For shame deny that thou bear’st love to any,
Who for thy self art so unprovident.
Grant, if thou wilt, thou art beloved of many,
But that thou none lov’st is most evident:
For thou art so possessed with murderous hate,
That ‘gainst thy self thou stick’st not to conspire,
Seeking that beauteous roof to ruinate
Which to repair should be thy chief desire.
O! change thy thought, that I may change my mind:
Shall hate be fairer lodged than gentle love?
Be, as thy presence is, gracious and kind,
Or to thyself at least kind-hearted prove:
Make thee another self for love of me,
That beauty still may live in thine or thee.
Line 1: “For shame deny that thou bear’st love to any,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- For shame – A strong rebuke, meaning “you should be ashamed”
- Deny – Refuse to admit
- Bear’st love – Have affection for
In-depth Explanation & Context:
Shakespeare opens with a sharp accusation, telling the young man he should be ashamed if he dares claim to love anyone.
This is because, despite being admired by many, he is selfish and uncharitable—not reciprocating that love by ensuring his legacy through children.
The phrase “deny that thou bear’st love to any” suggests that his actions contradict love itself. True love, according to the poet, should include a desire to continue one’s lineage.
Line 2: “Who for thy self art so unprovident.”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Unprovident – Wasteful, careless, not thinking about the future
In-depth Explanation & Context:
Shakespeare strengthens his argument by calling the young man irresponsible.
Unlike a wise person who plans for the future, the young man hoards his beauty selfishly and refuses to share it through offspring.
By not securing his legacy, he is unprovident—failing to provide for future generations.
Line 3: “Grant, if thou wilt, thou art beloved of many,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Grant – Admit, acknowledge
- If thou wilt – If you wish
- Beloved of many – Loved by many people
In-depth Explanation & Context:
Here, Shakespeare concedes a fact: the young man is adored by many people.
However, this does not excuse his selfishness. Even though others admire him, that admiration means little if he refuses to extend love in return.
Line 4: “But that thou none lov’st is most evident:”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- None lov’st – Do not love anyone
- Most evident – Clearly true
In-depth Explanation & Context:
Shakespeare accuses the young man of being incapable of love.
Despite being adored by many, he fails to return love—which is evident from his refusal to marry and have children.
This line reinforces the theme of selfishness, making the point that love must be active, not just received.
Line 5: “For thou art so possessed with murderous hate,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Possessed – Controlled by
- Murderous hate – A destructive and self-harming resentment
In-depth Explanation & Context:
The poet now escalates his language, accusing the young man of self-destructive hatred.
By refusing to pass on his beauty, he is effectively “murdering” his own legacy.
This metaphor suggests that not having children is a violent act against oneself, reinforcing the moral responsibility of procreation.
Line 6: “That ‘gainst thy self thou stick’st not to conspire,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- ‘Gainst thy self – Against yourself
- Stick’st not to conspire – Do not hesitate to plot (against yourself)
In-depth Explanation & Context:
Shakespeare presents the young man’s actions as a form of self-sabotage.
By refusing to have children, he is actively working against his own survival and legacy.
The word “conspire” makes it sound as though he is secretly plotting his own destruction—a powerful image of self-inflicted harm.
Line 7: “Seeking that beauteous roof to ruinate”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Beauteous roof – His beautiful body and lineage
- Ruinate – Ruin, destroy
In-depth Explanation & Context:
The “beauteous roof” refers to the young man’s physical beauty, which should be protected and preserved.
Yet, instead of preserving it through children, he seeks to ruin it by letting it fade away with age and death.
This continues the theme that his inaction is equivalent to active destruction.
Line 8: “Which to repair should be thy chief desire.”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Repair – Maintain, preserve (through having children)
- Chief desire – Main goal or responsibility
In-depth Explanation & Context:
Instead of allowing his beauty to fade, the young man should be “repairing” it by passing it on to his children.
Shakespeare argues that procreation is a duty—not just for oneself, but for the world.
Line 9: “O! change thy thought, that I may change my mind:”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Change thy thought – Rethink your choices
- That I may change my mind – So I can think differently about you
In-depth Explanation & Context:
Shakespeare pleads with the young man: if he changes his ways, the poet will no longer have to criticize him.
This shows that Shakespeare’s scolding is out of concern—he wishes to admire the young man, not condemn him.
Line 10: “Shall hate be fairer lodged than gentle love?”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Fairer lodged – Better housed, more fitting
- Gentle love – Kind and nurturing love
In-depth Explanation & Context:
The poet questions: should hatred (self-destruction) be given a greater place in your heart than love (procreation and generosity)?
Shakespeare makes a moral contrast: the young man should embrace love rather than continue his selfish, self-harming behavior.
Line 11: “Be, as thy presence is, gracious and kind,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Presence – Physical appearance, outward demeanor
- Gracious and kind – Noble and loving
In-depth Explanation & Context:
People see the young man as beautiful and noble, so he should also act the part by being gracious and loving.
Shakespeare is calling for harmony between his outward beauty and inner character.
Line 12: “Or to thyself at least kind-hearted prove:”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- To thyself – To yourself
- Kind-hearted prove – Show kindness to yourself
In-depth Explanation & Context:
If the young man cannot bring himself to care for others, he should at least be kind to himself.
By choosing to pass on his beauty, he is ensuring his own survival in a different form—a kindness to himself.
Line 13: “Make thee another self for love of me,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Make thee another self – Have a child, create another version of yourself
- For love of me – If not for yourself, then for my sake
In-depth Explanation & Context:
Shakespeare now makes it personal—if the young man will not have children for his own sake, he should do it for the poet.
This line reflects deep admiration and attachment between the poet and the young man.
Line 14: “That beauty still may live in thine or thee.”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Still may live – Continue to exist
- In thine or thee – In your children or in yourself
In-depth Explanation & Context:
Shakespeare concludes with hope: the young man’s beauty can survive either in his children or within himself.
However, the poet warns that without children, his beauty will be lost forever.
Final Thoughts:
Sonnet 10 is one of Shakespeare’s most direct rebukes, portraying the young man’s refusal to have children as selfish, destructive, and unnatural.
Summary
In Sonnet 10, Shakespeare continues his argument for the young man to marry and have children. The speaker chastises him, accusing him of selfishness and neglect. He claims that the young man is “unprovident”—careless about his future—and suggests that, though many people love him, he does not truly love anyone in return.
The harshest accusation comes when the speaker suggests that the young man is guilty of “murderous hate” against himself because he refuses to ensure his own legacy by having children. Instead of preserving his beauty, he is actively destroying it—ruining the very “beauteous roof” (his body and lineage) that he should be protecting.
The speaker pleads with the young man to change his ways. He questions whether hate should reside in such a beautiful person when love would be a far worthier companion. Ultimately, Shakespeare urges the young man to create “another self” (a child) so that his beauty can continue to exist either through his offspring or in himself.
Critical Analysis
1. Accusation of Selfishness and Lack of Love
The young man may be loved by many, but he himself does not truly love anyone. Shakespeare sees this lack of reciprocation as selfish and unnatural.
- True love involves giving, not just receiving.
- The young man hoards his beauty rather than sharing it through procreation.
- This refusal to create a legacy is depicted as an act of “murderous hate” toward himself.
This argument aligns with the Renaissance ideal of duty—one’s responsibility was to leave a lasting impact on the world.
2. The Metaphor of a “Beauteous Roof”
Shakespeare describes the young man’s beauty and lineage as a house, which he is allowing to fall into ruin:
- The “roof” represents his outward beauty and family line.
- Instead of repairing and maintaining it (through having children), he is letting it collapse into decay.
This metaphor reinforces the idea that youth and beauty are temporary unless they are preserved through future generations.
3. The Dichotomy of Love vs. Hate
- Shakespeare frames the young man’s behavior as self-destructive.
- Instead of love, he is filled with “murderous hate”—a strong accusation that suggests his refusal to procreate is unnatural and cruel.
- The speaker challenges him: Why should hate be given space in someone as beautiful as he? Shouldn’t love be his defining quality instead?
This argument plays into the Renaissance belief that external beauty should reflect internal goodness.
4. The Speaker’s Personal Plea
- Unlike earlier sonnets that speak about general duty, this one contains a personal appeal.
- The phrase “for love of me” suggests that the speaker has a deep emotional investment in the young man.
- It shifts from a moral argument to a personal one, implying that the speaker himself cares for the young man and wants to see him thrive.
Themes
1. The Duty to Love and Procreate
- Love is not just about receiving affection but about giving and preserving it.
- The young man’s failure to have children is framed as both selfish and unnatural.
- Shakespeare insists that true love involves securing a legacy.
2. Self-Destruction vs. Self-Preservation
- The sonnet portrays the young man as his own worst enemy.
- Instead of cherishing his beauty and potential, he is conspiring against himself by letting it go to waste.
- The contrast between “ruin” and “repair” emphasizes the choice between self-destruction and self-preservation.
3. The Relationship Between Inner and Outer Beauty
- Shakespeare suggests that beauty should reflect kindness and love.
- The young man is outwardly beautiful but internally full of neglect and selfishness.
- The speaker urges him to match his external beauty with internal goodness—symbolized by love, generosity, and procreation.
Literary Devices
1. Metaphor – The Young Man as a House in Ruin
- “Seeking that beauteous roof to ruinate / Which to repair should be thy chief desire”
- The “roof” symbolizes his body, beauty, and lineage.
- Instead of repairing (preserving beauty through children), he is letting it collapse (refusing to procreate).
2. Personification – Love and Hate as Tenants
- “Shall hate be fairer lodged than gentle love?”
- Love and hate are described as if they are physical beings taking residence within him.
- The speaker asks why the young man allows hate to take control instead of love.
3. Hyperbole – “Murderous Hate”
- The speaker exaggerates the young man’s refusal to marry, calling it “murder”.
- This dramatization makes it seem like not having children is an act of extreme cruelty and self-harm.
4. Parallelism – “Make thee another self”
- The phrase “Make thee another self” reinforces the theme of continuation.
- It creates a rhythmic balance that makes the argument more persuasive.
5. Rhyme Scheme and Structure
- Shakespeare follows his traditional sonnet structure:
- ABABCDCDEFEFGG rhyme scheme
- Iambic pentameter ensures a steady, flowing rhythm.
- The final rhyming couplet (“Make thee another self…”) presents a strong concluding argument, urging the young man to change.
Conclusion
Sonnet 10 is a powerful rebuke against selfishness and neglect of duty. Shakespeare accuses the young man of being unloving and self-destructive—his refusal to procreate is depicted as an act of murderous hatred toward himself.
Through metaphors of ruin, economic imagery, and personification, the speaker emphasizes that the young man’s beauty will die with him unless he produces an heir. The poem also introduces a personal element, as the speaker directly pleads, “for love of me”, suggesting a deep emotional connection.
Ultimately, the sonnet reinforces Shakespeare’s broader “Procreation Sonnets” theme: beauty and love should not die with one generation but must be preserved through future descendants.
