Sonnet 107: Not Mine Own Fears, Nor The Prophetic Soul
Not mine own fears, nor the prophetic soul
Of the wide world dreaming on things to come,
Can yet the lease of my true love control,
Supposed as forfeit to a confined doom.
The mortal moon hath her eclipse endured,
And the sad augurs mock their own presage;
Incertainties now crown themselves assured,
And peace proclaims olives of endless age.
Now with the drops of this most balmy time,
My love looks fresh, and Death to me subscribes,
Since, spite of him, I’ll live in this poor rhyme,
While he insults o’er dull and speechless tribes:
And thou in this shalt find thy monument,
When tyrants’ crests and tombs of brass are spent.
Line 1:
“Not mine own fears, nor the prophetic soul”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Prophetic soul: The collective intuition or foresight of humanity.
In-Depth Explanation of Text and Context:
The sonnet opens with the poet declaring that neither his personal fears nor the collective foresight of humanity can control the duration of his love. This suggests that his love is beyond the reach of external forces, including fear and prophecy.
The line sets the tone for the sonnet, which explores the enduring nature of the poet’s love and its ability to transcend time and mortality.
Line 2:
“Of the wide world dreaming on things to come,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Dreaming on: Speculating or pondering.
In-Depth Explanation of Text and Context:
The poet describes the “wide world” as dreaming about the future, suggesting that humanity is constantly speculating about what is to come. This reflects the uncertainty and unpredictability of life, which contrasts with the steadfast nature of the poet’s love.
The line reinforces the idea that the poet’s love is not subject to the uncertainties of the future, but remains constant and unchanging.
Line 3:
“Can yet the lease of my true love control,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Lease: Duration or term.
- True love: Genuine and unwavering love.
In-Depth Explanation of Text and Context:
The poet asserts that no external force can control the duration of his true love. This suggests that his love is eternal and not bound by the limitations of time or mortality.
The line reflects the poet’s belief in the enduring nature of his love, which transcends the uncertainties of the future.
Line 4:
“Supposed as forfeit to a confined doom.”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Forfeit: Lost or surrendered.
- Confined doom: A limited or inevitable fate.
In-Depth Explanation of Text and Context:
The poet acknowledges that his love was once thought to be doomed or limited, but he now rejects this idea. This suggests that his love has overcome any perceived limitations and remains strong and enduring.
The line reflects the poet’s belief in the resilience and permanence of his love, which defies any predictions of its demise.
Line 5:
“The mortal moon hath her eclipse endured,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Mortal moon: A symbol of change and impermanence.
- Eclipse: A temporary obscuration or decline.
In-Depth Explanation of Text and Context:
The poet uses the metaphor of the “mortal moon” enduring an eclipse to suggest that a period of darkness or decline has passed. This reflects the idea that challenges and uncertainties have been overcome, leading to a brighter future.
The line introduces a note of optimism, as the poet looks forward to a period of stability and peace.
Line 6:
“And the sad augurs mock their own presage;”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Augurs: Soothsayers or prophets.
- Presage: Prediction or foresight.
In-Depth Explanation of Text and Context:
The poet describes the “sad augurs,” or prophets, as mocking their own predictions, suggesting that their forecasts of doom have proven false. This reflects the idea that the future is uncertain and that predictions are often unreliable.
The line reinforces the poet’s belief in the resilience of his love, which has defied any predictions of its demise.
Line 7:
“Incertainties now crown themselves assured,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Incertainties: Uncertainties.
- Crown themselves assured: Become certain or confirmed.
In-Depth Explanation of Text and Context:
The poet observes that uncertainties have now been resolved, leading to a sense of stability and assurance. This suggests that the challenges and doubts of the past have been overcome, leading to a brighter future.
The line reflects the poet’s optimism and his belief in the enduring nature of his love, which has survived despite the uncertainties of life.
Line 8:
“And peace proclaims olives of endless age.”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Olives: A symbol of peace and longevity.
In-Depth Explanation of Text and Context:
The poet declares that peace has been established, symbolized by the “olives of endless age.” This suggests a period of lasting peace and stability, which contrasts with the uncertainties of the past.
The line reflects the poet’s optimism and his belief in the enduring nature of his love, which has thrived despite the challenges of life.
Line 9:
“Now with the drops of this most balmy time,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Balmy: Soothing or gentle.
In-Depth Explanation of Text and Context:
The poet describes the present as a “balmy time,” suggesting a period of peace and prosperity. This reflects the idea that the challenges of the past have been overcome, leading to a brighter and more stable future.
The line reinforces the poet’s optimism and his belief in the enduring nature of his love, which has thrived despite the uncertainties of life.
Line 10:
“My love looks fresh, and Death to me subscribes,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Subscribes: Yields or surrenders.
In-Depth Explanation of Text and Context:
The poet declares that his love remains fresh and vibrant, and that Death has yielded to him. This suggests that his love has overcome the threat of mortality and remains strong and enduring.
The line reflects the poet’s belief in the power of love to transcend death and achieve immortality.
Line 11:
“Since, spite of him, I’ll live in this poor rhyme,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Spite of him: Despite Death.
- Poor rhyme: Humble poetry.
In-Depth Explanation of Text and Context:
The poet asserts that he will achieve immortality through his poetry, despite the threat of Death. This suggests that his love will live on through his verses, which will endure long after he is gone.
The line reflects the poet’s belief in the power of art to transcend mortality and preserve love for future generations.
Line 12:
“While he insults o’er dull and speechless tribes:”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Insults: Triumphs or mocks.
- Dull and speechless tribes: Those who are forgotten or unremarkable.
In-Depth Explanation of Text and Context:
The poet describes Death as triumphing over those who are forgotten or unremarkable, suggesting that they have no legacy to preserve. This contrasts with the poet’s belief in the enduring power of his poetry, which will ensure that his love is remembered.
The line reinforces the poet’s belief in the power of art to transcend mortality and preserve love for future generations.
Line 13:
“And thou in this shalt find thy monument,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Monument: A lasting memorial or tribute.
In-Depth Explanation of Text and Context:
The poet declares that the beloved will find their monument in his poetry, which will serve as a lasting tribute to their beauty and virtue. This suggests that the beloved’s legacy will be preserved through the poet’s verses.
The line reflects the poet’s belief in the power of art to immortalize the beloved and ensure that their beauty is remembered for generations to come.
Line 14:
“When tyrants’ crests and tombs of brass are spent.”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Tyrants’ crests: The symbols of power of oppressive rulers.
- Tombs of brass: Grand but ultimately perishable monuments.
In-Depth Explanation of Text and Context:
The sonnet concludes with the poet declaring that his poetry will outlast the monuments of tyrants, which will eventually decay and be forgotten. This suggests that the power of art is greater than the power of tyranny, and that the beloved’s legacy will endure long after the symbols of oppression have faded.
The line reflects the poet’s belief in the enduring power of art to transcend mortality and preserve love for future generations.
Summary of the Sonnet:
Sonnet 107 explores the enduring nature of the poet’s love and its ability to transcend time and mortality. The poet declares that neither his personal fears nor the collective foresight of humanity can control the duration of his love, which remains strong and unchanging. He reflects on the uncertainties of the past and the challenges that have been overcome, leading to a period of peace and stability. The poet asserts that his love will achieve immortality through his poetry, which will serve as a lasting tribute to the beloved’s beauty and virtue. The sonnet reflects Shakespeare’s belief in the power of art to transcend mortality and preserve love for future generations, ensuring that the beloved’s legacy endures long after the monuments of tyrants have faded.
In-Depth Analysis of Sonnet 107
Summary
Sonnet 107 is a triumphant meditation on love, time, fate, and poetic immortality. Shakespeare asserts that neither his own fears nor the world’s predictions can determine the fate of his love. He suggests that doom and uncertainty have been overcome, and that his poetry will ensure his beloved’s eternal memory, even as the grand monuments of rulers fade away.
- The first quatrain introduces the idea that neither personal anxieties nor the world’s prophetic insights can predict or limit the duration of the poet’s love.
- The second quatrain references a recent historical event (possibly the death of Queen Elizabeth I in 1603), emphasizing how feared disasters often prove to be less consequential than expected.
- The third quatrain transitions into a celebration of poetic immortality, suggesting that while death may conquer most, Shakespeare’s verse will ensure his beloved lives on.
- The final couplet concludes with a bold statement of poetic supremacy, claiming that even the monuments of tyrants will decay, while this poem will endure.
Critical Analysis
1. Overcoming Fear and Fate
- The poet begins by rejecting both personal and universal fears.
- “Not mine own fears, nor the prophetic soul / Of the wide world dreaming on things to come” → This line contrasts individual anxiety (the poet’s own fears) with collective anxiety (the world’s predictions of doom).
- He asserts that despite these ominous forecasts, his love remains secure and unshaken.
2. The Eclipse of the “Mortal Moon”
- The “mortal moon” likely symbolizes Queen Elizabeth I, who was often associated with the moon and the Virgin Queen archetype.
- Her “eclipse” represents her death, which was expected to bring chaos, yet history has moved forward without the predicted disaster.
- Shakespeare mocks the “sad augurs”, or fortune-tellers, who failed to predict the true course of events.
3. The Power of Poetry Over Death
- “Now with the drops of this most balmy time, / My love looks fresh, and Death to me subscribes.”
- This suggests that the present moment is healing (“balmy time”) and that love is stronger than decay.
- Shakespeare personifies Death as submitting to him, reinforcing the idea that poetry can triumph over mortality.
- “Since, spite of him, I’ll live in this poor rhyme, / While he insults o’er dull and speechless tribes.”
- Even though Death may claim others, the poet asserts that he and his beloved will live on through poetry.
4. The Final Challenge to Tyrants and Time
- The closing couplet delivers a powerful, defiant statement:
- “And thou in this shalt find thy monument, / When tyrants’ crests and tombs of brass are spent.”
- Shakespeare argues that this poem will serve as a lasting monument, even after rulers’ elaborate tombs decay.
- This recalls the theme of poetry’s endurance over material structures, a recurring idea in Shakespeare’s sonnets (e.g., Sonnet 55: “Not marble, nor the gilded monuments of princes…”).
Theme Analysis
1. The Power of Poetry Over Mortality
- One of Shakespeare’s most famous themes—the ability of poetry to grant eternal life—is central to this sonnet.
- The beloved will live on in verse, while even the grandest monuments and rulers will fade.
2. Historical & Political Commentary
- The “mortal moon” eclipse may reflect political anxieties about the transition from Elizabeth I to James I.
- The reference to tyrants and brass tombs suggests that even powerful rulers are not immune to time—but poetry is.
3. The Illusion of Fate
- The poem challenges the idea of destiny and prophecy.
- Though the world believes in predetermined fate, the poet asserts that love and poetry defy all expectations.
Literary Devices
1. Symbolism
- The “mortal moon” → Likely represents Queen Elizabeth I, symbolizing political change and the end of an era.
- Olives of endless age → A reference to peace, possibly celebrating the smooth succession of James I.
- Drops of balmy time → Evokes healing and renewal, suggesting that love remains fresh despite change.
2. Personification
- Death is personified as an entity who submits to the poet (“Death to me subscribes”), reinforcing the power of art over mortality.
- Time is also personified, as it attempts to age beauty but fails when confronted by poetry.
3. Alliteration & Contrast
- The contrast between “dull and speechless tribes” vs. immortal poetry reinforces the idea that those without poetry are forgotten by history.
- The alliteration in “tyrants’ crests and tombs of brass” emphasizes the grandeur of rulers, which ultimately fades.
Conclusion
Sonnet 107 is a bold declaration of poetry’s supremacy over time, fate, and death. Shakespeare dismisses both personal and global fears, asserting that his love transcends prophecy and mortality. While history moves forward unpredictably, and monuments to rulers crumble, his verse will endure forever, ensuring the eternal memory of his beloved.
