker more deeply because of his mortality. The speaker suggests that the young man should cherish their relationship while they still have time together. This interpretation emphasizes the power of love to transcend death and endure beyond physical life.

The final couplet of Sonnet 73 can also be interpreted in different ways. Some readers see it as a statement of the speaker's humility, suggesting that he is aware of his own insignificance in the face of death. Others interpret it as a plea for the young man to remember the speaker after he is gone. The line "This thou perceiv'st, which makes thy love more strong" can be read as a suggestion that the young man's love will be more powerful because of his awareness of the speaker's mortality.

Analysis of Sonnet 73

The structure of Sonnet 73 is carefully crafted to reinforce its themes. The poem's division into three quatrains and a final couplet mirrors the changing of the seasons, with each quatrain representing a different stage in the process of aging and death. The first quatrain compares the speaker to the barren trees of autumn, while the second quatrain compares him to the fading light of a winter's day. The third quatrain imagines the speaker's death-bed, emphasizing the finality of death. The final couplet suggests that the young man should love the speaker more deeply because of his mortality, bringing the poem full circle.

The language used in Sonnet 73 is rich and evocative, with many metaphors and imagery. The comparison of the speaker to the "bare ruined choirs" is a metaphor for the stripped branches of trees, which symbolize the end of life. The imagery of the "death's second self" and the "death-bed" further emphasize the theme of mortality. The use of iambic pentameter gives the poem a steady rhythm, which underscores the inevitability of death.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Sonnet 73 is a beautiful and poignant meditation on the transience of human life and the power of love. Shakespeare's masterful use of language and poetic structure gives the poem a depth and complexity that rewards repeated readings. The poem's themes of mortality and love are universal and timeless, making Sonnet 73 a classic work of literature that continues to resonate with readers today.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Sonnet 73: That time of year thou mayst in me behold is one of the most famous and beloved poems written by William Shakespeare. This sonnet is a part of a series of 154 sonnets that Shakespeare wrote, and it is considered to be one of his most poignant and powerful works. In this article, we will take a closer look at Sonnet 73 and explore its themes, structure, and language.

The poem begins with the line "That time of year thou mayst in me behold," which immediately sets the tone for the rest of the sonnet. The speaker is addressing someone, and he is telling them that they can see the signs of aging in him. The "time of year" that he is referring to is the autumn, which is often associated with the end of life and the approach of death.

The first quatrain of the sonnet continues with the speaker describing the signs of aging that the person can see in him. He says that his "yellow leaves" are falling, which is a metaphor for his hair turning gray and falling out. He also says that his "bare ruined choirs" are singing, which is a metaphor for his voice becoming weaker and less vibrant.

In the second quatrain, the speaker continues to describe the signs of aging that the person can see in him. He says that his "death-bed" is approaching, which is a metaphor for his impending death. He also says that the "twilight of such day" is fading, which is a metaphor for the end of his life.

The third quatrain of the sonnet is where the speaker begins to shift his focus from his own mortality to the person he is addressing. He says that the person should not mourn his impending death, but instead, they should remember him fondly. He says that they should remember him "in their sweet love remembered," which is a metaphor for the memories that they will have of him after he is gone.

The final couplet of the sonnet is where the speaker delivers the final message of the poem. He says that love is the only thing that can conquer death, and that even though he will die, his love will live on. He says that his love will "keep fresh" even after he is gone, and that it will continue to grow and flourish.

The structure of Sonnet 73 is a traditional Shakespearean sonnet, which consists of three quatrains and a final couplet. The rhyme scheme is ABAB CDCD EFEF GG, which is also a traditional Shakespearean sonnet rhyme scheme. The use of iambic pentameter is also present in the poem, which is a common feature of Shakespeare's sonnets.

The language used in Sonnet 73 is rich and complex, with many metaphors and allusions to nature and the passage of time. The use of the autumn season as a metaphor for the speaker's aging and impending death is particularly powerful, as it is a time of year that is often associated with the end of life. The use of the metaphor of the "bare ruined choirs" is also particularly effective, as it evokes the image of a once-beautiful choir that has been stripped of its beauty and vitality.

Overall, Sonnet 73: That time of year thou mayst in me behold is a powerful and poignant poem that explores the themes of aging, mortality, and the power of love. The use of metaphors and allusions to nature and the passage of time is particularly effective, and the structure and language of the poem are both traditional and powerful. This sonnet is a testament to Shakespeare's skill as a poet and his ability to capture the complexities of the human experience in his writing.

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