As fast as thou shalt wane, so fast thou grow’st
In one of thine, from that which thou departest;
And that fresh blood which youngly thou bestow’st,
Thou mayst call thine when thou from youth convertest.
Herein lives wisdom, beauty, and increase;
Without this folly, age, and cold decay:
If all were minded so, the times should cease
And threescore year would make the world away.
Let those whom nature hath not made for store,
Harsh, featureless, and rude, barrenly perish:
Look whom she best endow’d, she gave the more;
Which bounteous gift thou shouldst in bounty cherish:
She carv’d thee for her seal, and meant thereby,
Thou shouldst print more, not let that copy die.
Line 1: “As fast as thou shalt wane, so fast thou grow’st”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Wane – Decline, fade away, diminish (referring to aging)
- Grow’st – Increase, thrive (referring to offspring)
In-depth Explanation & Context:
Shakespeare begins with a paradoxical statement: as quickly as the young man loses his youth, he gains new life through his children.
This line reinforces the idea that procreation allows a person to “grow” even as they physically age and decay.
The poet presents aging not as a loss, but as a transformation, where one’s essence is passed to the next generation.
Line 2: “In one of thine, from that which thou departest;”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- In one of thine – In one of your children
- From that which thou departest – From the youth you are leaving behind
In-depth Explanation & Context:
As the young man departs from his youth, that very essence is transferred to his children.
Shakespeare is emphasizing the cyclical nature of life—as one person ages, their legacy continues through their offspring.
This aligns with Renaissance beliefs about immortality through lineage.
Line 3: “And that fresh blood which youngly thou bestow’st,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Fresh blood – Youthful vitality and energy
- Youngly thou bestow’st – The act of giving youth to children through reproduction
In-depth Explanation & Context:
The poet states that youthful energy is not lost but passed on.
By having children while still young, the young man can bestow his beauty, health, and vitality upon his heirs.
Shakespeare views youth as a gift meant to be shared rather than hoarded.
Line 4: “Thou mayst call thine when thou from youth convertest.”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Mayst call thine – Can still claim as yours
- From youth convertest – Transition from youth to old age
In-depth Explanation & Context:
Even when the young man grows old, his children will be a reflection of his younger self, allowing him to still see his youth in them.
This continues the idea that true immortality lies in passing on one’s essence to the next generation.
Line 5: “Herein lives wisdom, beauty, and increase;”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Herein – In this process of procreation
- Increase – Growth, prosperity, continuation
In-depth Explanation & Context:
Shakespeare claims that wisdom, beauty, and growth all come from having children.
Wisdom comes from understanding the natural cycle of life, beauty is preserved through one’s descendants, and increase refers to expanding one’s lineage.
Without this, the opposite—foolishness, decay, and stagnation—takes over.
Line 6: “Without this folly, age, and cold decay:”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Folly – Foolishness, short-sightedness
- Cold decay – Death, lifelessness
In-depth Explanation & Context:
If a person does not follow this wisdom (having children), they will face the consequences:
- Folly – A foolish, wasted life
- Age – No preservation of youth through lineage
- Cold decay – The inevitable end, without a lasting legacy
Shakespeare portrays this choice as a contrast between life and death.
Line 7: “If all were minded so, the times should cease”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Minded so – Thought the same way (refusing to have children)
- Times should cease – Time itself would end
In-depth Explanation & Context:
If everyone refused to have children, humanity itself would come to an end.
This is Shakespeare’s ultimate warning—choosing to remain childless is not just a personal choice but a threat to the future of the world.
Line 8: “And threescore year would make the world away.”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Threescore year – 60 years (a lifetime)
- Make the world away – Erase the world, cause extinction
In-depth Explanation & Context:
If people stopped having children, the world would vanish in just one generation.
Shakespeare emphasizes the fragility of human existence, where the continuation of life depends on each person’s willingness to pass on their essence.
Line 9: “Let those whom nature hath not made for store,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- For store – For preservation, for continuation of the lineage
In-depth Explanation & Context:
Shakespeare concedes that some people are not meant for procreation—perhaps due to their nature or limitations.
However, he is not speaking to them—he is addressing someone who does have the capacity to pass on beauty and legacy.
Line 10: “Harsh, featureless, and rude, barrenly perish:”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Harsh – Unpleasant, lacking grace
- Featureless – Without beauty
- Rude – Crude, unrefined
- Barrenly perish – Die without leaving behind offspring
In-depth Explanation & Context:
Shakespeare states that those who are not blessed with beauty or potential may perish without consequence.
However, the young man, who possesses rare beauty, is obligated to ensure that beauty survives through descendants.
Line 11: “Look whom she best endow’d, she gave the more;”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Endow’d – Gifted, blessed
- Gave the more – Provided extra gifts
In-depth Explanation & Context:
Nature gives more to those who are special—more beauty, more talents, more grace.
Since the young man is one of these gifted individuals, he has a duty to share those gifts with future generations.
Line 12: “Which bounteous gift thou shouldst in bounty cherish:”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Bounteous gift – Generous blessing (beauty, youth)
- Cherish – Value, protect, use wisely
In-depth Explanation & Context:
The poet urges the young man to appreciate and use his natural gifts wisely.
Since he has been given much, he should give back much—by having children and ensuring his beauty does not disappear.
Line 13: “She carv’d thee for her seal, and meant thereby,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Carv’d – Created, shaped
- Seal – A stamp, a mark of identity
- Meant thereby – Intended for a purpose
In-depth Explanation & Context:
Nature has sculpted the young man as her “seal”—a perfect model of beauty meant to be replicated and preserved.
His purpose is not to let this beauty fade, but to “stamp” his essence onto future generations.
Line 14: “Thou shouldst print more, not let that copy die.”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Print more – Reproduce, create children
- Not let that copy die – Ensure his likeness is passed on
In-depth Explanation & Context:
The poet finishes with a strong plea: the young man must not allow his unique beauty to vanish.
If he refuses to “print” more copies (children), he destroys the special qualities Nature has given him.
Final Thoughts on Sonnet 11:
Shakespeare uses urgency and logic to convince the young man that:
- Aging is inevitable, but having children preserves youth.
- Nature gave him rare gifts, and he has a duty to share them.
- If everyone refused to have children, humanity itself would disappear.
- He was designed to be a model, and his beauty should not die out.
Summary
In Sonnet 11, Shakespeare continues his argument that the young man should have children. The speaker presents a natural cycle: as the young man ages and declines, his beauty and essence can continue through his offspring. He reassures him that what he gives to his children in youth remains his own, even as he himself grows older.
The speaker divides humanity into two groups:
- Those whom nature has made beautiful and worthy—they should reproduce and pass on their gifts.
- Those who are “harsh, featureless, and rude”—they are unfit for reproduction and will naturally perish without descendants.
Shakespeare argues that nature gives more beauty and gifts to those who are meant to continue the human race, and since the young man is among the most beautiful, it is his duty to pass on his gifts.
The poem closes with a seal metaphor—nature has “carved” the young man as a perfect example and intended him to make copies (children), not let his beauty die out.
Critical Analysis
1. The Cycle of Life and Continuation of Beauty
- Shakespeare presents an optimistic view of aging—it does not mean complete loss, because one’s essence can live on through children.
- The young man’s beauty is not truly lost but transferred to his offspring.
- The speaker contrasts natural decay (aging) with reproduction as a way to preserve life’s best qualities.
This argument reflects Renaissance ideals about legacy, immortality, and natural order.
2. Harsh Judgment of the “Unworthy”
- Shakespeare introduces a harsh contrast between those who should reproduce and those who should not.
- He describes the “harsh, featureless, and rude” as those whom nature has not designed for preservation.
- This reflects a hierarchical view of beauty and worth, suggesting that only the most gifted should pass on their traits.
- While this idea aligns with Renaissance humanist thought, today it might be seen as problematic.
3. The Seal and Copy Metaphor
- Nature is described as a craftsman who has created the young man as a “seal” (a perfect mold).
- The expectation is that he should “print more”, meaning he should produce children to replicate his beauty.
- This metaphor reinforces the idea of reproduction as a way to defy time and decay.
This concept aligns with Shakespeare’s broader theme of immortality through procreation—a recurring idea in the early sonnets.
Themes
1. Immortality Through Procreation
- Aging is inevitable, but one’s legacy can continue through children.
- The speaker urges the young man to see reproduction as a way to “cheat” time.
- Without children, his beauty will vanish completely.
2. Nature’s Intent and Human Duty
- Shakespeare presents nature as an active force that selects those who should reproduce.
- The young man is endowed with beauty and virtues for a reason—to pass them on.
- To deny nature’s plan is to act against wisdom.
3. The Contrast Between the Worthy and the Unworthy
- Those who are blessed with beauty and intelligence have a duty to reproduce.
- The “rude and featureless” are left to fade away.
- This reflects Renaissance ideals about hierarchy and natural selection.
Literary Devices
1. Metaphor – The Seal and Copy
- “She carv’d thee for her seal, and meant thereby, / Thou shouldst print more, not let that copy die.”
- Nature is compared to an engraver or artist, making the young man a perfect original.
- He is expected to make copies (children) to continue his beauty.
2. Contrast – Beauty and Decay
- The poem sets up opposites:
- “Wisdom, beauty, and increase” vs. “folly, age, and cold decay.”
- The gifted vs. The unworthy.
- This sharp contrast strengthens the argument that reproduction is a moral duty.
3. Personification – Nature as a Designer
- Nature is described as a conscious entity that decides who should reproduce.
- She “endows” the best individuals with beauty and expects them to “cherish” it by having children.
4. Hyperbole – The World Would End Without Procreation
- “If all were minded so, the times should cease / And threescore year would make the world away.”
- Shakespeare exaggerates by saying that if everyone refused to have children, the world would end in sixty years.
- This dramatic claim emphasizes the importance of reproduction for the survival of humanity.
Conclusion
Sonnet 11 reinforces Shakespeare’s recurring “Procreation Argument”—that beauty and virtue must be passed on to future generations.
By contrasting worthy individuals (who should reproduce) with the unworthy (who should perish), Shakespeare emphasizes a natural duty to continue one’s lineage. The seal metaphor strengthens the idea that the young man is nature’s ideal model, meant to be copied.
Overall, the sonnet aligns with Renaissance beliefs about legacy, human worth, and the natural order, presenting reproduction as a way to achieve immortality and resist time’s decay.
