Sonnet 122: Thy Gift, Thy Tables, Are Within My Brain
Thy gift, thy tables, are within my brain
Full charactered with lasting memory,
Which shall above that idle rank remain,
Beyond all date, even to eternity:
Or, at the least, so long as brain and heart
Have faculty by nature to subsist;
Till each to razed oblivion yield his part
Of thee, thy record never can be missed.
That poor retention could not so much hold,
Nor need I tallies thy dear love to score;
Therefore to give them from me was I bold,
To trust those tables that receive thee more:
To keep an adjunct to remember thee
Were to import forgetfulness in me.
Sonnet Line 1:
“Thy gift, thy tables, are within my brain”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Thy: Your.
- Tables: Writing tablets or notebooks (used for recording information).
Explanation:
The speaker begins by addressing the beloved, referring to a gift they received: “tables” or writing tablets. These tablets symbolize a physical record of the beloved’s thoughts or feelings. However, the speaker asserts that this gift is now “within my brain,” suggesting that the memory of the beloved is deeply ingrained in their mind. This line introduces the theme of memory versus physical records, emphasizing the superiority of mental retention over material objects.
Sonnet Line 2:
“Full charactered with lasting memory,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Full charactered: Fully written or inscribed.
- Lasting memory: Enduring remembrance.
Explanation:
The speaker describes their brain as being “full charactered” with the beloved’s memory, meaning it is thoroughly imprinted and preserved. The phrase “lasting memory” underscores the permanence of this mental record, contrasting it with the ephemeral nature of physical objects. This line reinforces the idea that the speaker’s mind is a more reliable and enduring repository for the beloved’s essence than any external gift.
Sonnet Line 3:
“Which shall above that idle rank remain,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Idle rank: Insignificant or unimportant position.
Explanation:
The speaker claims that the memory of the beloved will remain superior (“above”) to the “idle rank” of physical tablets. The word “idle” suggests that the tablets are useless or trivial compared to the enduring power of memory. This line further elevates the importance of mental retention over material objects, emphasizing the speaker’s devotion and the permanence of their love.
Sonnet Line 4:
“Beyond all date, even to eternity:”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Beyond all date: Outlasting any specific time period.
- Eternity: Infinite or endless time.
Explanation:
The speaker declares that their memory of the beloved will endure “beyond all date,” meaning it will outlast any measurable time, extending even into eternity. This hyperbolic statement underscores the timelessness of their love and the permanence of their mental record. The line reinforces the theme of immortality through memory, contrasting it with the finite nature of physical objects.
Sonnet Line 5:
“Or, at the least, so long as brain and heart”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- At the least: At the very minimum.
- Brain and heart: Mind and emotions.
Explanation:
The speaker acknowledges a more practical limit to their memory: it will last as long as their “brain and heart” continue to function. This line introduces a note of realism, recognizing that memory is tied to the speaker’s physical existence. However, it still emphasizes the enduring nature of their love, as long as they are alive.
Sonnet Line 6:
“Have faculty by nature to subsist;”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Faculty: Ability or capacity.
- Subsist: To exist or survive.
Explanation:
The speaker elaborates that their memory will endure as long as their brain and heart retain their natural ability to function. The word “faculty” suggests an inherent power, while “subsist” emphasizes the continuation of life. This line reinforces the idea that the speaker’s love is deeply intertwined with their very existence.
Sonnet Line 7:
“Till each to razed oblivion yield his part”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Razed oblivion: Complete destruction or forgetfulness.
- Yield his part: Surrender its role.
Explanation:
The speaker envisions a future where their brain and heart eventually succumb to “razed oblivion,” or complete destruction and forgetfulness. The phrase “yield his part” suggests a gradual surrender to decay. This line introduces the inevitability of death and the eventual loss of memory, adding a somber tone to the poem.
Sonnet Line 8:
“Of thee, thy record never can be missed.”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Record: Memory or account.
- Missed: Lost or forgotten.
Explanation:
Despite the eventual decay of the speaker’s mind, they assert that the “record” of the beloved will never be lost. This line suggests that the beloved’s essence is so deeply ingrained in the speaker’s being that it transcends even the limits of memory. It reinforces the theme of enduring love and the idea that true remembrance is eternal.
Sonnet Line 9:
“That poor retention could not so much hold,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Poor retention: Weak or inadequate memory.
- Hold: Contain or preserve.
Explanation:
The speaker dismisses the physical tablets as “poor retention,” incapable of preserving the beloved’s essence as effectively as their mind. This line contrasts the limitations of external objects with the power of internal memory, emphasizing the speaker’s preference for mental over material records.
Sonnet Line 10:
“Nor need I tallies thy dear love to score;”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Tallies: Records or accounts.
- Score: To record or keep track of.
Explanation:
The speaker declares that they do not need physical “tallies” or records to keep track of the beloved’s love. This line reinforces the idea that the speaker’s memory is sufficient and superior to any external means of recording. It also suggests a deep confidence in the permanence of their emotional connection.
Sonnet Line 11:
“Therefore to give them from me was I bold,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Therefore: For this reason.
- Bold: Courageous or confident.
Explanation:
The speaker explains that they felt confident (“bold”) in giving away the physical tablets because they no longer needed them. This act symbolizes their trust in the power of memory and their belief that the beloved’s essence is securely preserved within their mind.
Sonnet Line 12:
“To trust those tables that receive thee more:”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Trust: To rely on.
- Receive thee more: To hold or preserve you better.
Explanation:
The speaker asserts that they trust their mental “tables” (memory) to preserve the beloved more effectively than physical tablets. This line reinforces the superiority of internal remembrance over external records, emphasizing the depth of the speaker’s devotion.
Sonnet Line 13:
“To keep an adjunct to remember thee”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Adjunct: An accessory or supplement.
- Remember thee: To recall or cherish you.
Explanation:
The speaker argues that keeping a physical object (“adjunct”) to remember the beloved would be unnecessary. This line suggests that relying on external aids would diminish the purity and strength of their mental remembrance.
Sonnet Line 14:
“Were to import forgetfulness in me.”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Import: To imply or suggest.
- Forgetfulness: A state of being forgotten.
Explanation:
The speaker concludes that using a physical object to remember the beloved would imply a lack of trust in their own memory, suggesting “forgetfulness.” This final line underscores the poem’s central theme: the superiority of mental remembrance and the speaker’s unwavering devotion to the beloved.
In-Depth Analysis of Sonnet 122
Summary
In Sonnet 122, the speaker addresses the idea of memory and its permanence in contrast to physical records. The “tables” in the first line refer to writing tablets, which were often used in Shakespeare’s time for recording important information. The speaker asserts that the memory of the beloved is imprinted indelibly in his mind, more enduring than any written record. He insists that his love and remembrance will outlast time itself, persisting until his brain and heart no longer function.
The speaker acknowledges that physical records, such as writing tablets, are unreliable (“that poor retention”), as they cannot hold love as deeply as his mind can. He then justifies his act of giving away the tablets, explaining that he does not need such external aids to remember his beloved. In fact, he argues that keeping them would imply the possibility of forgetting, which he deems impossible. The sonnet concludes with the idea that true remembrance does not require external prompts; love is preserved eternally in the mind and heart.
Critical Analysis
Sonnet 122 is one of Shakespeare’s explorations of memory, love, and permanence. It delves into the idea that true love and deep emotional bonds do not require tangible records—they exist independently in the mind and heart. The sonnet seems to reject materialistic representations of love in favor of an abstract, more spiritual form of remembrance.
A key paradox in the poem is that by discarding the physical record (the writing tablets), the speaker affirms the greater permanence of his memory. The sonnet expresses a deep confidence in the human mind’s ability to retain what is most precious, contrasting it with the impermanence of physical objects. However, this assertion may be ironic; Shakespeare, after all, is using written words to preserve the very sentiment he claims transcends writing.
There is also a possible undercurrent of defensiveness in the sonnet. The speaker insists that he does not need the physical token of memory, but could this suggest an anxiety about forgetting? The emphatic declaration that love is eternally imprinted in his brain might hint at an underlying fear that memory, like all things, is subject to decay. In this way, the poem subtly acknowledges the limitations of human faculties, even as it claims to transcend them.
Theme Analysis
- Memory vs. Physical Record
The central contrast in the poem is between memory and written records. The speaker argues that the mind’s recollection is more powerful and enduring than external aids like writing tablets. This reflects Renaissance concerns about the reliability of human memory versus recorded history. - The Transience of Material Objects
The sonnet implies that physical objects, no matter how dear, are ultimately temporary. The writing tablets cannot hold love as deeply as the mind can. Shakespeare often returns to this theme in his sonnets, contrasting material decay with the supposed immortality of emotions and thoughts. - The Fear of Forgetting
While the speaker asserts that memory is eternal, there is an implied tension—why insist on it so strongly unless there is some underlying doubt? The poem indirectly touches on the fragility of human recollection and the inevitability of time’s erasure. - Love as an Everlasting Force
The poem conveys the idea that true love does not require external validation or symbols. Love, once embedded in the mind, is self-sustaining and imperishable. This aligns with Shakespeare’s broader theme across the sonnets that love is timeless and exists beyond physical limitations.
Literary Devices
- Metaphor
- “Thy gift, thy tables, are within my brain”
The “tables” (writing tablets) symbolize memory itself. The speaker presents his mind as a superior, living record compared to inanimate writing.
- Hyperbole
- “Beyond all date, even to eternity”
The speaker exaggerates the permanence of his memory, claiming it will last forever, reinforcing the theme of love’s endurance.
- Personification
- “Till each to razed oblivion yield his part”
Oblivion (forgetfulness) is depicted as an active force that eventually claims both mind and body.
- Irony
- The speaker claims he does not need writing tablets to remember his beloved, yet he is writing a poem—a physical record—to declare this fact. This irony raises questions about the reliability of human memory.
- Paradox
- “To keep an adjunct to remember thee / Were to import forgetfulness in me.”
The speaker argues that keeping a memory aid (like the tablets) would imply that he might forget, which contradicts his claim that his memory is infallible.
- Iambic Pentameter
- The poem follows the traditional Shakespearean sonnet form with ten-syllable lines, reinforcing a rhythmic and structured expression of thought.
Conclusion
Sonnet 122 is a meditation on memory, love, and the limitations of physical records. Shakespeare presents the speaker as confident in his ability to retain his beloved’s essence in his mind, rejecting the need for tangible reminders. However, the strong insistence on memory’s permanence raises subtle questions about its fragility. Through rich metaphors, irony, and paradox, the sonnet captures the tension between the impermanence of material objects and the desire for eternal remembrance.
