Sonnet 123: No, Time, Thou Shalt Not Boast That I Do Change
No, Time, thou shalt not boast that I do change
Thy pyramids built up with newer might
To me are nothing novel, nothing strange;
They are but dressings of a former sight.
Our dates are brief, and therefore we admire
What thou dost foist upon us that is old;
And rather make them born to our desire
Than think that we before have heard them told.
Thy registers and thee I both defy,
Not wondering at the present nor the past,
For thy records and what we see doth lie,
Made more or less by thy continual haste.
This I do vow and this shall ever be;
I will be true despite thy scythe and thee.
Sonnet Line 1:
“No, Time, thou shalt not boast that I do change”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Thou shalt not: You shall not.
- Boast: To brag or claim proudly.
Explanation:
The speaker begins by directly addressing Time, personifying it as a boastful entity. The speaker defiantly declares that Time cannot claim that they have changed. This line sets the tone for the sonnet, which is a bold rejection of Time’s power to alter the speaker’s constancy or truth. The speaker’s resistance to Time’s influence introduces the central theme of steadfastness in the face of inevitable change.
Sonnet Line 2:
“Thy pyramids built up with newer might”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Pyramids: Monumental structures, often symbolic of grandeur and endurance.
- Newer might: Recent strength or effort.
Explanation:
The speaker refers to Time’s creations, such as the pyramids, which are often seen as timeless symbols of human achievement. However, the phrase “newer might” suggests that even these grand structures are subject to Time’s influence, as they are constantly being rebuilt or reinterpreted. This line introduces the idea that Time’s works, though impressive, are not immune to change.
Sonnet Line 3:
“To me are nothing novel, nothing strange;”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Novel: New or original.
- Strange: Unfamiliar or unusual.
Explanation:
The speaker dismisses Time’s creations as neither new nor unfamiliar. This line suggests that the speaker sees through the illusion of novelty, recognizing that Time’s works are merely repetitions or reworkings of what has come before. The speaker’s perspective challenges the idea of progress, emphasizing the cyclical nature of Time’s influence.
Sonnet Line 4:
“They are but dressings of a former sight.”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Dressings: Decorations or embellishments.
- Former sight: Something seen before.
Explanation:
The speaker elaborates that Time’s creations are merely superficial changes (“dressings”) of things that have already existed. This line reinforces the idea that Time’s works lack true originality, as they are built upon what has come before. The speaker’s skepticism toward Time’s power to create something genuinely new underscores their defiance.
Sonnet Line 5:
“Our dates are brief, and therefore we admire”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Dates: Lifespans or periods of existence.
- Admire: To regard with wonder or approval.
Explanation:
The speaker reflects on the brevity of human life, suggesting that our short lifespans lead us to admire things that seem new or impressive. This line introduces a critique of human perception, implying that our limited perspective causes us to overvalue Time’s creations. The speaker’s tone is both reflective and critical, highlighting the gap between human experience and the vastness of Time.
Sonnet Line 6:
“What thou dost foist upon us that is old;”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Foist: To impose or pass off as genuine.
- Old: Ancient or previously existing.
Explanation:
The speaker accuses Time of deceiving humanity by presenting old things as if they were new. The word “foist” suggests a deliberate act of trickery, emphasizing the speaker’s distrust of Time’s influence. This line deepens the critique of human perception, suggesting that our admiration for Time’s works is based on a misunderstanding of their true nature.
Sonnet Line 7:
“And rather make them born to our desire”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Born to our desire: Created to satisfy our wishes.
Explanation:
The speaker suggests that humans reinterpret Time’s creations to fit their own desires, imagining them as new or original. This line highlights the subjective nature of human perception, as we project our own needs and aspirations onto the world around us. The speaker’s tone is both observant and critical, pointing out the limitations of human understanding.
Sonnet Line 8:
“Than think that we before have heard them told.”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Heard them told: Heard them described or recounted.
Explanation:
The speaker concludes that humans prefer to believe in the novelty of Time’s creations rather than acknowledge their familiarity. This line underscores the human tendency to ignore the cyclical nature of Time, choosing instead to see what we want to see. The speaker’s critique of human perception adds depth to their defiance of Time’s influence.
Sonnet Line 9:
“Thy registers and thee I both defy,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Registers: Records or accounts.
- Defy: To resist or challenge.
Explanation:
The speaker boldly declares their defiance of Time and its records. The word “registers” refers to Time’s documentation of events, which the speaker rejects as unreliable or deceptive. This line marks a turning point in the sonnet, as the speaker takes a firm stand against Time’s authority, asserting their independence and constancy.
Sonnet Line 10:
“Not wondering at the present nor the past,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Wondering: Being amazed or curious.
Explanation:
The speaker claims that they are neither impressed by the present nor preoccupied with the past. This line emphasizes the speaker’s detachment from Time’s influence, as they refuse to be swayed by its illusions. The speaker’s steadfastness contrasts with the human tendency to admire Time’s works, reinforcing their defiance.
Sonnet Line 11:
“For thy records and what we see doth lie,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Records: Accounts or documentation.
- Lie: To deceive or misrepresent.
Explanation:
The speaker accuses Time’s records and human perception of being deceptive. This line suggests that both Time’s documentation and our own observations are unreliable, as they are shaped by Time’s influence. The speaker’s skepticism deepens their rejection of Time’s authority, emphasizing their commitment to truth and constancy.
Sonnet Line 12:
“Made more or less by thy continual haste.”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Continual haste: Constant speed or urgency.
Explanation:
The speaker argues that Time’s relentless pace distorts our perception, making things seem more or less significant than they truly are. This line highlights the disruptive effect of Time’s passage, as it skews our understanding of reality. The speaker’s critique of Time’s influence reinforces their defiance and commitment to truth.
Sonnet Line 13:
“This I do vow and this shall ever be;”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Vow: To promise solemnly.
- Ever be: Will always remain.
Explanation:
The speaker makes a solemn vow to remain steadfast in their defiance of Time. This line marks a powerful declaration of the speaker’s commitment to constancy and truth, regardless of Time’s influence. The speaker’s tone is resolute and unwavering, emphasizing their determination to resist Time’s power.
Sonnet Line 14:
“I will be true despite thy scythe and thee.”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- True: Faithful or constant.
- Scythe: A symbol of Time’s destructive power, often associated with death.
Explanation:
The speaker concludes by affirming their commitment to truth and constancy, even in the face of Time’s destructive power. The image of the scythe evokes the inevitability of death, but the speaker remains undeterred, asserting their unwavering devotion to what is true and enduring. This final line encapsulates the sonnet’s central theme of defiance and steadfastness.
In-Depth Analysis of Sonnet 123
Summary
In Sonnet 123, the speaker directly addresses Time, personifying it as a force that attempts to claim dominion over all things. The speaker boldly defies Time, refusing to acknowledge that he has changed or that the grand monuments of the present are truly new. He argues that what seems novel is merely a repetition of the past—old structures rebuilt with renewed grandeur but ultimately the same in essence.
The fleeting nature of human existence causes people to marvel at things Time presents as new, even though they are merely reimaginings of what has come before. Rather than recognizing their repetition, people project their own desires onto these so-called innovations. The speaker, however, refuses to be deceived by Time’s tricks. He rejects both Time’s records and its ever-changing present, declaring them unreliable and subject to distortion.
In the final couplet, the speaker makes a solemn vow: he will remain true to himself despite the passage of time and its inevitable destruction, symbolized by Time’s scythe. This resolution to defy Time reinforces the theme of personal integrity and permanence in the face of inevitable change.
Critical Analysis
Sonnet 123 is a bold confrontation with Time, a recurring antagonist in Shakespeare’s sonnets. Unlike other sonnets where Time is depicted as an unstoppable force that erodes beauty and love, this poem takes a more defiant stance. The speaker refuses to be impressed by the so-called advancements of time, recognizing them as mere repetitions of history.
A key argument in the sonnet is that history repeats itself, and human admiration of the “new” is simply a failure to recognize this repetition. The sonnet critiques humanity’s tendency to romanticize and accept Time’s changes rather than perceiving them as mere variations of what has already existed. By rejecting Time’s “registers” (records), the speaker implies that history itself is unreliable, shaped and reshaped by Time’s relentless motion.
There is an existential quality to the speaker’s defiance—while Time may change the external world, he insists that he will remain true to himself. This is an assertion of human will against the inevitable. However, there is an underlying irony: the very act of writing a poem about defying Time is, in itself, an attempt to preserve one’s thoughts beyond one’s lifetime, indirectly acknowledging Time’s power.
The final couplet delivers a resolute conclusion, where the speaker refuses to succumb to Time’s influence. The imagery of Time’s scythe, a frequent symbol of mortality, reinforces the poem’s central conflict: the speaker acknowledges the threat of time but vows to resist its psychological effects by maintaining his inner constancy.
Theme Analysis
- Defiance Against Time
The poem is an assertion of resistance against Time’s power. The speaker refuses to acknowledge Time’s ability to alter him, positioning himself as an unyielding force in contrast to the ever-changing world. - The Repetition of History
The sonnet argues that what is presented as “new” is merely a reworking of the past. The speaker suggests that human beings are easily deceived by Time’s tricks, mistaking reinvention for originality. - The Fallibility of Historical Records
By rejecting Time’s “registers” (historical records), the speaker calls into question the reliability of recorded history. He implies that history is distorted by Time’s “continual haste”—its unceasing forward motion. - The Power of Personal Integrity
The poem conveys the idea that while everything around us may change, staying true to oneself is the ultimate defiance of Time’s influence. The final vow to remain “true despite thy scythe and thee” suggests that integrity is the only true form of immortality. - Mortality vs. Immortality
The scythe, a symbol of death, highlights the inevitable fate of all living things. However, the speaker’s determination to remain unchanged suggests an attempt to achieve a form of immortality—not necessarily physical, but through his steadfastness.
Literary Devices
- Personification
- “No, Time, thou shalt not boast that I do change”
Time is personified as a conscious being that boasts of its power over humanity. - “Thy registers and thee I both defy”
Time’s records are given human-like attributes, as if they actively manipulate reality.
- Imagery
- “Thy pyramids built up with newer might”
The image of pyramids symbolizes grand historical achievements that are seemingly novel but ultimately unchanging. - “Despite thy scythe and thee”
The scythe, a traditional symbol of death and time’s destruction, adds a stark reminder of mortality.
- Irony
- The speaker claims not to be influenced by Time, yet the entire poem is a reaction to its effects, suggesting an underlying recognition of Time’s power.
- He rejects historical records, yet the poem itself serves as a record of his defiance.
- Hyperbole
- “They are but dressings of a former sight”
The idea that everything new is simply a repeat of the past is exaggerated for emphasis.
- Paradox
- “This I do vow and this shall ever be”
The speaker asserts his constancy, yet the very nature of time means that everything is subject to change. This statement is a challenge to an unavoidable truth.
- Iambic Pentameter
- The poem follows the Shakespearean sonnet form with a steady rhythm, reinforcing the sense of conviction and determination in the speaker’s argument.
Conclusion
Sonnet 123 is one of Shakespeare’s most defiant confrontations with Time. It challenges the notion that Time has the power to alter everything, arguing instead that history is cyclical and external changes are mere repetitions of the past. The speaker refuses to be deceived by these so-called innovations and vows to remain true to himself despite Time’s inevitable march. Through personification, irony, and paradox, the poem explores the tension between the inevitability of change and the human desire for permanence. Ultimately, Sonnet 123 is an assertion of personal integrity against the relentless forces of time and mortality.
