'Sonnet II' by William Shakespeare


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When forty winters shall beseige thy brow,
And dig deep trenches in thy beauty's field,
Thy youth's proud livery, so gazed on now,
Will be a tatter'd weed, of small worth held:
Then being ask'd where all thy beauty lies,
Where all the treasure of thy lusty days,
To say, within thine own deep-sunken eyes,
Were an all-eating shame and thriftless praise.
How much more praise deserved thy beauty's use,
If thou couldst answer 'This fair child of mine
Shall sum my count and make my old excuse,'
Proving his beauty by succession thine!
This were to be new made when thou art old,
And see thy blood warm when thou feel'st it cold.


Editor 1 Interpretation

The Beauty and Complexity of Shakespeare's Sonnet II

As I read through Shakespeare's Sonnet II, I can't help but marvel at the beauty and complexity of the poem. It's no wonder that Shakespeare is considered one of the greatest poets of all time, and this sonnet is a prime example of his mastery of the craft. In this literary criticism, I will dive deep into the meanings and interpretations of this exquisite piece of literature.

Analysis of the Sonnet

Let's begin by breaking down the sonnet and analyzing each quatrain and the couplet.

First Quatrain

When forty winters shall besiege thy brow,
And dig deep trenches in thy beauty's field,
Thy youth's proud livery, so gazed on now,
Will be a tottered weed of small worth held.

The sonnet starts with a warning of what will happen to the subject's beauty as they age. The image of "forty winters" besieging the brow is a powerful and vivid one. The metaphor of "dig deep trenches in thy beauty's field" is also striking, as it implies a sense of destruction and decay. The second line further emphasizes this point by saying that the youth's "proud livery" will become a "tottered weed of small worth held." This is a clear contrast to the current state where the youth is "gazed on now."

Second Quatrain

Then being asked, where all thy beauty lies,
Where all the treasure of thy lusty days;
To say, within thine own deep-sunken eyes,
Were an all-eating shame and thriftless praise.

In the second quatrain, the sonnet shifts to a hypothetical situation where the subject is asked where their beauty and treasures lie. The answer is "within thine own deep-sunken eyes," which is a metaphor for the aging process. This line is particularly poignant, as it highlights the passing of time and the loss of youth. The last line of this quatrain is also significant, as it suggests that praising one's own fading beauty is "thriftless" and shameful.

Third Quatrain

How much more praise deserved thy beauty's use,
If thou couldst answer "This fair child of mine
Shall sum my count and make my old excuse,"
Proving his beauty by succession thine.

The third quatrain introduces a new idea: the idea of procreation and passing on one's beauty to future generations. The image of a "fair child" summing up one's count and making an "old excuse" is a powerful one. This quatrain suggests that beauty is not only fleeting but also that it can be replaced and passed on to future generations. This idea reflects the cyclical nature of life and the hope for immortality through one's offspring.

The Couplet

This were to be new-made when thou art old,
And see thy blood warm when thou feel'st it cold.

The couplet brings the sonnet to a close by returning to the idea of procreation. The rhyme scheme ties the couplet to the third quatrain, emphasizing the importance of passing on one's beauty. The final two lines suggest that the offspring will be a source of warmth and life even as the subject ages and feels the cold touch of death.

Interpretation of the Sonnet

Now that we've analyzed the sonnet, let's dive into the various interpretations and meanings that can be extracted from it.

The Transience of Beauty

The most obvious theme in the sonnet is the transience of beauty. The sonnet warns that even the most beautiful youth will eventually age and lose their beauty. This idea is not new to literature, but Shakespeare adds a unique perspective by emphasizing the idea of "deep-sunken eyes." This metaphor suggests that aging is not just a surface-level process but a deep and internal one.

The Importance of Procreation

The sonnet also suggests that passing on one's beauty to future generations is a way to cheat death and achieve a form of immortality. This idea reflects the Renaissance belief that the individual was not just a physical being but also a part of a larger continuum of life. By passing on one's genes and beauty, one could continue living through one's offspring.

The Role of Shame

The sonnet also touches upon the idea of shame and how praising one's own fading beauty is "thriftless" and shameful. This idea reflects the Renaissance belief in humility and modesty. The sonnet suggests that it is better to pass on one's beauty to future generations than to cling to it and praise it shamelessly.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Shakespeare's Sonnet II is a beautiful and complex piece of literature that explores the transience of beauty, the importance of procreation, and the role of shame. Through vivid imagery and metaphorical language, the sonnet warns of the fleeting nature of youth and suggests that passing on one's beauty to future generations is a way to achieve a form of immortality. The sonnet is a testament to Shakespeare's mastery of the craft and continues to inspire and captivate readers to this day.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Sonnet II by William Shakespeare is a classic piece of poetry that has stood the test of time. This sonnet is part of a collection of 154 sonnets that Shakespeare wrote, and it is one of the most famous and widely studied sonnets in the English language. In this article, we will analyze and explain the meaning and significance of Sonnet II.

The sonnet begins with the speaker addressing a young man, urging him to marry and have children. The speaker argues that the young man's beauty will not last forever, and that he should use his youth and beauty to procreate before it is too late. The speaker uses a series of metaphors and comparisons to make his point, and the result is a powerful and moving poem that speaks to the universal human experience of love, loss, and mortality.

The first quatrain of the sonnet sets the stage for the speaker's argument. He begins by addressing the young man directly, saying "When forty winters shall besiege thy brow, / And dig deep trenches in thy beauty's field." Here, the speaker is using a metaphor to describe the effects of aging on the young man's face. The "forty winters" represent the passage of time, and the "deep trenches" represent the wrinkles and lines that will inevitably appear on the young man's face as he ages.

The second line of the quatrain continues the metaphor, saying "Thy youth's proud livery, so gazed on now, / Will be a tottered weed of small worth held." Here, the speaker is comparing the young man's beauty to a "proud livery," or a fancy uniform. He is saying that the young man's beauty is something that is admired and valued now, but that it will eventually become worthless and insignificant, like a "tottered weed."

The second quatrain of the sonnet continues the theme of the first, but with a slightly different focus. The speaker says, "Then being asked where all thy beauty lies, / Where all the treasure of thy lusty days, / To say within thine own deep-sunken eyes." Here, the speaker is imagining a future scenario in which the young man is asked where his beauty and youth have gone. The answer, according to the speaker, is that they are "within thine own deep-sunken eyes." This is a metaphor for the idea that the young man's beauty and youth will be lost within himself, as he ages and his physical appearance changes.

The third quatrain of the sonnet is where the speaker's argument becomes more urgent and emotional. He says, "Then, if for mirth, thou wilt hold on the way, / Or whithered, on the porch of life, stand aye, / Even though thy beauty's withered away." Here, the speaker is urging the young man to take action before it is too late. He is saying that even if the young man chooses to live a life of pleasure and frivolity, or if he becomes old and frail and is forced to stand on the sidelines of life, he should still try to procreate while he can.

The final couplet of the sonnet brings the argument to a close, with the speaker saying, "Yet do thy worst, old Time: despite thy wrong, / My love shall in my verse ever live young." Here, the speaker is acknowledging the inevitability of aging and the loss of youth and beauty. However, he is also saying that his love for the young man will live on through his poetry, and that the young man's beauty and youth will be immortalized in his words.

Overall, Sonnet II is a powerful and moving poem that speaks to the universal human experience of love, loss, and mortality. The speaker's argument is urgent and emotional, and his use of metaphors and comparisons is both beautiful and effective. This sonnet is a testament to Shakespeare's skill as a poet, and it is a timeless piece of literature that continues to resonate with readers today.

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