Look in thy glass, and tell the face thou viewest
Now is the time that face should form another;
Whose fresh repair if now thou not renewest,
Thou dost beguile the world, unbless some mother.
For where is she so fair whose unear’d womb
Disdains the tillage of thy husbandry?
Or who is he so fond will be the tomb
Of his self-love, to stop posterity?
Thou art thy mother’s glass, and she in thee
Calls back the lovely April of her prime:
So thou through windows of thine age shall see
Despite of wrinkles this thy golden time.
But if thou live, remember’d not to be,
Die single, and thine image dies with thee.
Line 1: “Look in thy glass, and tell the face thou viewest”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Glass – Mirror
- Thy – Your
- Viewest – See, observe
In-depth Explanation & Context:
Shakespeare begins this sonnet with a direct command: he tells the young man (the subject of the poem) to look into his mirror and observe his own reflection. This opening line sets the theme of self-examination and the passage of time. The poet urges the young man to consider his own beauty and youth, which will not last forever.
During the Elizabethan era, beauty and lineage were highly valued, especially among the nobility. Shakespeare wrote a series of procreation sonnets encouraging a young man (likely the Earl of Southampton) to marry and have children to preserve his beauty. This sonnet follows that theme, emphasizing how youth fades and should be passed down to future generations.
Line 2: “Now is the time that face should form another;”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Now is the time – The present moment is ideal
- Form another – Create another face, meaning to have children
In-depth Explanation & Context:
Shakespeare argues that now, while the young man is in his prime, is the perfect time for him to have children. “That face should form another” suggests that his beauty should be passed on to the next generation. This reflects the Renaissance belief in the importance of legacy and continuation of noble bloodlines.
The line also highlights the urgency of time—youth does not last forever, so one must take action while they can. Shakespeare subtly warns that if the young man does not reproduce, his beauty will fade into oblivion.
Line 3: “Whose fresh repair if now thou not renewest,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Fresh repair – Restoration or renewal of beauty
- Renewest – Continue, sustain
In-depth Explanation & Context:
Here, Shakespeare reinforces his argument: if the young man does not “renew” his beauty by having children, it will fade away with time. “Fresh repair” symbolizes how children act as a renewal of their parents’ youth—by creating life, one’s beauty is metaphorically restored.
This line contains an implicit warning: failure to reproduce means missing the opportunity to extend one’s legacy. Shakespeare is pressing the young man to recognize the fleeting nature of time and act accordingly.
Line 4: “Thou dost beguile the world, unbless some mother.”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Beguile – Deceive, cheat
- Unbless – Deprive of a blessing (here, meaning denying a woman the chance to be a mother)
In-depth Explanation & Context:
Shakespeare makes a bold claim: by refusing to have children, the young man is depriving the world of his beauty and denying a woman the joy of motherhood. The word “beguile” implies that the young man is cheating both the world and a potential mother by not passing on his beauty.
This line shifts the focus from individual vanity to a broader social responsibility. During Shakespeare’s time, marriage and childbirth were seen as duties, particularly for those of noble lineage. The poet suggests that the young man’s refusal to marry and have children is selfish and detrimental to society.
Line 5: “For where is she so fair whose unear’d womb”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- She so fair – A beautiful woman
- Unear’d womb – A womb that has not been plowed (a metaphor for a woman who has not had children)
In-depth Explanation & Context:
Shakespeare now shifts his argument to women, asking where one could find a beautiful woman who would refuse to bear children. The metaphor of an “unear’d womb” likens childbearing to agriculture—just as land is meant to be plowed and cultivated to produce crops, a woman’s womb is meant to bear children.
This imagery reflects the Renaissance belief in the natural order, where marriage and procreation were seen as essential duties. Shakespeare implies that a woman would naturally want to have children, reinforcing the idea that the young man should not deny her that opportunity.
Line 6: “Disdains the tillage of thy husbandry?”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Disdains – Rejects, refuses
- Tillage – Cultivation of land
- Husbandry – Farming, but also a metaphor for managing a household and fathering children
In-depth Explanation & Context:
Shakespeare extends the farming metaphor, suggesting that no woman would reject the “tillage” (cultivation) of the young man’s “husbandry” (ability to produce offspring). Essentially, he is saying: what woman would refuse to bear the child of such a fine young man?
In Shakespeare’s time, agricultural metaphors were commonly used to discuss fertility and reproduction. The poet flatters the young man by implying that his “husbandry” is desirable—he has the potential to create strong, beautiful offspring. This line further persuades him to fulfill his duty to procreate.
Line 7: “Or who is he so fond will be the tomb”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Fond – Foolish, overly self-indulgent
- Tomb – A grave, a place where something is buried or lost forever
In-depth Explanation & Context:
Shakespeare turns to a different metaphor, warning the young man against becoming a “tomb” to his own beauty. If he refuses to have children, he is essentially burying his own legacy.
The word “fond” here means foolish rather than affectionate. Shakespeare suggests that only a vain, foolish person would let their beauty perish rather than pass it on. The poet continues his theme of urging the young man to think beyond himself and consider his responsibility to future generations.
Line 8: “Of his self-love, to stop posterity?”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Self-love – Excessive admiration of oneself (narcissism)
- Posterity – Future generations, descendants
In-depth Explanation & Context:
Shakespeare directly criticizes self-obsession, arguing that if the young man refuses to have children, he is doing so out of narcissism. The irony is that true self-love should lead him to want to preserve his beauty through his offspring, not let it die with him.
The line also highlights the contrast between personal vanity and the greater good. Shakespeare suggests that by failing to have children, the young man is being selfish—not only robbing the world of his beauty but also preventing the existence of future generations.
Line 9: “Thou art thy mother’s glass, and she in thee”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Thou art – You are
- Thy mother’s glass – Your mother’s mirror (reflection)
- She in thee – She lives on in you
In-depth Explanation & Context:
Shakespeare now introduces the idea of generational continuity. He tells the young man that he is his mother’s “glass” or mirror, meaning that when she looks at him, she sees a reflection of her own youth. This line highlights the way beauty and life are passed down through generations.
The poet subtly reminds the young man that just as he embodies his mother’s beauty, he should continue this cycle by having children. If he does not, this natural legacy will be broken.
This line also evokes a sense of duty: the young man owes his existence to his mother, and by not having children, he fails to honor this gift of life.
Line 10: “Calls back the lovely April of her prime:”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Calls back – Remembers, brings to mind
- Lovely April – A metaphor for youth and beauty
- Her prime – The best years of her life (her youth)
In-depth Explanation & Context:
Shakespeare compares the young man’s mother’s past youth to “April,” the season of renewal and vitality. This metaphor reinforces the theme of time and the fleeting nature of beauty.
By looking at her son, the mother recalls the days when she herself was young and beautiful. This suggests that youth and beauty are cyclical—one generation passes it down to the next.
Again, Shakespeare subtly urges the young man to continue this natural process. If he does not have children, there will be no one to remind him of his own youth in the future.
Line 11: “So thou through windows of thine age shall see”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Thou – You
- Windows of thine age – A metaphor for old age, possibly referring to his own eyes looking into a mirror
In-depth Explanation & Context:
Shakespeare shifts the perspective to the future. Just as the young man’s mother now sees her youth reflected in him, he too will one day look at his own children and be reminded of his younger days.
The “windows of thine age” could symbolize both literal eyesight and the metaphorical lens through which one views the past. This line suggests that having children allows a person to remain connected to their youth, even as they grow old.
Line 12: “Despite of wrinkles this thy golden time.”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Despite of wrinkles – Even though you will age and get wrinkles
- Golden time – The best years of life (youth)
In-depth Explanation & Context:
Shakespeare reassures the young man that even when he grows old and his beauty fades, he will still be able to look at his children and see a reflection of his “golden time”—his youth.
This line reinforces the idea that children preserve their parents’ beauty and essence. Without children, once youth is gone, it is lost forever. But with children, a part of that youthful beauty continues to live on.
Line 13: “But if thou live, remember’d not to be,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- But if thou live – If you live your life
- Remember’d not to be – Not to be remembered (to be forgotten)
In-depth Explanation & Context:
Shakespeare now delivers a stark warning: if the young man does not have children, he will not be remembered after he dies. His beauty and legacy will fade away with him, leaving no trace behind.
This line contrasts sharply with the previous ones. Earlier, Shakespeare emphasized continuity through children, but here, he warns of the consequences of selfishness—complete oblivion.
Line 14: “Die single, and thine image dies with thee.”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Die single – Die unmarried and without children
- Thine image dies with thee – Your legacy, beauty, and memory will disappear when you die
In-depth Explanation & Context:
Shakespeare delivers his final argument: if the young man remains single and does not have children, his beauty will die with him. There will be no one to carry on his name, his looks, or his essence.
This is the ultimate consequence of selfishness and vanity—choosing not to reproduce results in complete erasure from the world’s memory. Shakespeare ends the sonnet with a strong, almost ominous statement, reinforcing the urgency of procreation.
Final Thoughts on the Sonnet:
Sonnet 3 is one of Shakespeare’s “procreation sonnets,” urging a young nobleman to marry and have children. The poet uses mirrors, farming, and generational imagery to argue that beauty and legacy can only be preserved through reproduction.
The sonnet plays on themes of time, vanity, and duty. It warns that self-obsession leads to oblivion, while embracing the natural cycle of life ensures a form of immortality.
Summary
Shakespeare’s Sonnet 3 is part of the “Procreation Sonnets” (Sonnets 1–17), in which the poet urges a young man to marry and have children. The speaker addresses the youth, urging him to look in the mirror and recognize that now is the time to produce an heir. If he fails to do so, he not only deceives the world but also denies a potential mother the chance to bear his child.
The speaker uses an agricultural metaphor, comparing the young man’s duty to procreate with tilling the land. Just as fertile soil is meant to be cultivated, so too should his lineage continue. The poem also emphasizes how the young man is a reflection of his own mother, and just as she sees her youthful beauty in him, he should ensure that his own image lives on through future generations. The final couplet delivers a stark warning: if he refuses to have children, his beauty and legacy will die with him.
Critical Analysis
Shakespeare’s Sonnet 3 is a compelling argument for the continuation of beauty through reproduction. The poet constructs a logical appeal, urging the young man to reflect on his own mortality and duty to preserve his image. The argument is reinforced by two major comparisons:
- The Mirror Motif – The youth is encouraged to look into the mirror and recognize that his beauty should be passed on. His own mother sees herself in him, and he should do the same for the next generation.
- Agricultural Imagery – The idea of procreation is likened to farming. Just as fertile land should not go to waste, neither should the young man’s ability to create life.
The poem is structured as a persuasive plea, moving from gentle encouragement to a more serious warning. The final line, “Die single, and thine image dies with thee,” delivers a harsh ultimatum: if he remains unmarried and childless, his beauty will perish entirely.
Themes
1. Procreation and Immortality Through Offspring
The central theme is the idea that beauty and legacy should be preserved through reproduction. The poet urges the young man not to waste his youthful beauty but to pass it on through future generations.
2. The Passage of Time
The poem highlights the fleeting nature of youth and beauty. The imagery of aging—such as wrinkles—implies that time will inevitably take its toll. The only way to resist time is through having children, who will serve as reflections of their parents.
3. Vanity and Self-Destruction
Shakespeare indirectly criticizes the young man’s potential vanity and selfishness. If he refuses to have children out of self-love or a desire to remain unattached, he ultimately ensures his own demise. His beauty will be lost forever instead of being immortalized in future generations.
4. Reflection and Legacy
The idea that the young man is his mother’s reflection suggests that all people are part of an ongoing lineage. If he does not continue this cycle, he breaks a natural order.
Literary Devices
1. Metaphor
- “Whose fresh repair if now thou not renewest” – Compares having children to repairing or renewing something, reinforcing the idea of continuity.
- “For where is she so fair whose unear’d womb / Disdains the tillage of thy husbandry?” – The womb is metaphorically compared to a field, and the act of reproduction to farming. This agricultural imagery suggests that procreation is natural and necessary.
2. Imagery
- “Look in thy glass, and tell the face thou viewest” – The mirror imagery emphasizes self-reflection and recognition of one’s own beauty.
- “Despite of wrinkles this thy golden time” – Contrasts youthful beauty with the inevitable aging process.
3. Personification
- “Thou dost beguile the world, unbless some mother” – The idea that the young man is “deceiving” the world suggests that he is withholding something precious from it.
4. Symbolism
- The mirror – Represents self-awareness and acknowledgment of one’s responsibility to future generations.
- April – Symbolizes youth and beauty, contrasting with the implied decay of old age.
5. Iambic Pentameter
Like all Shakespearean sonnets, this one follows a strict iambic pentameter (ten syllables per line, alternating unstressed and stressed syllables), reinforcing its rhythmic and persuasive quality.
6. Rhyme Scheme
The poem follows the traditional Shakespearean sonnet rhyme scheme: ABABCDCDEFEFGG. The final couplet acts as a strong concluding statement.
Conclusion
Sonnet 3 is a masterful piece that blends logic, emotion, and poetic beauty to persuade the young man to reproduce. Shakespeare appeals to the youth’s vanity, mortality, and duty to nature, ultimately warning him that failing to have children means the loss of his beauty forever. Through vivid imagery, metaphor, and structured argumentation, the sonnet effectively underscores the Renaissance ideal that beauty and legacy should be preserved.
