Sonnet 67: Ah! Wherefore With Infection Should He Live
Ah! wherefore with infection should he live,
And with his presence grace impiety,
That sin by him advantage should achieve,
And lace itself with his society?
Why should false painting imitate his cheek,
And steal dead seeing of his living hue?
Why should poor beauty indirectly seek
Roses of shadow, since his rose is true?
Why should he live, now Nature bankrupt is,
Beggar’d of blood to blush through lively veins?
For she hath no exchequer now but his,
And proud of many, lives upon his gains.
O! him she stores, to show what wealth she had.
Line 1:
“Ah! wherefore with infection should he live,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Wherefore: Why.
- Infection: Corruption, moral decay.
Text and Context Explanation:
The speaker begins by questioning why the beloved should live in a world filled with corruption and moral decay (“infection”). The word “Ah!” conveys a sense of despair and frustration, as the speaker laments the state of the world and its unworthiness of the beloved’s presence.
Line 2:
“And with his presence grace impiety,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Grace: Honor, dignify.
- Impiety: Wickedness, lack of reverence.
Text and Context Explanation:
The speaker asks why the beloved’s presence should dignify or honor a world filled with wickedness (“impiety”). This line reflects the speaker’s belief that the beloved’s purity and beauty are too good for such a corrupt world.
Line 3:
“That sin by him advantage should achieve,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Advantage: Gain, benefit.
Text and Context Explanation:
The speaker questions why sin should benefit from the beloved’s presence, gaining an advantage by associating with him. This line suggests that the beloved’s beauty and virtue are being exploited by a corrupt world.
Line 4:
“And lace itself with his society?”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Lace: Adorn, intertwine.
- Society: Association, companionship.
Text and Context Explanation:
The speaker criticizes the way sin adorns itself by associating with the beloved, as if his presence makes sin more attractive or acceptable. This line emphasizes the speaker’s frustration at the beloved’s beauty being used to enhance what is inherently corrupt.
Line 5:
“Why should false painting imitate his cheek,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- False painting: Makeup or artificial beauty.
- Imitate: Copy, mimic.
Text and Context Explanation:
The speaker questions why artificial beauty (“false painting”) should try to copy the beloved’s natural beauty, particularly the color and vitality of his cheeks. This line critiques the superficiality of the world, which seeks to replicate the beloved’s genuine beauty with cheap imitations.
Line 6:
“And steal dead seeing of his living hue?”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Dead seeing: Lifeless appearance.
- Living hue: Vibrant, natural color.
Text and Context Explanation:
The speaker laments how artificial beauty steals the “living hue” (natural vibrancy) of the beloved, replacing it with a lifeless imitation. This line underscores the speaker’s disdain for the world’s attempts to mimic the beloved’s true beauty.
Line 7:
“Why should poor beauty indirectly seek”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Poor beauty: Inferior or artificial beauty.
- Indirectly seek: Attempt to achieve through imitation.
Text and Context Explanation:
The speaker questions why inferior or artificial beauty (“poor beauty”) should try to achieve what the beloved possesses naturally. This line critiques the world’s reliance on imitation rather than genuine beauty.
Line 8:
“Roses of shadow, since his rose is true?”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Roses of shadow: Imitations or illusions of beauty.
- True rose: Genuine beauty.
Text and Context Explanation:
The speaker contrasts the “roses of shadow” (false or imitated beauty) with the beloved’s “true rose” (genuine beauty). This line emphasizes the futility of seeking imitations when the beloved’s beauty is authentic and unparalleled.
Line 9:
“Why should he live, now Nature bankrupt is,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Bankrupt: Depleted, lacking resources.
Text and Context Explanation:
The speaker questions why the beloved should continue to live in a world where Nature itself is “bankrupt,” or depleted of its ability to create true beauty. This line reflects the speaker’s belief that the beloved is a rare exception in a world that has lost its capacity for genuine beauty.
Line 10:
“Beggar’d of blood to blush through lively veins?”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Beggar’d: Deprived, impoverished.
- Blush: The natural redness of cheeks.
Text and Context Explanation:
The speaker laments that Nature is so impoverished (“beggar’d”) that it can no longer produce the natural vitality and beauty symbolized by the blush in lively veins. This line reinforces the idea that the beloved’s beauty is a rare and precious exception in a world that has lost its vitality.
Line 11:
“For she hath no exchequer now but his,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Exchequer: Treasury, store of wealth.
Text and Context Explanation:
The speaker suggests that Nature’s only remaining source of beauty (“exchequer”) is the beloved. This line emphasizes the beloved’s uniqueness and the idea that he is the last remnant of true beauty in a depleted world.
Line 12:
“And proud of many, lives upon his gains.”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Proud of many: Boasting of its abundance.
- Gains: Achievements, resources.
Text and Context Explanation:
The speaker criticizes Nature for boasting of its abundance (“proud of many”) while relying entirely on the beloved’s beauty (“lives upon his gains”). This line reflects the speaker’s frustration at the world’s hypocrisy and its exploitation of the beloved’s beauty.
Line 13:
“O! him she stores, to show what wealth she had.”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Stores: Preserves, keeps.
- Wealth: Beauty, richness.
Text and Context Explanation:
The speaker concludes that Nature preserves the beloved (“him she stores”) as a reminder of the beauty and richness it once possessed. This line suggests that the beloved is a living testament to what the world has lost, a symbol of true beauty in a corrupted and decaying world.
Summary of the Sonnet:
Sonnet 67 is a lament for the beloved’s beauty in a world that has lost its capacity for genuine beauty and virtue. The speaker questions why the beloved should remain in such a corrupt and superficial world, where his beauty is exploited and imitated by lesser things. Ultimately, the sonnet celebrates the beloved as a rare and precious exception, a living reminder of the beauty and vitality that the world has lost.
In-Depth Analysis of Sonnet 67
Summary
In Sonnet 67, the speaker questions why the beautiful young man continues to exist in a world tainted by corruption and moral decay. The youth’s presence seems to elevate sin and falsehood by association, making vice appear more attractive. The speaker laments how artificial beauty tries to imitate the young man’s natural grace, and he argues that Nature herself has become impoverished, relying solely on the youth to display what true beauty once was. The sonnet suggests that the young man is a rare remnant of an era when purity and virtue still thrived.
Critical Analysis
1. The Youth as an Ideal in a Corrupt World
- The speaker presents the young man as an embodiment of true beauty and virtue.
- However, he is placed in a world full of sin and deception, where his presence only serves to validate falsehood.
- This recalls the Renaissance anxiety over authenticity vs. artificiality, particularly in art and morality.
2. Nature as a Bankrupt Entity
- Shakespeare personifies Nature as having once been wealthy but now reduced to poverty.
- The young man is Nature’s last remaining “wealth,” suggesting that true beauty has almost disappeared from the world.
- This idea echoes the theme of transience found in many of Shakespeare’s sonnets—beauty and virtue are fading from existence.
3. The Critique of Artificial Beauty
- The sonnet critiques the use of cosmetics and artifice to mimic natural beauty.
- Lines like “Why should false painting imitate his cheek” imply a disdain for makeup or artistic deception.
- The “roses of shadow” contrast with the young man’s “true” rose, reinforcing the superiority of natural over artificial beauty.
Theme Analysis
1. The Corruption of the World
- The sonnet suggests that the world has declined morally and aesthetically.
- The young man’s virtue only serves to highlight the world’s flaws.
- This aligns with the Renaissance idea that humanity had degenerated from a past Golden Age.
2. Authenticity vs. Imitation
- The poem contrasts natural beauty with artificiality, implying that contemporary society values imitation over the real.
- The young man is the only example of true beauty left, while everything else is a poor copy.
3. Nature’s Decline
- The idea that Nature has exhausted her resources and now relies on the young man suggests a pessimistic view of the future.
- If he is the last of true beauty, then the world is on the brink of losing all purity.
Literary Devices
1. Personification
- Nature is depicted as a bankrupt entity: “Nature bankrupt is.”
- Sin is given agency: “That sin by him advantage should achieve.”
- This gives the sonnet a more dramatic and philosophical tone.
2. Rhetorical Questions
- The sonnet is structured as a series of questions, emphasizing the speaker’s frustration.
- This makes the poem feel like a lament or a moral inquiry.
3. Metaphor of Wealth and Poverty
- Beauty and virtue are treated as financial resources.
- Nature is a treasurer who has spent everything and now relies on the young man’s “wealth.”
4. Contrast Between Real and Fake
- The young man’s beauty is compared to artificial representations, highlighting the tension between authenticity and imitation.
Conclusion
Sonnet 67 presents a deeply pessimistic view of the world, portraying the young man as the last vestige of true beauty in an era of corruption. Shakespeare critiques the rise of artificiality, both in morality and aesthetics, while mourning the loss of natural purity. The poem reinforces the idea that the young man is exceptional—so much so that even sin and deception try to benefit from his presence. The use of rhetorical questions and personification adds to the melancholic and philosophical tone, making this sonnet a powerful meditation on authenticity and decline.
