Sonnet 4: Unthrifty Loveliness, Why Dost Thou Spend
Unthrifty loveliness, why dost thou spend
Upon thyself thy beauty’s legacy?
Nature’s bequest gives nothing but doth lend,
And being frank she lends to those are free.
Then, beauteous niggard, why dost thou abuse
The bounteous largess given thee to give?
Profitless usurer, why dost thou use
So great a sum of sums, yet canst not live?
For having traffic with thyself alone,
Thou of thyself thy sweet self dost deceive.
Then how, when nature calls thee to be gone,
What acceptable audit canst thou leave?
Thy unused beauty must be tomb’d with thee,
Which, used, lives th’ executor to be.
Line 1: “Unthrifty loveliness, why dost thou spend”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Unthrifty – Wasteful, not managing resources wisely
- Loveliness – Beauty, attractiveness
- Spend – Use up, squander
In-depth Explanation & Context:
Shakespeare addresses the young man’s beauty directly, calling it “unthrifty,” meaning wasteful. He asks why the young man is “spending” or using up his beauty selfishly, rather than investing it in the next generation.
This introduces the poem’s financial metaphor—Shakespeare treats beauty as a kind of wealth, which should be used wisely. Just like a person who squanders money, someone who refuses to pass on their beauty through children is being irresponsible.
This continues the theme from previous sonnets: beauty is temporary, and the only way to preserve it is through procreation.
Line 2: “Upon thyself thy beauty’s legacy?”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Upon thyself – Only for yourself
- Beauty’s legacy – The inheritance of beauty, something to pass down
In-depth Explanation & Context:
Shakespeare criticizes the young man for keeping his beauty to himself instead of passing it on. “Beauty’s legacy” suggests that beauty is something that should be inherited by future generations, not hoarded.
The poet implies that the young man is being selfish—rather than using his beauty to create children, he is keeping it for his own pleasure. But beauty, like money, is meant to be invested in something that lasts beyond one’s lifetime.
Line 3: “Nature’s bequest gives nothing but doth lend,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Nature’s bequest – The gift of beauty from nature
- Gives nothing but doth lend – Nature does not give beauty permanently, but only loans it
In-depth Explanation & Context:
Shakespeare presents beauty as something that is not truly owned but borrowed from nature. Nature “lends” beauty, meaning it is temporary and must eventually be returned (through aging and death).
This idea reinforces the urgency of passing beauty down through children. Since beauty is a loan, not a possession, the young man should “repay” nature by ensuring it continues in his descendants.
Line 4: “And being frank she lends to those are free.”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Being frank – Being generous, open-handed
- Lends to those are free – Nature gives beauty freely to those who are open to sharing it
In-depth Explanation & Context:
Shakespeare describes nature as generous, giving beauty freely to those who are willing to share it. However, if someone selfishly hoards their beauty (by not having children), they go against nature’s intentions.
The poet implies that generosity is a virtue, and the young man should follow nature’s example by passing his beauty on to future generations.
Line 5: “Then, beauteous niggard, why dost thou abuse”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Beauteous – Beautiful
- Niggard – Miser, someone who hoards wealth (here, someone who hoards beauty)
- Abuse – Mistreat, misuse
In-depth Explanation & Context:
Shakespeare calls the young man a “beauteous niggard,” meaning a beautiful miser—someone who refuses to share his beauty. This is a harsh criticism, equating his selfishness to greed.
Instead of using his beauty to create life, the young man is wasting it. Shakespeare implies that failing to have children is not just a personal choice but a misuse of the gift of beauty.
Line 6: “The bounteous largess given thee to give?”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Bounteous largess – Generous gift, abundance
- Given thee to give – Something given to you to pass on
In-depth Explanation & Context:
Shakespeare reinforces the idea that beauty is a gift meant to be shared. The phrase “given thee to give” suggests that beauty is not meant for personal enjoyment alone—it is meant to be passed on through children.
By refusing to do so, the young man is acting against the natural order. Shakespeare presents this as not just a missed opportunity but an actual wrongdoing.
Line 7: “Profitless usurer, why dost thou use”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Profitless – Without gain, useless
- Usurer – A moneylender who charges high interest (used metaphorically for someone hoarding beauty)
In-depth Explanation & Context:
Shakespeare deepens his financial metaphor by calling the young man a “profitless usurer.” A usurer lends money at high interest, expecting a profit. But here, the young man hoards his beauty without gaining anything—he is a usurer who makes no profit.
This line suggests that keeping beauty to oneself is ultimately pointless. Unlike money, which can at least grow with interest, beauty fades if not passed down.
Line 8: “So great a sum of sums, yet canst not live?”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Sum of sums – A great wealth (here, a metaphor for the young man’s beauty)
- Canst not live – Cannot live on, meaning beauty will die with him
In-depth Explanation & Context:
Shakespeare emphasizes the paradox: the young man has an immense wealth of beauty, yet he will leave nothing behind when he dies. His beauty, like money that isn’t invested, will be wasted.
This strengthens the poet’s argument that beauty only has value when it is used to create life.
Line 9: “For having traffic with thyself alone,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Traffic – Dealings, transactions
- With thyself alone – Only with yourself (self-centered)
In-depth Explanation & Context:
Shakespeare accuses the young man of being self-absorbed, “trading” only with himself instead of engaging with the world. This could imply vanity or selfishness—he enjoys his beauty but does not use it for a greater purpose.
This connects to the financial imagery: a businessman who only trades with himself will never build wealth, just as beauty that is not passed on will die out.
Line 10: “Thou of thyself thy sweet self dost deceive.”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Of thyself – By your own actions
- Dost deceive – You deceive, cheat
In-depth Explanation & Context:
Shakespeare warns the young man that he is deceiving himself. He may think he is preserving his beauty by keeping it to himself, but in reality, he is ensuring that it will vanish forever.
This continues the theme of self-destruction—hoarding beauty does not protect it; it destroys it.
Line 11: “Then how, when nature calls thee to be gone,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Nature calls thee to be gone – When you die
In-depth Explanation & Context:
Shakespeare reminds the young man of his mortality. No matter how beautiful he is now, he will one day die. This prepares for the next question: what will he leave behind?
Line 12: “What acceptable audit canst thou leave?”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Acceptable audit – A good record, something valuable left behind
In-depth Explanation & Context:
Shakespeare extends the financial metaphor—an “audit” is an account of wealth. If the young man dies without children, his “account” will be empty.
This line reinforces the idea that beauty, like money, should be invested in something lasting—children.
Line 13: “Thy unused beauty must be tomb’d with thee,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Unused beauty – Beauty that is not passed on
- Tomb’d with thee – Buried with you
In-depth Explanation & Context:
If the young man does not have children, his beauty will die with him. There will be no legacy, no continuation of his essence.
Line 14: “Which, used, lives th’ executor to be.”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Executor – One who carries out a will (symbolizing children)
In-depth Explanation & Context:
If beauty is passed on (through children), it will live on beyond the young man’s death. His children will be his “executors,” ensuring his essence continues.
Summary
In Sonnet 4, Shakespeare continues his argument from previous procreation sonnets, chastising the young man for hoarding his beauty instead of passing it on through offspring. The speaker calls the youth “unthrifty loveliness”, criticizing him for wasting the natural gift of beauty by keeping it to himself rather than using it for a greater purpose—namely, reproduction.
The poet uses financial metaphors to argue that beauty is not meant to be selfishly spent on oneself but wisely invested in the future. The young man is compared to a “profitless usurer” (a greedy moneylender) who hoards his riches without ever using them properly. Just as wealth should be circulated and shared, so too should beauty be passed down. If the young man continues to waste his beauty on self-love, he will die without leaving any trace of his existence. The closing couplet delivers a final warning: if he does not use his beauty by having children, it will perish with him, whereas used beauty would be inherited by future generations.
Critical Analysis
This sonnet is one of Shakespeare’s most scathing rebukes of the young man’s refusal to procreate. Instead of merely urging him to consider having children, the speaker outright condemns his selfishness, likening his actions to financial irresponsibility.
The financial metaphor is central to the poem. Shakespeare treats beauty as a kind of inheritance from nature, something that is not owned outright but borrowed with the expectation of repayment. The young man’s failure to reproduce is framed as a moral failing, akin to a miser hoarding wealth instead of investing it for the benefit of others.
The poem also reflects a Renaissance worldview, which valued both economic prudence and the preservation of beauty and lineage. In this way, Shakespeare implies that refusing to procreate is not just an act of vanity, but a rejection of natural and social duty.
The argument builds up to the final couplet, which delivers the strongest condemnation yet. If the young man refuses to use his beauty wisely, it will die with him, whereas if he fathers children, his beauty will live on through them, like an inheritance.
Themes
1. Vanity and Selfishness
The young man is portrayed as self-absorbed and unwilling to share his beauty with the world. Shakespeare criticizes this vanity by likening it to financial greed—hoarding beauty without making good use of it.
2. Beauty as a Temporary Loan
A key idea in the poem is that beauty is not a personal possession but a loan from nature. The speaker reminds the young man that he does not truly “own” his looks; rather, he has been lent beauty with the expectation that he will pass it on.
3. The Economics of Procreation
The sonnet presents reproduction as a kind of economic transaction. Beauty is a form of wealth, and just as money should be invested and circulated, so too should beauty be “spent” by having children.
4. The Inevitability of Death
The poem reminds the young man that he will eventually die and must leave something behind. The concept of an “acceptable audit” suggests that life should be accounted for, and those who leave no legacy will be forgotten.
Literary Devices
1. Extended Metaphor (Financial Imagery)
Throughout the poem, Shakespeare equates beauty with wealth, portraying the young man as a miser who refuses to share his riches:
- “Nature’s bequest gives nothing but doth lend” – Beauty is not a permanent possession but a loan from nature.
- “Profitless usurer, why dost thou use / So great a sum of sums, yet canst not live?” – The young man is compared to a greedy moneylender who hoards wealth but does not enjoy it or put it to good use.
2. Personification
- “Nature’s bequest” – Nature is depicted as a benefactor who lends beauty to the young man, expecting repayment.
- “Then how, when nature calls thee to be gone, / What acceptable audit canst thou leave?” – Nature is portrayed as a force that eventually takes back what it has given, demanding an account of how it was used.
3. Rhetorical Questions
The speaker asks multiple rhetorical questions to challenge and provoke the young man:
- “Unthrifty loveliness, why dost thou spend / Upon thyself thy beauty’s legacy?” – The speaker questions why the young man selfishly wastes his beauty.
- “Then how, when nature calls thee to be gone, / What acceptable audit canst thou leave?” – A direct challenge, forcing the young man to consider what legacy he will leave behind.
4. Symbolism
- “Tomb’d with thee” – Symbolizes death and the finality of beauty being lost forever if not passed down.
- “Executor” – Symbolizes the role of children in carrying on a legacy, just as an executor ensures a will is carried out.
5. Iambic Pentameter
The poem follows the Shakespearean sonnet structure (14 lines, ABABCDCDEFEFGG rhyme scheme), creating a rhythm that reinforces its argument and sense of urgency.
Conclusion
Sonnet 4 delivers a harsh rebuke to the young man, framing his refusal to procreate as an act of selfishness and wastefulness. Through financial metaphors, rhetorical questions, and personification, Shakespeare crafts a persuasive argument, urging the youth to invest his beauty wisely by having children. The final message is clear: beauty is a gift that should be shared, not hoarded, and if the young man fails to pass it on, it will die with him.
