Sonnet 73: That Time Of Year Thou Mayst In Me Behold
That time of year thou mayst in me behold
When yellow leaves, or none, or few, do hang
Upon those boughs which shake against the cold,
Bare ruined choirs, where late the sweet birds sang.
In me thou see’st the twilight of such day
As after sunset fadeth in the west;
Which by and by black night doth take away,
Death’s second self, that seals up all in rest.
In me thou see’st the glowing of such fire,
That on the ashes of his youth doth lie,
As the death-bed, whereon it must expire,
Consum’d with that which it was nourish’d by.
This thou perceiv’st, which makes thy love more strong,
To love that well, which thou must leave ere long.
This is Shakespeare’s Sonnet 73, a poignant meditation on aging, mortality, and the enduring power of love. The speaker uses vivid imagery to describe their own aging and impending death, urging the beloved to cherish their love while it lasts. Let’s break it down line by line.
Line 1:
“That time of year thou mayst in me behold”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Behold: See, observe.
Text and Context Explanation:
The speaker begins by inviting the beloved to observe a particular “time of year” within them. This metaphorical “time of year” symbolizes the speaker’s stage in life, suggesting that they are in the autumn or winter of their years. The line sets the tone for the sonnet, introducing the theme of aging and decline.
Line 2:
“When yellow leaves, or none, or few, do hang”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Yellow leaves: Autumn foliage, symbolizing decay.
Text and Context Explanation:
The speaker describes a scene of autumn, where yellow leaves—or none at all—hang on the trees. This imagery symbolizes the speaker’s aging and the loss of vitality, as the leaves represent the fading of life and beauty.
Line 3:
“Upon those boughs which shake against the cold,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Boughs: Tree branches.
Text and Context Explanation:
The speaker continues the autumn imagery, describing tree branches shaking in the cold. This line evokes a sense of fragility and vulnerability, reflecting the speaker’s own weakened state as they age.
Line 4:
“Bare ruined choirs, where late the sweet birds sang.”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Bare ruined choirs: Empty, decaying church choirs, symbolizing lost beauty and vitality.
- Late: Recently.
Text and Context Explanation:
The speaker compares the barren tree branches to “bare ruined choirs,” where birds once sang sweetly. This metaphor emphasizes the loss of beauty, music, and life, further underscoring the speaker’s sense of decline and mortality.
Line 5:
“In me thou see’st the twilight of such day”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Twilight: The fading light of evening, symbolizing the end of life.
Text and Context Explanation:
The speaker shifts to a new metaphor, describing themselves as being in the “twilight” of their life. This imagery suggests that the speaker is nearing the end of their days, with darkness (death) soon to follow.
Line 6:
“As after sunset fadeth in the west;”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Fadeth: Fades, disappears.
Text and Context Explanation:
The speaker elaborates on the twilight metaphor, comparing their life to the fading light after sunset. This line reinforces the idea that the speaker’s life is nearing its end, with darkness (death) approaching.
Line 7:
“Which by and by black night doth take away,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- By and by: Soon, gradually.
- Black night: Death.
Text and Context Explanation:
The speaker describes how the fading twilight is gradually replaced by “black night,” a metaphor for death. This line emphasizes the inevitability of death and the speaker’s acceptance of their mortality.
Line 8:
“Death’s second self, that seals up all in rest.”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Death’s second self: Sleep, often seen as a metaphor for death.
- Seals up: Closes, ends.
Text and Context Explanation:
The speaker compares night to “Death’s second self,” suggesting that sleep is a temporary form of death. This line reinforces the idea that death is a natural and inevitable conclusion to life.
Line 9:
“In me thou see’st the glowing of such fire,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Glowing: Flickering, fading.
Text and Context Explanation:
The speaker introduces a third metaphor, comparing their life to a dying fire. This imagery suggests that the speaker’s vitality is fading, much like the embers of a fire that is nearly extinguished.
Line 10:
“That on the ashes of his youth doth lie,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Ashes of his youth: The remnants of the speaker’s younger, more vibrant self.
Text and Context Explanation:
The speaker describes the fire as lying on the “ashes of his youth,” symbolizing the remnants of their past vitality. This line reflects the speaker’s awareness of their aging and the loss of their youthful energy.
Line 11:
“As the death-bed, whereon it must expire,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Death-bed: The final stage of life.
- Expire: Die, end.
Text and Context Explanation:
The speaker compares the dying fire to a “death-bed,” where life must inevitably end. This line emphasizes the speaker’s acceptance of their mortality and the natural cycle of life and death.
Line 12:
“Consum’d with that which it was nourish’d by.”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Consum’d: Destroyed, used up.
- Nourish’d by: Sustained by.
Text and Context Explanation:
The speaker reflects on the paradox that the fire is consumed by the same fuel that once nourished it. This line suggests that the speaker’s vitality has been used up by the very life that once sustained them, emphasizing the inevitability of decline.
Line 13:
“This thou perceiv’st, which makes thy love more strong,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Perceiv’st: Perceives, understands.
Text and Context Explanation:
The speaker acknowledges that the beloved understands their aging and mortality, and this understanding strengthens the beloved’s love. This line introduces the idea that love becomes more profound when it is aware of its impermanence.
Line 14:
“To love that well, which thou must leave ere long.”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Ere long: Before long, soon.
Text and Context Explanation:
The speaker concludes by urging the beloved to cherish their love while it lasts, as it will soon come to an end. This line encapsulates the sonnet’s central theme: the importance of loving deeply and fully in the face of life’s transience.
Summary of the Sonnet:
Sonnet 73 is a meditation on aging, mortality, and the enduring power of love. The speaker uses vivid imagery of autumn, twilight, and a dying fire to describe their own decline and impending death. Despite the somber tone, the sonnet ultimately celebrates the strength of love, which becomes more profound when it is aware of its impermanence. The speaker urges the beloved to cherish their love while it lasts, emphasizing the beauty and urgency of loving fully in the face of life’s fleeting nature.
In-Depth Analysis of Sonnet 73
Summary
In Sonnet 73, Shakespeare reflects on aging and mortality. He presents a series of metaphors comparing himself to late autumn, twilight, and a dying fire—all symbolizing the gradual decline toward death. By the end of the poem, he turns to his beloved, suggesting that recognizing the inevitability of loss should make love even stronger. The sonnet ultimately explores the transient nature of life and the deepened appreciation of love in the face of death.
Critical Analysis
1. The Three Metaphors of Aging
Shakespeare structures the sonnet around three powerful images of decline:
- Autumn/Winter Imagery (Lines 1–4)
- The poet compares himself to a tree in late autumn, with only a few leaves left clinging to its branches.
- The phrase “Bare ruined choirs, where late the sweet birds sang” evokes an image of abandoned monastery ruins, once filled with song but now silent—representing both the loss of youth and the approach of death.
- Twilight/Night Imagery (Lines 5–8)
- The transition from sunset to night parallels the passage of life toward death.
- Night is personified as “Death’s second self, that seals up all in rest,” portraying sleep as a symbolic rehearsal for death.
- A Dying Fire Imagery (Lines 9–12)
- The speaker likens himself to the remnants of a fire, with the ashes of his youth consuming the last embers of life.
- The fire’s slow extinguishment serves as a poignant metaphor for the inevitability of death.
2. The Shift in the Final Couplet
- The closing lines introduce a shift: the speaker acknowledges that his beloved perceives his aging and recognizes that love is intensified by the knowledge that time is fleeting.
- The phrase “To love that well, which thou must leave ere long” suggests that love becomes more profound when faced with loss.
Theme Analysis
1. The Passage of Time and Mortality
- The poem vividly illustrates the natural progression from youth to old age.
- The imagery of decay emphasizes the inevitability of death and the transient nature of life.
2. Love Deepened by Mortality
- The recognition of loss makes love more meaningful.
- The speaker suggests that awareness of mortality strengthens emotional bonds.
3. The Power of Perception
- The beloved’s ability to see and understand the speaker’s decline becomes central to the poem.
- This recognition transforms love into something more enduring and profound.
Literary Devices
1. Metaphor
- The entire poem is built around three extended metaphors:
- The speaker as autumnal trees.
- The speaker as twilight fading into night.
- The speaker as a dying fire on its own ashes.
2. Personification
- “Death’s second self, that seals up all in rest.”
- Night is depicted as death’s companion, reinforcing the theme of mortality.
3. Imagery
- Vivid sensory details enhance the melancholic tone:
- “Yellow leaves, or none, or few, do hang…” (sight)
- “Bare ruined choirs, where late the sweet birds sang” (sound)
- “On the ashes of his youth doth lie” (touch)
4. Alliteration and Assonance
- The repetition of sounds creates musicality:
- “Seals up all in rest.” (sibilance mimicking sleep/death)
- “Death’s second self.” (repetition of the ‘s’ sound)
Conclusion
Sonnet 73 is a meditation on aging, mortality, and the power of love in the face of inevitable loss. Shakespeare masterfully weaves together images of nature and time to illustrate the poet’s declining state, while the final couplet offers a poignant message: love is strongest when we acknowledge that it will not last forever. This sonnet, with its rich imagery and emotional depth, stands as one of Shakespeare’s most powerful reflections on the passage of time.
