Sonnet 74: But Be Contented When That Fell Arrest
But be contented when that fell arrest
Without all bail shall carry me away,
My life hath in this line some interest,
Which for memorial still with thee shall stay.
When thou reviewest this, thou dost review
The very part was consecrate to thee:
The earth can have but earth, which is his due;
My spirit is thine, the better part of me:
So then thou hast but lost the dregs of life,
The prey of worms, my body being dead;
The coward conquest of a wretch’s knife,
Too base of thee to be remembered.
The worth of that is that which it contains,
And that is this, and this with thee remains.
This is Shakespeare’s Sonnet 74, a reflection on mortality and the enduring nature of the speaker’s spirit through poetry. The speaker assures the beloved that, although their body will die, their spirit and essence will live on in the poem. Let’s break it down line by line.
Line 1:
“But be contented when that fell arrest”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Contented: Satisfied, at peace.
- Fell arrest: Death, imagined as a sudden and inevitable capture.
Text and Context Explanation:
The speaker begins by urging the beloved to be at peace when death (“fell arrest”) inevitably takes them. This line introduces the theme of mortality and the speaker’s acceptance of their fate.
Line 2:
“Without all bail shall carry me away,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Bail: Release, escape.
Text and Context Explanation:
The speaker describes death as an inescapable force that will take them away without the possibility of release. This line emphasizes the inevitability of death and the speaker’s resignation to it.
Line 3:
“My life hath in this line some interest,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Interest: A share, a claim.
Text and Context Explanation:
The speaker suggests that their life has a lasting presence in the lines of this poem. This line introduces the idea that the speaker’s essence will endure through their poetry, even after their death.
Line 4:
“Which for memorial still with thee shall stay.”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Memorial: A remembrance, a tribute.
- Still: Always, forever.
Text and Context Explanation:
The speaker explains that the poem will serve as a lasting memorial, remaining with the beloved even after the speaker’s death. This line reinforces the idea that the speaker’s spirit will live on through their words.
Line 5:
“When thou reviewest this, thou dost review”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Reviewest: Read, look over.
Text and Context Explanation:
The speaker tells the beloved that when they read the poem, they are revisiting the essence of the speaker. This line emphasizes the intimate connection between the speaker, the poem, and the beloved.
Line 6:
“The very part was consecrate to thee:”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Consecrate: Dedicated, sacred.
Text and Context Explanation:
The speaker describes the poem as a sacred offering dedicated to the beloved. This line highlights the depth of the speaker’s love and the significance of the poem as a testament to that love.
Line 7:
“The earth can have but earth, which is his due;”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Earth: The physical body.
- Due: What is owed.
Text and Context Explanation:
The speaker acknowledges that their physical body, made of earth, will return to the earth after death. This line reflects the speaker’s acceptance of the natural cycle of life and death.
Line 8:
“My spirit is thine, the better part of me:”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Spirit: Essence, soul.
- Better part: The more valuable aspect.
Text and Context Explanation:
The speaker declares that their spirit, the “better part” of them, belongs to the beloved. This line emphasizes the idea that the speaker’s true essence transcends their physical body and will endure through their love and poetry.
Line 9:
“So then thou hast but lost the dregs of life,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Dregs: The least valuable part, the remnants.
Text and Context Explanation:
The speaker reassures the beloved that they have only lost the “dregs of life,” the physical body, which is of little value compared to the spirit. This line reflects the speaker’s belief in the superiority of the spiritual over the physical.
Line 10:
“The prey of worms, my body being dead;”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Prey of worms: The decay of the body after death.
Text and Context Explanation:
The speaker describes their body as “the prey of worms,” emphasizing its inevitable decay after death. This line underscores the speaker’s focus on the enduring nature of their spirit rather than their physical form.
Line 11:
“The coward conquest of a wretch’s knife,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Coward conquest: A dishonorable victory.
- Wretch’s knife: Death, personified as a cruel assailant.
Text and Context Explanation:
The speaker personifies death as a “wretch’s knife,” suggesting that death is a dishonorable and cowardly force. This line reflects the speaker’s disdain for the physical destruction caused by death.
Line 12:
“Too base of thee to be remembered.”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Base: Lowly, unworthy.
Text and Context Explanation:
The speaker dismisses their physical body as too “base” (unworthy) to be remembered by the beloved. This line reinforces the idea that the beloved should focus on the speaker’s spirit rather than their decaying body.
Line 13:
“The worth of that is that which it contains,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Worth: Value.
- Contains: Holds within.
Text and Context Explanation:
The speaker explains that the true value of their body lies in what it contains—their spirit. This line emphasizes the idea that the physical body is merely a vessel for the more valuable essence within.
Line 14:
“And that is this, and this with thee remains.”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- This: The poem, the speaker’s spirit.
Text and Context Explanation:
The speaker concludes by stating that their spirit, contained within the poem, will remain with the beloved. This line encapsulates the sonnet’s central theme: the enduring nature of the speaker’s spirit through their poetry.
Summary of the Sonnet:
Sonnet 74 is a meditation on mortality and the enduring power of poetry to preserve the speaker’s spirit. The speaker accepts the inevitability of death but reassures the beloved that their true essence will live on in the poem. The physical body, though destined to decay, is of little value compared to the spirit, which remains with the beloved through the written word. The sonnet celebrates the idea that love and art can transcend the limitations of the physical world, offering a form of immortality.
In-Depth Analysis of Sonnet 74
Summary
In Sonnet 74, Shakespeare contemplates his inevitable death and reassures his beloved that while his physical body will decay, his true essence—his spirit—will live on in his poetry. He urges his beloved not to grieve excessively when “that fell arrest” (death) takes him away, because his soul will remain preserved within his written words. He contrasts the corruptible body, which belongs to the earth and is “the prey of worms”, with the enduring nature of his love and verse. Ultimately, the poem is a meditation on mortality, remembrance, and the power of art to transcend death.
Critical Analysis
1. Death as an Unavoidable Fate
- The sonnet opens with “that fell arrest”, a metaphor for death as an inescapable force that “without all bail” will take the speaker away.
- Shakespeare presents death as a certainty, something that cannot be negotiated or avoided.
2. The Separation of Body and Soul
- The poem makes a clear distinction between:
- The body, which belongs to the earth and is subject to decay.
- The soul, which is “consecrate” to the beloved and remains immortal through poetry.
- Shakespeare diminishes the importance of the physical self, calling it “the dregs of life” and “the coward conquest of a wretch’s knife”, perhaps referring to how death indiscriminately claims all.
3. The Consolation of Poetry
- The poet assures his beloved that although his body will be gone, his true self—his thoughts, emotions, and essence—will survive in his verse.
- The phrase “My life hath in this line some interest” suggests that his poetry serves as a vessel for his enduring spirit.
- The final couplet reinforces this idea: “The worth of that is that which it contains, / And that is this, and this with thee remains.”—the poet’s words and love remain eternally with the beloved.
Theme Analysis
1. Mortality and the Inevitability of Death
- Shakespeare acknowledges the inevitability of death but reframes it as a mere physical loss rather than a total erasure of self.
- His perspective mirrors classical ideas of the soul’s immortality.
2. The Power of Art to Defy Time
- By writing poetry, the speaker ensures that his essence will live on beyond his physical demise.
- This aligns with the broader theme in Shakespeare’s sonnets: poetry as a form of eternal preservation (cf. Sonnet 18: “So long lives this, and this gives life to thee”).
3. Love and Spiritual Connection
- The beloved is urged to see the poet’s words as a continuation of their love, even after death.
- The idea that “my spirit is thine” suggests a deep, almost sacred bond that transcends the physical world.
Literary Devices
1. Metaphor
- “That fell arrest” → Death is depicted as an unyielding force, akin to a legal arrest with no chance of bail.
- “The prey of worms” → The decaying body is likened to food for worms, reinforcing the idea of physical insignificance.
2. Contrast (Body vs. Soul)
- Shakespeare juxtaposes the corruptible body with the enduring soul.
- The “dregs of life” (worthless remains) contrast with the “better part” (his spirit).
3. Alliteration and Assonance
- The repetition of sounds enhances musicality:
- “My life hath in this line some interest” (soft l and s sounds create a flowing effect).
- “The worth of that is that which it contains” (repetition emphasizes the poem’s meaning).
Conclusion
Sonnet 74 serves as both a meditation on death and a declaration of poetry’s power to grant immortality. Shakespeare reassures his beloved that though his physical form will perish, his soul and love will remain preserved in his verse. By separating body from spirit, he offers a form of consolation, suggesting that true love and identity exist beyond mere flesh. This sonnet continues the overarching theme in Shakespeare’s works that poetry acts as a bridge between life and eternity.
