Lo! in the orient when the gracious light
Lifts up his burning head, each under eye
Doth homage to his new-appearing sight,
Serving with looks his sacred majesty;
And having climb’d the steep-up heavenly hill,
Resembling strong youth in his middle age,
yet mortal looks adore his beauty still,
Attending on his golden pilgrimage;
But when from highmost pitch, with weary car,
Like feeble age, he reeleth from the day,
The eyes, ‘fore duteous, now converted are
From his low tract and look another way:
So thou, thyself out-going in thy noon,
Unlook’d on diest, unless thou get a son.
Line 1: “Lo! in the orient when the gracious light”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Lo! – An exclamation meaning “behold” or “look!”
- Orient – The east, where the sun rises
- Gracious light – The sun, depicted as noble and benevolent
In-depth Explanation & Context:
Shakespeare begins the sonnet with a grand image of the sunrise. The sun is personified as a noble figure rising in the east, blessing the world with its light. This metaphor sets up the comparison between the sun’s journey and a human life—specifically, the young man’s.
The “gracious light” represents youth, power, and beauty, which, like the rising sun, commands admiration from all.
Line 2: “Lifts up his burning head, each under eye”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Burning head – The sun, described as a powerful and fiery figure
- Each under eye – Every person beneath the sun (on Earth)
In-depth Explanation & Context:
Shakespeare continues the personification of the sun, describing it as a majestic figure raising its head, much like a king taking his throne. The phrase “each under eye” suggests that people look up in admiration when the sun rises—just as they admire youth and beauty in a person’s prime.
This line further builds the parallel between the sun and the young man, suggesting that just as the world reveres the sun’s rise, society admires a person in their youth.
Line 3: “Doth homage to his new-appearing sight,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Doth homage – Shows respect and reverence
- New-appearing sight – The sunrise, or the emergence of something glorious
In-depth Explanation & Context:
This line describes how people honor the sun as it rises—a metaphor for how society celebrates beauty and youth. Just as dawn brings light and admiration, a young person in their prime commands attention and praise.
The act of “homage” implies loyalty and devotion, reinforcing the idea that youth is a time of power and influence.
Line 4: “Serving with looks his sacred majesty;”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Serving with looks – Gazing with reverence or admiration
- Sacred majesty – Divine or royal greatness
In-depth Explanation & Context:
The sun is described as a monarch, ruling over the sky, and people “serve” it by looking at it with admiration. This further extends the metaphor of youthful beauty being like a powerful ruler, commanding attention.
The idea that beauty is almost divine is central to the procreation sonnets—Shakespeare repeatedly suggests that it should not be wasted but preserved.
Line 5: “And having climb’d the steep-up heavenly hill,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Climb’d – Ascended
- Steep-up heavenly hill – The sky, where the sun reaches its peak
In-depth Explanation & Context:
The sun’s journey mirrors human life. Just as the sun rises to its peak, a person moves from childhood to youth to maturity.
The phrase “steep-up heavenly hill” suggests that youth is a time of growth and energy, but also hints that aging is an inevitable process—once the sun reaches its peak, it must descend.
Line 6: “Resembling strong youth in his middle age,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Strong youth – A person in their prime, full of vigor
- Middle age – The peak of life, before decline begins
In-depth Explanation & Context:
The sun at noon represents a person in the height of their power and beauty. Shakespeare suggests that there is a prime in life where one is strongest, just before age begins to take its toll.
This parallels the young man’s situation—he is currently at his peak, but time will soon begin to wear him down.
Line 7: “Yet mortal looks adore his beauty still,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Mortal looks – The gaze of ordinary people (humans, as opposed to the divine sun)
- Adore his beauty – Continue to admire the sun’s radiance
In-depth Explanation & Context:
Even though the sun is at its peak and moving toward the second half of its journey, people still admire its beauty. This suggests that even as one moves beyond youth, there is still admiration and value in their presence.
This subtly reminds the young man that he is still adored now, but this will change as time passes.
Line 8: “Attending on his golden pilgrimage;”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Attending on – Following or watching closely
- Golden pilgrimage – The sun’s journey across the sky (symbolizing life’s journey)
In-depth Explanation & Context:
The sun’s movement is described as a pilgrimage, reinforcing the idea that life is a sacred journey. People continue to watch and admire as the sun moves toward its later stages—just as they admire a person moving through their prime.
This sets up the shift in the poem, where admiration begins to fade as the sun (and the young man) approach old age.
Line 9: “But when from highmost pitch, with weary car,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Highmost pitch – The highest point (noon, or the peak of life)
- Weary car – The sun’s chariot, now tired from its journey
In-depth Explanation & Context:
Now, the decline begins. The sun has reached its peak, and now it begins to descend toward evening—just as youth gives way to aging.
The “weary car” is an allusion to the chariot of Apollo, the sun god. This reinforces the grand metaphor of life’s inevitable decline.
Line 10: “Like feeble age, he reeleth from the day,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Feeble age – Weakness that comes with old age
- Reeleth – Staggers, moves unsteadily
In-depth Explanation & Context:
Now, the sun is compared to an old man who staggers and struggles as he moves toward sunset (death).
This is the core warning of the sonnet: the young man will not remain strong and admired forever—he will eventually grow old and fade from view.
Line 11: “The eyes, ‘fore duteous, now converted are”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- ‘Fore duteous – Previously loyal and respectful
- Converted are – Now turned away
In-depth Explanation & Context:
When the sun was rising, people watched it with admiration. Now that it is setting, they look away—just as youth is praised, but old age is often ignored.
This paints a harsh picture of aging, suggesting that the young man will lose the admiration he now enjoys.
Line 12: “From his low tract and look another way:”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Low tract – The lower path of the sun (decline in life)
- Look another way – People no longer pay attention
In-depth Explanation & Context:
As the sun sets, people stop watching it. The parallel is clear: as the young man ages, he will be ignored and forgotten.
This emphasizes how fleeting youth and beauty are, reinforcing Shakespeare’s plea for the young man to preserve himself through procreation.
Line 13: “So thou, thyself out-going in thy noon,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Out-going in thy noon – Moving past youth, entering old age
In-depth Explanation & Context:
Shakespeare warns the young man that just like the sun, he too will pass his peak. If he does nothing to preserve his legacy, he will face the same fate as the setting sun—forgotten and ignored.
Line 14: “Unlook’d on diest, unless thou get a son.”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Unlook’d on – Unnoticed, ignored
- Get a son – Have children
In-depth Explanation & Context:
Shakespeare delivers his final warning: unless the young man has a child to carry on his legacy, he will fade into obscurity. Just as the sun is forgotten when it sets, he too will be forgotten unless he ensures his beauty lives on in his descendants.
Final Thoughts:
Sonnet 7 uses the powerful metaphor of the sun’s journey to illustrate the rise and fall of youth. Shakespeare urges the young man to preserve his beauty and legacy—or risk fading into oblivion like the setting sun.
Summary
In Sonnet 7, Shakespeare compares the young man’s life to the journey of the sun across the sky. The sonnet begins with a vivid image of the sun rising in the east (“the orient”), symbolizing the beginning of youth and beauty. As the sun ascends, people look up in admiration, just as they do when a person is in the prime of life.
However, as the sun reaches its peak and begins to descend, it starts to lose its former glory. Likewise, as a person ages, adoration fades, and attention turns elsewhere. The once-revered beauty is no longer admired, and by the time the person reaches old age, they are ignored and forgotten.
Shakespeare warns the young man that if he does not have a son, he will suffer the same fate as the declining sun—unnoticed and unremembered. Without children to carry on his legacy, his beauty and influence will disappear once his youth fades.
Critical Analysis
1. The Extended Sun Metaphor – Life’s Cycle
The poem presents a metaphor of the sun’s daily journey as a reflection of human life:
- Sunrise (Morning) = Youth, beauty, new beginnings.
- Noon (Midday) = Prime of life, strength, admiration.
- Sunset (Evening) = Old age, decline, being ignored.
The sun at noon represents the peak of vitality, but as it begins its descent, people no longer admire it. Similarly, Shakespeare suggests that the young man, now adored for his beauty, will one day experience a loss of attention as he ages.
2. Mortality and the Fear of Being Forgotten
A major concern in this sonnet is the inevitability of aging and death. Shakespeare warns that without an heir, the young man will die “unlook’d on”, meaning he will be forgotten once his beauty fades. This reflects a broader Renaissance anxiety about legacy and immortality—a time when having children was seen as a way to ensure one’s name lived on.
3. The Contrast Between Public Admiration and Neglect
The sonnet explores how admiration is temporary—people honor the sun when it rises, but turn away when it sets. This is a social commentary on human nature:
- People celebrate youth and power, but ignore those who decline.
- The young man, admired now, will become insignificant unless he leaves a lasting legacy.
This ties into Shakespeare’s ongoing theme: reproduction is the only way to avoid being forgotten.
4. The Role of Duty and Legacy
The young man is presented with a choice:
- Have children and be remembered (like the sun, whose light continues beyond its descent).
- Remain childless and fade into obscurity, like an aged sun ignored by the world.
The sonnet implies that it is almost a duty for the young man to procreate, ensuring his beauty lives on through descendants.
Themes
1. The Transience of Beauty and Power
Shakespeare highlights the fleeting nature of youth and admiration. Just as the sun’s splendor fades as it sets, human beauty inevitably declines with age.
2. The Desire for Immortality
The fear of being forgotten after death is a central theme in Shakespeare’s procreation sonnets. He suggests that only through having children can one achieve a form of immortality—a way to “extend” one’s existence beyond physical decline.
3. The Harsh Reality of Aging
The shift from adoration to neglect in the poem mirrors the harsh reality of aging. Shakespeare presents this not as a possibility, but as an inevitable truth—society values youth and strength over age and wisdom.
4. Procreation as a Defense Against Oblivion
The final couplet delivers a direct warning:
- If the young man does not have children, he will die “unlook’d on”—forgotten.
- A son would allow his beauty and essence to continue beyond his own lifetime.
This ties into Shakespeare’s larger argument across the early sonnets: reproduction is not just personal, but a way to escape oblivion.
Literary Devices
1. Metaphor – The Sun as a Symbol for Life
- “Lo! in the orient when the gracious light / Lifts up his burning head” → The sunrise represents youth and the beginning of beauty.
- “Climb’d the steep-up heavenly hill” → The sun’s movement toward noon symbolizes reaching one’s prime.
- “With weary car, / Like feeble age, he reeleth from the day” → The sun’s descent represents old age and decline.
2. Personification
- “The gracious light lifts up his burning head” → The sun is given human qualities, making its journey feel more personal.
- “Attending on his golden pilgrimage” → The sun’s movement across the sky is described as a sacred journey, much like a human life.
3. Contrast (Antithesis)
- Admiration vs. Indifference → People admire the rising sun (youth) but turn away from the setting sun (old age).
- Beauty vs. Death → Youth is powerful, but without an heir, it will be lost to death.
4. Alliteration
- “Steep-up heavenly hill” → The repetition of “h” sounds creates a flowing, poetic rhythm.
- “Serving with looks his sacred majesty” → The “s” sounds emphasize reverence.
5. Rhyme Scheme and Structure
The poem follows the traditional Shakespearean sonnet structure:
- 14 lines
- ABABCDCDEFEFGG rhyme scheme
- Iambic pentameter → Creates a smooth and natural rhythm, mirroring the sun’s steady rise and fall.
Conclusion
Sonnet 7 is a powerful meditation on the inevitable decline of beauty and admiration. Shakespeare uses the sun’s journey across the sky as a metaphor for the young man’s life, showing that while youth is celebrated, old age is often ignored.
The sonnet delivers a clear warning: if the young man does not have children, he will fade into obscurity, just as people ignore the setting sun. Through vivid imagery, contrast, and personification, Shakespeare presents procreation as the only way to achieve lasting significance.
