Sonnet 100: Where Art Thou, Muse, That Thou Forget’st So Long
Where art thou Muse that thou forget’st so long,
To speak of that which gives thee all thy might?
Spend’st thou thy fury on some worthless song,
Darkening thy power to lend base subjects light?
Return forgetful Muse, and straight redeem,
In gentle numbers time so idly spent;
Sing to the ear that doth thy lays esteem
And gives thy pen both skill and argument.
Rise, resty Muse, my love’s sweet face survey,
If Time have any wrinkle graven there;
If any, be a satire to decay,
And make time’s spoils despised every where.
Give my love fame faster than Time wastes life,
So thou prevent’st his scythe and crooked knife.
Line 1:
“Where art thou Muse that thou forget’st so long,”
Difficult words meaning:
- Muse: The source of poetic inspiration.
- Forget’st: Have forgotten.
Explanation:
The speaker begins by addressing his Muse, questioning why it has been absent for so long and has forgotten to inspire him.
Context:
This line sets the tone for the sonnet, introducing the theme of the speaker’s frustration with his lack of inspiration and his plea for the Muse to return.
Line 2:
“To speak of that which gives thee all thy might?”
Difficult words meaning:
- Might: Power or strength.
Explanation:
The speaker asks why the Muse has forgotten to speak of the beloved, who is the source of its power and inspiration.
Context:
This line emphasizes the beloved’s central role in the Muse’s inspiration and the speaker’s frustration at the Muse’s neglect.
Line 3:
“Spend’st thou thy fury on some worthless song,”
Difficult words meaning:
- Fury: Passion or energy.
- Worthless song: A trivial or unimportant poem.
Explanation:
The speaker accuses the Muse of wasting its energy on trivial or unimportant poems, rather than focusing on the beloved.
Context:
This line reflects the speaker’s frustration with the Muse’s misplaced priorities and its failure to inspire him to write about the beloved.
Line 4:
“Darkening thy power to lend base subjects light?”
Difficult words meaning:
- Darkening: Diminishing or obscuring.
- Base subjects: Low or unworthy topics.
Explanation:
The speaker suggests that the Muse is diminishing its own power by illuminating unworthy subjects, rather than focusing on the beloved.
Context:
This line underscores the speaker’s belief that the Muse’s true power lies in inspiring poetry about the beloved, and its current focus is a waste of that power.
Line 5:
“Return forgetful Muse, and straight redeem,”
Difficult words meaning:
- Straight redeem: Immediately make amends or correct.
Explanation:
The speaker urges the Muse to return and immediately make amends for its neglect by inspiring him to write about the beloved.
Context:
This line reflects the speaker’s plea for the Muse to refocus its energy on the beloved and to correct its previous neglect.
Line 6:
“In gentle numbers time so idly spent;”
Difficult words meaning:
- Gentle numbers: Soft or harmonious verses.
- Idly spent: Wasted or misspent.
Explanation:
The speaker asks the Muse to use gentle and harmonious verses to make up for the time that has been wasted in neglect.
Context:
This line emphasizes the speaker’s desire for the Muse to inspire him to write beautiful poetry that will compensate for the lost time.
Line 7:
“Sing to the ear that doth thy lays esteem”
Difficult words meaning:
- Lays: Songs or poems.
- Esteem: Value or appreciate.
Explanation:
The speaker urges the Muse to sing to the ear that values and appreciates its songs, referring to the beloved.
Context:
This line reflects the speaker’s belief that the beloved is the true audience for the Muse’s inspiration and the one who truly values its poetry.
Line 8:
“And gives thy pen both skill and argument.”
Difficult words meaning:
- Skill: Ability or talent.
- Argument: Subject matter or theme.
Explanation:
The speaker suggests that the beloved provides both the skill and the subject matter for the Muse’s poetry, emphasizing their central role in the creative process.
Context:
This line underscores the idea that the beloved is the ultimate source of inspiration and the driving force behind the Muse’s poetry.
Line 9:
“Rise, resty Muse, my love’s sweet face survey,”
Difficult words meaning:
- Resty: Lazy or sluggish.
- Survey: Examine or observe.
Explanation:
The speaker urges the lazy Muse to rise and examine the beloved’s sweet face, suggesting that it will find inspiration there.
Context:
This line reflects the speaker’s belief that the beloved’s beauty is the ultimate source of inspiration and the key to the Muse’s creativity.
Line 10:
“If Time have any wrinkle graven there;”
Difficult words meaning:
- Wrinkle graven: Wrinkles carved or etched.
Explanation:
The speaker asks the Muse to look for any wrinkles that Time may have etched on the beloved’s face, suggesting that even the signs of aging are worthy of poetic attention.
Context:
This line emphasizes the speaker’s desire for the Muse to capture every aspect of the beloved’s beauty, even the marks of time.
Line 11:
“If any, be a satire to decay,”
Difficult words meaning:
- Satire: A critique or mockery.
- Decay: The process of aging or deterioration.
Explanation:
The speaker suggests that if there are any wrinkles, the Muse should use them as a critique of decay, mocking the effects of time.
Context:
This line reflects the speaker’s desire to use poetry to challenge and defy the effects of time, particularly on the beloved’s beauty.
Line 12:
“And make time’s spoils despised every where.”
Difficult words meaning:
- Time’s spoils: The damage or destruction caused by time.
- Despised: Hated or scorned.
Explanation:
The speaker urges the Muse to make the damage caused by time universally despised, using poetry to challenge and undermine its effects.
Context:
This line underscores the speaker’s belief in the power of poetry to defy time and preserve the beloved’s beauty.
Line 13:
“Give my love fame faster than Time wastes life,”
Difficult words meaning:
- Fame: Renown or immortality.
- Wastes life: Destroys or diminishes life.
Explanation:
The speaker asks the Muse to immortalize the beloved in poetry faster than Time can destroy life, emphasizing the urgency of preserving the beloved’s beauty.
Context:
This line reflects the speaker’s desire to use poetry to outpace the destructive effects of time and ensure the beloved’s eternal fame.
Line 14:
“So thou prevent’st his scythe and crooked knife.”
Difficult words meaning:
- Prevent’st: Forestall or thwart.
- Scythe and crooked knife: Symbols of Time’s destructive power.
Explanation:
The speaker concludes by suggesting that by immortalizing the beloved in poetry, the Muse can thwart Time’s destructive power, symbolized by the scythe and crooked knife.
Context:
This final line ties together the sonnet’s central theme: the speaker’s plea for the Muse to inspire him to write poetry that will defy time and preserve the beloved’s beauty and fame for eternity.
Overall Summary:
In Sonnet 100, Shakespeare explores the themes of inspiration, the passage of time, and the power of poetry to immortalize beauty. The speaker addresses his Muse, expressing frustration at its neglect and urging it to return and inspire him to write about the beloved. He emphasizes the beloved’s central role in the Muse’s inspiration and the importance of capturing their beauty in poetry before time can destroy it. The sonnet is a meditation on the urgency of artistic creation and the belief that poetry can defy time and preserve the beloved’s beauty and fame for eternity. It is a celebration of the power of art to immortalize love and beauty.
In-Depth Analysis of Sonnet 100
Summary
In Sonnet 100, Shakespeare rebukes his Muse for having been silent for too long, neglecting to sing the praises of the Fair Youth. He urges the Muse to return to its rightful subject, criticizing it for wasting its poetic energy on trivial themes. The poem becomes a call to action:
- The first quatrain questions the Muse’s absence:
- Why has it forgotten to celebrate the youth?
- Has it wasted its inspiration on worthless songs?
- The poet chides the Muse for lending beauty to unworthy subjects.
- The second quatrain commands the Muse to return:
- It should “redeem” itself by writing about the youth.
- The poet’s beloved appreciates poetry, and his beauty itself inspires great art.
- The third quatrain directs the Muse to examine the youth:
- If Time has caused any aging, the Muse should ridicule it through verse.
- Poetry should work against decay, defying Time’s destructive power.
- The final couplet offers a solution:
- The Muse must immortalize the youth through poetry.
- By doing so, the poet will outpace Time’s scythe, ensuring the youth’s eternal fame.
Critical Analysis
1. The Power of Poetry Over Time
- Shakespeare returns to the idea that poetry can grant immortality.
- The poet’s verses will preserve the youth despite the inevitable effects of time.
2. Frustration with the Muse
- The poet scolds his Muse for being idle and neglectful.
- He fears that his own poetic gift is being wasted on unworthy subjects.
- This reflects the self-doubt of an artist who questions inspiration, purpose, and legacy.
3. The Battle Between Poetry and Time
- Time is depicted as a force of destruction (“Time’s spoils”, “scythe and crooked knife”).
- Poetry, in contrast, is a force of preservation, capable of defeating time’s erasure.
Theme Analysis
1. The Role of the Poet and the Muse
- The poem explores the relationship between poet and Muse:
- The Muse provides inspiration.
- The poet, in turn, creates lasting art.
- Shakespeare implies that the Muse has a duty—to celebrate beauty and not waste its power.
2. The Immortalizing Power of Art
- Time’s “scythe and crooked knife” represent death and decay.
- The poet urges his Muse to preserve beauty through verse, ensuring eternal fame for the youth.
3. Frustration and Artistic Purpose
- Shakespeare expresses impatience with artistic stagnation.
- He questions whether his poetic efforts are being spent wisely.
Literary Devices
1. Apostrophe (Addressing the Muse)
- The poem directly speaks to the Muse, treating it as a personified entity.
- The poet pleads, scolds, and commands, creating a dramatic monologue-like effect.
2. Metaphor
- Time is represented as a scythe-wielding force (“his scythe and crooked knife”).
- The Muse is depicted as a lazy or forgetful companion, needing to be urged into action.
3. Alliteration
- “Spend’st thou thy fury on some worthless song” → Emphasizes wastefulness.
- “Rise, resty Muse” → Highlights the stagnation of inspiration.
4. Imagery
- The “scythe and crooked knife” create a vivid image of Time as a reaper, emphasizing mortality and decay.
- The idea of the Muse “darkening” its power suggests misuse of creative ability.
Conclusion
Sonnet 100 is a plea for artistic renewal, with Shakespeare urging his Muse to reawaken and refocus on the Fair Youth. The poem reinforces the idea that art can defy time, ensuring that beauty and love are immortalized in verse.
