When I consider every thing that grows
Holds in perfection but a little moment,
That this huge stage presenteth nought but shows
Whereon the stars in secret influence comment;
When I perceive that men as plants increase,
Cheered and checked even by the self-same sky,
Vaunt in their youthful sap, at height decrease,
And wear their brave state out of memory;
Then the conceit of this inconstant stay
Sets you most rich in youth before my sight,
Where wasteful Time debateth with decay
To change your day of youth to sullied night,
And all in war with Time for love of you,
As he takes from you, I engraft you new.
Line-by-Line Analysis of Sonnet 15: “When I Consider Everything That Grows”
Line 1: “When I consider every thing that grows”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Consider – Think about, reflect on.
- Everything that grows – All living things, including plants, animals, and humans.
In-depth Explanation & Context:
Shakespeare begins by meditating on nature and the passage of time. He considers how all living things grow and develop—but this growth is temporary.
This line sets the stage for the theme of impermanence and mortality, a central idea in many of Shakespeare’s sonnets.
Line 2: “Holds in perfection but a little moment,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Holds in perfection – Remains in its best state.
- But a little moment – Only for a brief time.
In-depth Explanation & Context:
Here, Shakespeare laments the fleeting nature of perfection. Just as flowers bloom only briefly, so too do humans experience youth and beauty for only a short time.
This idea is central to the sonnets’ obsession with time and decay—everything that is beautiful will eventually fade.
Line 3: “That this huge stage presenteth nought but shows”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Huge stage – The world, seen as a theatrical performance.
- Nought but shows – Nothing but illusions or temporary performances.
In-depth Explanation & Context:
Shakespeare compares the world to a grand stage (a metaphor famously echoed in As You Like It: “All the world’s a stage…”).
Here, he suggests that life is merely a performance—an illusion that fades. Everything we admire and strive for is temporary, just like an actor’s role in a play.
Line 4: “Whereon the stars in secret influence comment;”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Stars – Often associated with fate or destiny (a reference to astrology).
- Secret influence – The hidden effects of fate on human life.
- Comment – Guide or shape events from afar.
In-depth Explanation & Context:
Shakespeare suggests that, like actors following a script, humans are influenced by unseen cosmic forces (astrology).
However, this does not mean our fate is entirely predetermined—it simply means that external forces, like time and nature, shape our lives without us realizing it.
Line 5: “When I perceive that men as plants increase,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Perceive – Observe, understand.
- Men as plants increase – Humans grow and flourish just like plants.
In-depth Explanation & Context:
Shakespeare compares human life to plant life—both start as small, fragile beings, grow strong in their youth, and eventually wither with time.
This comparison reinforces the idea that life follows a natural cycle of birth, growth, and decay.
Line 6: “Cheered and checked even by the self-same sky,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Cheered and checked – Encouraged and restrained.
- Self-same sky – The same forces (nature, fate) that both help and hinder growth.
In-depth Explanation & Context:
Just as plants flourish in sunlight but suffer in harsh weather, human lives are also affected by external circumstances.
This line implies that growth and decline are both natural and inevitable—we are lifted up at times, but ultimately, we all face decline.
Line 7: “Vaunt in their youthful sap, at height decrease,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Vaunt – Boast, flourish.
- Youthful sap – The energy and vitality of youth.
- At height decrease – Decline after reaching one’s peak.
In-depth Explanation & Context:
Just as a tree is full of life when young, people are strong and confident in their youth.
However, once they reach their peak, decline begins—a theme common in Shakespeare’s work (youth is temporary, and aging is inevitable).
Line 8: “And wear their brave state out of memory;”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Wear out – Fade, diminish over time.
- Brave state – The boldness and grandeur of youth.
- Out of memory – Forgotten by the world.
In-depth Explanation & Context:
This line presents a tragic reality—not only do people lose their youth and vitality, but they are also forgotten by history.
This suggests that time erases both physical beauty and personal legacy unless something is done to preserve it.
Line 9: “Then the conceit of this inconstant stay”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Conceit – Thought, idea.
- Inconstant stay – Temporary nature of life.
In-depth Explanation & Context:
After reflecting on the fleeting nature of life, Shakespeare arrives at a realization—this temporary existence makes him value the young man’s beauty even more.
This marks a shift in the sonnet: instead of merely lamenting time, the poet begins to search for a solution.
Line 10: “Sets you most rich in youth before my sight,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Sets you most rich – Makes you appear incredibly valuable.
- Before my sight – In my eyes, as I see you now.
In-depth Explanation & Context:
Despite the inevitability of aging, Shakespeare sees the young man’s youth as something incredibly valuable—a treasure to be preserved.
This marks the transition from accepting decay to fighting against it.
Line 11: “Where wasteful Time debateth with decay”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Wasteful Time – Time, which gradually destroys beauty.
- Debateth with decay – Struggles against destruction.
In-depth Explanation & Context:
Time is both a creator and a destroyer—it allows things to grow but ultimately leads them to decay.
This struggle between growth and destruction is a key theme in Shakespeare’s sonnets.
Line 12: “To change your day of youth to sullied night,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Day of youth – The bright period of youth and beauty.
- Sullied night – Darkened, ruined old age and death.
In-depth Explanation & Context:
This is a classic light/dark metaphor—youth is bright and beautiful, but time will eventually dim it into old age and death.
Shakespeare sees this as a tragic, yet natural process.
Line 13: “And all in war with Time for love of you,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- All in war with Time – Fighting against time itself.
- For love of you – To preserve your beauty.
In-depth Explanation & Context:
Rather than accepting time’s destruction, Shakespeare vows to fight against it—his love for the young man inspires him to find a way to preserve his beauty.
This sets up the final line, where he offers a solution to this inevitable decay.
Line 14: “As he takes from you, I engraft you new.”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- As he takes from you – As time steals your youth.
- I engraft you new – I replant (immortalize) you in poetry.
In-depth Explanation & Context:
Shakespeare’s solution to time’s destruction is poetry—by writing about the young man, he preserves his beauty forever in verse.
This is a powerful statement about the immortality of art—even though time will physically age the young man, his beauty will live on in Shakespeare’s words.
Final Thoughts on Sonnet 15:
Shakespeare reflects on the temporary nature of life, recognizing that youth and beauty fade quickly.
However, rather than surrendering to time, he fights back through poetry, ensuring that the young man’s beauty will live forever in verse.
Summary
In Sonnet 15, Shakespeare reflects on the transience of life and beauty. He observes that everything in nature grows towards perfection but only holds it for a fleeting moment before it inevitably begins to decay.
He compares human life to plants, which thrive in their youth but eventually fade under the same natural forces that once nourished them. The world, he suggests, is merely a theatrical performance, influenced by unseen celestial forces.
Amid this fleeting existence, the poet sees the young man’s youth and beauty as particularly precious. He recognizes that Time and Decay are working together to erode the young man’s perfection.
However, Shakespeare vows to resist Time through his poetry. Though Time will take the young man’s beauty, the poet promises to “engraft” him anew—preserving him in verse so that he may live on forever.
Critical Analysis
1. The Cycle of Growth and Decay
- Shakespeare reflects on the ephemerality of all living things—everything grows to a peak but only holds perfection for a brief moment before fading.
- This aligns with the Renaissance philosophy of the memento mori—a reminder that all things, including youth and beauty, must eventually perish.
2. The World as a Stage and the Role of Fate
- The phrase “this huge stage presenteth nought but shows” suggests that life is a grand but fleeting performance.
- Shakespeare introduces the idea that the stars (celestial forces) secretly influence the fate of men, though he does not elaborate on what control they have.
3. The Poet’s Struggle Against Time
- Time is depicted as a wasteful, destructive force, constantly degrading youth and beauty.
- The final heroic couplet shifts the focus from passive lamentation to active resistance—Shakespeare asserts that his poetry will counteract Time’s decay by immortalizing the young man.
Themes
1. The Transience of Life and Beauty
- Shakespeare portrays life as fleeting and subject to decay, mirroring the natural world where plants bloom but soon wither.
- The impermanence of youth is a recurring theme, reinforcing the idea that time spares no one.
2. The Power of Poetry to Preserve Beauty
- While Time destroys, poetry can eternally preserve beauty.
- The poet’s role becomes one of defiance against mortality, ensuring that the young man’s essence is never lost.
3. Fate vs. Free Will
- The mention of stars influencing human affairs raises the question:
- Are human lives governed by fate?
- Or does Shakespeare’s poetry give him the power to defy fate by preserving the young man’s image?
4. The Metaphor of Life as a Stage
- Shakespeare draws on the Elizabethan worldview, where life was often likened to a theatrical performance.
- This reflects the temporary nature of existence, where people merely play their roles before vanishing.
Literary Devices
1. Metaphor – Life as a Stage Performance
- “This huge stage presenteth nought but shows”
- Shakespeare compares life to a stage, where events are performances, controlled by external influences.
2. Simile – Comparing Humans to Plants
- “Men as plants increase”
- The growth and decline of humans mirrors that of plants—both flourish under favorable conditions but wither with time.
3. Personification – Time as an Opponent
- “Where wasteful Time debateth with decay”
- Time is given human qualities, depicted as an active force working alongside decay to diminish youth and beauty.
4. Contrast – Youth vs. Age
- The poem sets up a clear contrast between the vibrancy of youth and the inevitable decline of age.
- This contrast heightens the urgency of Shakespeare’s vow to preserve beauty through poetry.
5. Wordplay – “Engrafting” Through Poetry
- “As he takes from you, I engraft you new.”
- The word “engraft” suggests grafting a plant to ensure it continues to grow.
- Here, Shakespeare symbolically “grafts” the young man’s beauty into his poetry, ensuring it survives despite Time’s destruction.
Conclusion
Sonnet 15 explores the inevitability of time’s decay, comparing human life to plants that flourish but inevitably wither. The poet laments this natural cycle but offers a solution—while Time may steal youth, poetry can preserve beauty forever.
Shakespeare positions himself as a guardian against oblivion, using his verse to ensure that the young man’s image remains immortal. This theme of poetry’s defiance against time is a defining idea throughout the Sonnets, making this poem a pivotal reflection on art, memory, and the nature of existence.
