Old Journal Entry On William Shakespeare's Sonnet 71: #2

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Entry 2 – October 29, 2011

My interpretation of the poem after a second reading remains much the same as the first. However, I am able to see the poem in a more positive light now. As much as the poem goes on to discuss the implications of death, it also explores the bond of love. Although Shakespeare's approach to the topic of death was banal, his approach to discussing love is unequivocally innovative.

In literature, love is commonly seen as being fickle, hard to obtain, or lacklustre. The subject of love frequently evokes the themes of loyalty, sorrow, and fidelity.

The speaker in the poem approached the subject of love with an attitude contrary to most of the afore-mentioned values. Instead of convincing his love that they can last forever, the speaker tells his lover to forget about him. Using a imperative tone of speech, the speaker forbids his lover from remembering him, even as she “ [looks] upon this verse” (ln. 6). The speaker basically urges his lover to expunge all thoughts of him, living or dead. The speaker construes this meaning in quite a forceful way, although the tone does become less harsh starting in line 7.

There are contradictions within the poem itself. As evidenced by the words “vile” (ln. 4), “clay” (ln. 10), and “decay” (ln. 12), the speaker's state of being after death is far from idyllic. Rather, his death brings forth sickening images of decomposition, and the entrapment of his body compacted into clay (the earth). I am tempted to say that the speaker purposefully painted this image in order to evoke some sort of pity for himself. Another possible explanation is that the speaker wanted to show his defiance to whatever death may bring.

If the former were true, then a conflict of theme would ensue; where on the one hand, the speaker persuades his lover to forget him, and on the other, he brings forth imagery evoking pathetic sentiments. If the latter were true, then the speaker is a magnanimous lover, as well as a person. While many men seek remembrance by the whole world, this man in the poem, seeks to fade into oblivion. Maybe this is true love, or maybe just the result of a drunken reverie.

Written for English Literature 12