Sonnet 6: Then Let Not Winter’s Ragged Hand Deface
Then let not winter’s ragged hand deface,
In thee thy summer, ere thou be distilled:
Make sweet some vial; treasure thou some place
With beauty’s treasure ere it be self-killed.
That use is not forbidden usury,
Which happies those that pay the willing loan;
That’s for thy self to breed another thee,
Or ten times happier, be it ten for one;
Ten times thy self were happier than thou art,
If ten of thine ten times refigured thee:
Then what could death do if thou shouldst depart,
Leaving thee living in posterity?
Be not self-willed, for thou art much too fair
To be death’s conquest and make worms thine heir.
Line 1: “Then let not winter’s ragged hand deface,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Winter’s ragged hand – A metaphor for old age and decay
- Deface – To ruin, damage, or destroy
In-depth Explanation & Context:
Shakespeare continues the seasonal metaphor from Sonnet 5, where winter represents aging and death. He warns the young man not to let “winter’s ragged hand” (old age) ruin his youthful beauty.
This line personifies winter as a rough, destructive force, emphasizing its power to strip away beauty, just as time eventually erases youth. The poet urges the young man to take action before aging takes its toll.
Line 2: “In thee thy summer, ere thou be distilled:”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- In thee thy summer – The youth and beauty that exist within you
- Ere thou be distilled – Before you are reduced to an essence (metaphor for death or decline)
In-depth Explanation & Context:
Shakespeare reminds the young man that he currently holds the warmth and vitality of summer (youth). However, if he does not act, his beauty will be lost—just like flowers that wither unless their essence is distilled into perfume.
This is a continuation of the “distillation” metaphor from Sonnet 5. Shakespeare argues that the only way to preserve youth is through procreation. Otherwise, once the young man grows old, he will be nothing more than a faint memory.
Line 3: “Make sweet some vial; treasure thou some place”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Make sweet some vial – Fill a bottle with fragrance (metaphor for preserving beauty through children)
- Treasure thou some place – Store something valuable (again, metaphor for leaving a legacy)
In-depth Explanation & Context:
Here, Shakespeare expands the distillation metaphor: just as perfume preserves the essence of a flower, having children preserves the essence of a person.
By encouraging the young man to “treasure some place,” he means leaving behind a legacy, not letting beauty be wasted. The idea is that a person’s true worth is not just in their own beauty, but in passing it on to future generations.
Line 4: “With beauty’s treasure ere it be self-killed.”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Beauty’s treasure – The valuable gift of youth and attractiveness
- Ere it be self-killed – Before it is wasted or lost
In-depth Explanation & Context:
Shakespeare warns the young man that if he refuses to have children, he is essentially “killing” his own beauty.
This idea of self-destruction is a major theme in Shakespeare’s early sonnets. The poet sees beauty as something that should be shared and passed on, rather than selfishly kept until it fades.
Line 5: “That use is not forbidden usury,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Use – The act of using something wisely (here, referring to beauty)
- Usury – The practice of lending money for interest (often negatively associated with greed)
In-depth Explanation & Context:
Shakespeare compares procreation to a form of investment. In his time, usury (charging excessive interest on loans) was frowned upon. However, this kind of “investment”—having children—is not sinful but encouraged.
He implies that passing on beauty through children is not selfish but beneficial, as it ensures that beauty does not disappear entirely.
Line 6: “Which happies those that pay the willing loan;”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Happies – Makes happy (an old poetic way of saying “brings joy to”)
- Those that pay the willing loan – Those who take part in reproduction and pass on their legacy
In-depth Explanation & Context:
Shakespeare argues that those who “pay the loan” (i.e., have children) find happiness in doing so. Unlike financial usury, where lenders profit unfairly, this type of “loan” benefits everyone—the parent and the child.
This is part of the persuasive strategy in the “procreation sonnets,” urging the young man to see having children as an investment in joy rather than a burden.
Line 7: “That’s for thy self to breed another thee,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Breed another thee – Create a child who resembles you
In-depth Explanation & Context:
Shakespeare directly tells the young man that his purpose is to produce another version of himself. By having children, he can essentially “duplicate” his beauty and continue his existence beyond death.
This line highlights the central argument of the early sonnets—the only way to cheat time and mortality is through reproduction.
Line 8: “Or ten times happier, be it ten for one;”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Ten times happier – Even more joyful
- Ten for one – A reference to multiplying oneself through multiple children
In-depth Explanation & Context:
Here, Shakespeare amplifies the idea of legacy. Instead of just having one child, why not have ten? More children mean more happiness and a greater legacy.
This hyperbolic encouragement serves to emphasize how important procreation is in the poet’s eyes.
Line 9: “Ten times thy self were happier than thou art,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Ten times thy self – Many versions of yourself (metaphor for children)
- Were happier than thou art – Would be even more joyful than you currently are
In-depth Explanation & Context:
Shakespeare suggests that the young man’s happiness would increase if he had children. By having descendants, he ensures that his beauty and essence live on, rather than fading away.
This idea is tied to the Renaissance belief in immortality through lineage, which was especially important for noble families.
Line 10: “If ten of thine ten times refigured thee:”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Ten of thine – Ten of your children
- Ten times refigured thee – Each one resembling you in some way
In-depth Explanation & Context:
Shakespeare reinforces the mathematical metaphor: if the young man had ten children, and each had ten more, his legacy would multiply exponentially.
This highlights the idea that one’s impact on the world can grow far beyond their own lifetime.
Line 11: “Then what could death do if thou shouldst depart,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- What could death do – What power would death have?
- If thou shouldst depart – If you were to die
In-depth Explanation & Context:
Here, Shakespeare poses a rhetorical question: if the young man leaves behind many children, death will lose its power over him.
This line suggests that legacy through children is a form of immortality—the young man would “live on” through his descendants.
Line 12: “Leaving thee living in posterity?”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Leaving thee living – Ensuring that some part of you remains alive
- In posterity – In future generations
In-depth Explanation & Context:
Even if the young man physically dies, he will continue to exist in his children. Shakespeare presents this as a solution to the fear of mortality—one can achieve immortality through reproduction.
Line 13: “Be not self-willed, for thou art much too fair”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Be not self-willed – Do not be stubborn or selfish
- Much too fair – Too beautiful to be wasted
In-depth Explanation & Context:
Shakespeare scolds the young man for being stubborn about not having children. He argues that his beauty is too precious to be lost and should be preserved.
Line 14: “To be death’s conquest and make worms thine heir.”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Death’s conquest – A victim of death
- Make worms thine heir – Let worms (decay) inherit your body instead of children
In-depth Explanation & Context:
Shakespeare delivers a final warning—if the young man does not reproduce, his beauty will be wasted, and only worms will “inherit” him in the grave.
This stark, almost morbid image reinforces the urgency of the procreation argument—choose to have children, or let death consume you entirely.
Final Thoughts:
Sonnet 6 is a direct continuation of Sonnet 5, urging the young man to preserve his beauty through offspring. Shakespeare uses financial and seasonal metaphors to emphasize that procreation is the only way to “cheat” time and death.
Summary
In Sonnet 6, Shakespeare continues his plea for the young man to reproduce, reinforcing the idea that beauty should not be wasted. The poem follows directly from Sonnet 5, where Shakespeare used the metaphor of distillation to argue that beauty can be preserved.
The speaker warns the young man not to allow “winter’s ragged hand” (a symbol of aging and death) to destroy his summer (youth and beauty) before he has taken action to preserve it. The act of “distillation”, which in the previous sonnet referred to extracting a flower’s essence into perfume, now transforms into a metaphor for procreation—suggesting that the youth should “make sweet some vial” by having children, thus storing his beauty in another form before it fades.
Shakespeare then introduces a financial metaphor, arguing that some types of “usury” (lending at interest) are not only acceptable but beneficial—especially when it involves passing down one’s beauty through offspring. The speaker suggests that having many children (“ten times happier, be it ten for one”) would be even better than simply one, as this would multiply the young man’s beauty exponentially.
The final couplet delivers a powerful warning: if the young man refuses to procreate, death will claim him, and his only inheritance will be worms in the grave. Instead of allowing his beauty to become food for decay, he should ensure it lives on in his descendants.
Critical Analysis
1. The Fear of Aging and Death
The sonnet opens with an urgent warning not to let time and age destroy youth before it has been preserved. Shakespeare likens old age to “winter’s ragged hand”—a cruel force that defaces beauty. The idea of winter ruining summer continues the seasonal imagery from Sonnet 5, reinforcing the natural cycle of life.
2. The Power of Procreation
The central argument in Sonnet 6 is that having children ensures one’s beauty and essence live on, rather than being lost to death. Shakespeare presents procreation as a form of immortality, as the young man would metaphorically continue living through his offspring.
3. The Financial Metaphor – Usury and Multiplication of Beauty
Shakespeare frames reproduction as a form of wise financial investment. In this sonnet, “usury” (the practice of lending money with interest) is reimagined positively:
- Lending beauty to the next generation yields a great return—in the form of many descendants.
- The more children one has, the greater the impact—”ten times thyself were happier than thou art.”
- This supports the idea that reproduction does not diminish one’s beauty but instead multiplies it.
4. Death vs. Immortality
The final couplet delivers the poem’s starkest contrast: the choice between life through descendants or oblivion through death.
- If the young man chooses not to procreate, he will become “death’s conquest,” with no legacy except a grave full of worms.
- If he has children, his beauty will live on in posterity, effectively allowing him to defy death.
Shakespeare is arguing that reproduction is the only way to overcome mortality.
Themes
1. The Inevitability of Aging and Death
The young man is warned that his beauty will fade—just as summer inevitably turns into winter. However, this loss can be prevented if he takes action.
2. Procreation as a Means of Immortality
Shakespeare presents having children as the only way to ensure beauty survives. Without reproduction, all physical beauty will vanish with death.
3. The Economics of Beauty – Investment and Usury
Shakespeare compares reproduction to financial investment, portraying it as a wise way to “multiply” oneself. The speaker encourages the young man to think of his beauty as a treasure that should be passed down rather than hoarded.
4. The Conflict Between Selfishness and Responsibility
The young man is accused of being “self-willed”, meaning he stubbornly refuses to share his beauty. Shakespeare argues that it is selfish to let beauty die rather than passing it on.
Literary Devices
1. Metaphor
- “Winter’s ragged hand” → Old age, decay, and death.
- “Treasure thou some place with beauty’s treasure” → Beauty as a valuable inheritance.
- “Be not self-willed, for thou art much too fair / To be death’s conquest and make worms thine heir” → If the young man does not reproduce, his only inheritance will be death and decay.
2. Extended Financial Imagery (Usury and Investment)
- “That use is not forbidden usury” → Shakespeare redefines usury as a positive act, where lending beauty through reproduction results in great returns.
- “Ten times thyself were happier than thou art” → The idea that having many children multiplies one’s beauty and happiness.
3. Seasonal Imagery
- “Winter” vs. “Summer” → The contrast between youth and aging reinforces the urgency of the message.
- “Ere thou be distilled” → This refers back to Sonnet 5, where distillation symbolized preserving beauty.
4. Personification
- “Winter’s ragged hand” → Winter is given human qualities as a destructive force.
- “Death’s conquest” → Death is personified as a conqueror, emphasizing its power over those who do not leave a legacy.
- “Make worms thine heir” → The worms inherit the young man’s body, highlighting the grim reality of decay.
5. Rhetorical Imperatives (Commands to the Young Man)
Shakespeare directly addresses the youth, urging him to take action:
- “Then let not winter’s ragged hand deface” – A plea not to let time ruin his beauty.
- “Make sweet some vial” – An instruction to preserve beauty, metaphorically through children.
- “Be not self-willed” – A command to abandon selfishness and fulfill his duty.
6. Shakespearean Sonnet Structure
- 14 lines
- ABABCDCDEFEFGG rhyme scheme
- Iambic pentameter → Creates a flowing, rhythmic quality that makes the argument more persuasive.
Conclusion
Sonnet 6 continues Shakespeare’s urgent plea for procreation, reinforcing the idea that beauty should not be wasted but multiplied. Through seasonal imagery, financial metaphors, and personification, the speaker presents a compelling argument:
- Time and death are inevitable, and youth will fade like summer turning into winter.
- Having children is the only way to ensure beauty and essence survive.
- Reproduction is framed as a wise investment, where lending one’s beauty yields greater returns.
- If the young man refuses to procreate, his only legacy will be worms, a grim reminder of the finality of death.
In essence, Sonnet 6 presents a powerful contrast between life and death, urging the young man to choose immortality through offspring rather than be forgotten in the grave.
