Sonnet 73 as a Love Poem
Table of Contents
Introduction
William Shakespeare’s Sonnet 73 is a complex and evocative poem that, on the surface, contemplates aging, mortality, and the passage of time. However, beneath these somber themes lies a profound exploration of love. The poem’s exploration of love is unique because it transcends typical romantic notions and delves into the kind of deep, mature love that is tested and strengthened by the awareness of life’s transience. In this sonnet, Shakespeare presents love not as an emotion based solely on physical beauty or passion, but as an enduring force that grows stronger as life draws nearer to its inevitable end. Through the use of metaphors, vivid imagery, and a poignant conclusion, Shakespeare crafts a sonnet that reflects on love’s ability to endure even as the body withers and time runs out.
Understanding Love in the Context of Aging and Mortality
Unlike many love poems that celebrate youthful beauty and passion, Sonnet 73 takes a more reflective and mature approach. The speaker does not dwell on physical allure or romantic ideals, but instead confronts the realities of aging and mortality. The three quatrains of the poem each employ a different metaphor to convey the speaker’s advancing age: autumn, twilight, and a dying fire. These metaphors are rich in imagery that evokes the passage of time and the gradual fading of life. Rather than lamenting the loss of youth, the speaker uses this meditation on aging as a way to emphasize the strength and significance of love.
In the first quatrain, the speaker compares himself to the late stages of autumn:
“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.”
The image of barren branches with few remaining leaves suggests that the speaker is in the twilight of his life, nearing the end. The “bare ruined choirs” evoke a sense of loss and emptiness, emphasizing the inevitable decline that comes with age. Despite this bleak imagery, the sonnet is ultimately a love poem because it is addressed to a beloved who perceives these signs of aging. The beloved’s awareness of the speaker’s mortality becomes a source of deeper, more compassionate love.
The second quatrain shifts to the metaphor of twilight, symbolizing the end of the day and, metaphorically, the end of life:
“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.”
Twilight, a transitional period between day and night, reflects the speaker’s gradual progression towards death. The metaphor of “black night” as “death’s second self” reinforces the idea that the end of life is inevitable. The beloved sees this fading light in the speaker, and it is this perception that strengthens the bond between them. The recognition that time is limited, that the speaker’s life is approaching its end, makes the love shared more intense and meaningful.
The third quatrain introduces the metaphor of a dying fire:
“In me thou seest the glowing of such fire / That on the ashes of his youth doth lie, / As the deathbed whereon it must expire, / Consumed with that which it was nourished by.”
The fire, once full of life and energy, is now reduced to mere embers lying on the ashes of youth. The image of a fire slowly burning out reflects the speaker’s dwindling vitality. The paradox in the line “Consumed with that which it was nourished by” highlights the inevitability of decline; the very force that once sustained life—time—also leads to its end. The beloved sees this inevitable decline and is moved to love more deeply and fully.
The Role of Love in the Face of Mortality
While the metaphors of autumn, twilight, and a dying fire convey the passage of time and the speaker’s mortality, the concluding couplet shifts the focus to love:
“This thou perceiv’st, which makes thy love more strong, / To love that well which thou must leave ere long.”
Here, the speaker directly addresses the beloved, emphasizing that the awareness of aging and mortality only strengthens love. The knowledge that time is fleeting, that the speaker will soon be gone, makes the love between them even more precious. The phrase “to love that well” suggests a deep and conscious appreciation of the time they have left together. Rather than succumbing to despair in the face of death, the poem transforms this awareness into a reason to love more intensely.
This couplet is crucial in understanding the sonnet as a love poem. It suggests that true love is not merely about enjoying the present, but about cherishing the moments left in the face of inevitable loss. The beloved’s love grows stronger not despite the knowledge of death, but because of it. The recognition of life’s impermanence makes the connection between the speaker and the beloved more significant. In this way, the sonnet elevates love from a fleeting passion to a profound, enduring force that transcends time and physical decline.
Mature and Enduring Love
Sonnet 73 is a love poem in a deeper sense because it portrays love that endures beyond the superficial qualities that time erodes. The speaker is no longer in the prime of his life; he is aware of his approaching end, and so is his beloved. This shared awareness deepens their bond, leading to a more meaningful, mature love. Unlike the idealized love of youth that focuses on beauty and passion, the love depicted in this sonnet is based on understanding, acceptance, and mutual respect.
The poem’s structure also reinforces this idea. The gradual progression from the first quatrain to the final couplet mirrors the passage of time. Each metaphor builds on the previous one, deepening the sense of decline and creating a somber, reflective mood. However, this reflective tone is counterbalanced by the final couplet, which offers a resolution that affirms love’s strength in the face of mortality. The shift from metaphors of decline to a direct statement about love suggests that while time may erode the body, it can also intensify the emotions shared between the speaker and the beloved.
Universal Themes and Timeless Relevance
One of the reasons Sonnet 73 remains a powerful love poem is its universal message. Aging, mortality, and the passage of time are experiences shared by all, and the poem speaks to the way love can be enriched by these realities. The sonnet’s meditation on the inevitability of death highlights the importance of cherishing the time we have and loving those close to us even more fiercely because we know that time is limited. This message is timeless and resonates across different cultures and eras.
The poem also suggests that love can transcend the physical limitations imposed by time. Even as the speaker’s body declines, his capacity for love remains strong, if not stronger. The sonnet’s exploration of love in the context of aging offers a perspective that is rarely found in more conventional love poetry. Rather than celebrating youthful beauty or fleeting passion, Sonnet 73 finds beauty in the endurance of love even as time takes its toll.
Conclusion
Shakespeare’s Sonnet 73 is a poignant and powerful love poem that transcends traditional romantic themes by exploring the relationship between love, time, and mortality. Through the use of rich metaphors and vivid imagery, the sonnet reflects on the inevitable decline that comes with age and how this awareness can deepen and strengthen love. The poem’s final couplet encapsulates the central message: that love becomes more precious when we recognize that time is fleeting. In this way, Sonnet 73 is not just a reflection on aging and death but a profound meditation on the enduring nature of true love—a love that is enriched, not diminished, by the passage of time.
